So I made the leap

[smorrow5773]

No kidding, have you been working on it? Mine has been holding water for a couple weeks now!!

 

[specialkb]

Very cool following along on this. good luck with it.

 

[arctictwist]

def a thread worth keeping an eye on....tagging along!

 

[griffithimage]

I'm in the process of building a woody myself and take a look at this website http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=13
fantastic for tips on woodys. In particular, take a look at the way 2x2's have been ripped and placed inside the tank. Also, many of the users have been using mas epoxy. They have used many coats and found that the fibreglassing hasn't been necessary. (As long as there isn't 2 sheets of ply that have to be joined together).
I'm interested to see how things progress.

 

[GreenBay1]

Sorry everyone, I have been sick for a while and then out of town (IMAC). I promise to get going strong again with this tank by this weekend. It has been so busy and crazy, but as we all know in this hobby, patience is a virtue.

 

[tc2008]

is the epoxy paint fiberglass? or fiberglass is a different substains, if it's two different membrane which coat do you apply first?

 

[griffithimage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12661852#post12661852 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tc2008
is the epoxy paint fiberglass? or fiberglass is a different substains, if it's two different membrane which coat do you apply first?

Epoxy is different from fibreglass. Epoxy is like a thick guey paint that hardens and is waterproof. It is important to get an aquarium safe epoxy such as westcast or mas (suitable for potable water) When you put on a bunch of coats it is extremely strong. You can also tint the epoxy a color if you wish. I find the epoxy so strong that unless you have 2 sheets of plywood butted together, fibreglass is overkill (and much harder to use).

 

[GreenBay1]

Yes, I am using the Sweetwater epoxy paint for my tank with wedge cut braces glued and tacked into all the seams. Then I will apply 6-8 coats of the epoxy paint, then on the outside I will have all seams braces again with the trim.

 

[tc2008]

what kind of nails and glue you use to bond the seams of the plywood so it won't leak? also do you even use fiberglass at all, if so what stage do you apply it on, before or after you put the epoxy on?

 

[GreenBay1]

I used tight thread drywall screws and liquid nails and for the inside I am just using 1-1/4" tacks and liquid nails. I personally am not using the fiberglass method, many do this and many don't do this. It is really up to the builder and how safe you feel with your design.

 

[tc2008]

are these screws 100% unleakable or the epoxy layer will cover it also?

 

[GreenBay1]

All the seams got a heavy line of liquid nails before the screws went in and they will be covered by the trim, then the epoxy.

 

[tc2008]

liquid nails also sold in lowe's too right?

 

[arctictwist]

you can get liquid nails at your local hardware store as well.....im not for supporting the BIG BOXES.

 

[EBOLII]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12673091#post12673091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by arctictwist is not for supporting the BIG BOXES.

That's a vague comment, what is the meaning of that? you are against wood builds? I think if done properly they have their place. I have not come across any threads of wood failures

 

[GreenBay1]

I think he means places like Walmart and the "super" stores like that

 

[EBOLII]

BIG BOXES means Lowe's and Walmart type places?

 

[tc2008]

what's wrong with lowe's? shouldn't i be supporting lowe's more than Homedepot?

 

[Dwerbs]

why would you support lowes over home depot. If it wasn't for home depot we wouldn't have the Georgia aquarium.

 

[arctictwist]

Sorry for the mix up EBOLII. I actually love the idea of building your own tank out of whatever will work, and not to mention LARGE tanks as well. Lol. But I meant the superstore types. THe wal marts, the home depots, the lowes. They come in and put out all the local guys who have been there for years. Yea thats great the home depot helped make the Georgia Aquarium possible, but if it didnt come from them, that money would have come from someone else.