My Carbon-Fiber 230 gal Tank

[salt lick]

I'm getting close to wetness!
Just finished testing my DIY earthquake resistant glass tank (hydro test, no shaking).

Specs:
l x w x h = 48 x 34 x 33.5 approx 230 gals
sides are 3/4" thick, low iron plate glass, ground and polished edges. Glass is inset into a Carbon/Kevlar 3-D picture frame (see attached). bottom is fiberglass/PVC structural foam sandwich panel. No center brace, open top, built into wall.

corner overflow weir is 8 x 10"
I like the scratch resistance of glass and the flex of the composite frame. Std glass tanks have silicone joints that are structural (joints are loaded in tension and peel). peel is very weak. My tank has the glass mechanically retained by the " 3-D picture frame"; the silicone is only a gasket in compression (no corner peel).

 

[salt lick]

close up of carbon kevlar frame

close up of carbon kevlar frame

the kevlar is dyed blue, carbon is the black fibers.

 

[salt lick]

here is the stand and wall

here is the stand and wall

view from kitchen

 

[Seth]

Holy ... That's sweet!

 

[turtlespd]

salt,

Nice work...i was also thinking of making a carbon fiber tank but heck no, i rather use it on my car. Did you make a mold just to make the frame? It looks really smooth. I guess aerospace skills come in there. Or did you use Vacuum? Lookkkkksweetttt

 

[goofball310]

salt,

Nice work...i was also thinking of making a carbon fiber tank but heck no, i rather use it on my car. Did you make a mold just to make the frame? It looks really smooth. I guess aerospace skills come in there. Or did you use Vacuum? Lookkkkksweetttt

For some reason I new you'd rather put it on your car. Don't worry though, you're not the only one.

 

[salt lick]

thanks

thanks

its kind of out there

been lurking here for some time, decided to share my progress.

here is a pic of the back side of the installation. shows the two 13" dia Sun Pipes I just installed.

Tank can be viewed on all 4 sides, one is inside the "equipment room" (adjacent closet)

 

[salt lick]

fabrication notes

fabrication notes

Thanks again,
I made a female tool, and did a contact layup without vacuum bagging. it was a lot of work filling the pin holes.

the outsde is one ply of the carbon/kevlar (vanity ply), the rest is scraps from the shop. The bottom and corners have 80#/cu ft Divinycell core.

 

[skylsdale]

Can we get some more description/pics of the 3D picture frame idea...I'm not getting it.

 

[salt lick]

tank cross section

tank cross section

the tank frame is outside the glass, just like a picture frame.
the glass, shown in green, is inside the frame and pushes out against the carbon fiber frame shown in tan. the blue is a structural foam core.

 

[Merkur]

wow....

um, lemme just say that again.

WOW!


thats the sweetest tank ever!!

what silicone did you use to attach the glass??

dow corning 795??? 999???

note: dc795 is a structural grade sealant which i have personally sizemic tested to 6" + - lateral floor movement with unitized curtain wall framing. 795 is capable of -50%+100% movement.

i cannot atest to its reef safeness, but i can assure that it would be the IDEAL choice given your earthquake design criteria.

 

[Merkur]

i think i now understand your design a bit better.

in order to properly allow the frame to flex independently from the glass during a siesmic event you would need to allow for a moveable sealant joint.

the dc products mentioned would hold up to this movement and would not be weak in adhesion (as you say "peel"). the sealants can achieve 100% elongation without adhesive or cohesive failure as long as the installation is done correctly. proper joint design includes: at least 1/4" wide sealant joint, at least 1/8" thick at the thinnest portion, two sided adhesion, and at least 1/4" sealant contract surface between the glass and the substrate.

you would probobly have to test the sealant adhesion at the carbon fiber frame. 100% elongation must be achieved without failure. if the sealant doe not bond DC P5200 adhesion promoter would work.

 

[salt lick]

silicone

silicone

I used GE 1200 Construction (one part acetic cure) silicone
FDA approved
very good shear strength

 

[quiksilver]

and with the kevlar you wont have to worry about stray bullets either.... haha jk, that is the sweetest tank i have ever seen... glad i dont live in earthquake central b/c this hobby is expensive enough without earthquake safe setups... good luck man let us know about ur progress

Evan

 

[MauiReefer]

WOW thats beautiful..can you mass produce these? I would be interested in one, and if its earthquake proof, im sure it can handle shipping to FL. Anyways great job. PM me if you are interested in a side job...

Jared

 

[Piero]

yess!

yess!

absolutely magnifico! Truly pro design and production. I love it!

 

[newschool]

wow that is really really nice. and sun tubes to boot! great job!

 

[Gusto]

Okay, i'll be the first to ask, how much is that kevlar doggie in the window??

 

[salt lick]

Thanks for the support (cost info)

Thanks for the support (cost info)

OK some one had to ask $
Hmmm tools, labor...material...
better leave labor out, too scary

got the glass wholesale for about $800 (includes ground and polished edges)

epoxy $50-100
"vanity ply" (carbon/kevlar) $50
fiberglass and carbon cloth free shop scraps (I work at a company that builds composite prototype aircraft)

 

[keigle]

"WOW" my sentiments exactly. Thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s the nicest DIY tank I have ever seen. Great job!