Custom Tank Build Question

[buck27]

I wanted to start a thread for some veterans out there to give me some advice on building a large tank. In my earlier build thread I mentioned building a 400+ gallon tank out of acrylic but I have recently given thought to using plywood and glass. I am wondering how well this would work? I also know I have heard of some folks in Australia building them this way? What do you guys think? Gloves are off, lets hear the opinions and ideas of all here please.

[jrossjr79]

Using plywood as the main structure with only the display being acrylic will be just fine. Just make sure you do brace the plywood. Basically you are going to be building the walls (if they are not present) framing them out, studs and all. This is including the floor. Then lay your plywood on it, using screws. Laid with fiberglass and epoxy. Fiberglass is not 100% necessarily, but does make for a better tank. You should also use bracers on the top of your tank. Make sure you plan ahead to know for sure where your plumbing is going to be, your going to want to drill holes for this as well.

When do you plan on making this build?

[hobogato]

hopefully texreefer will reply, he built one and had a really nice reef in it a few years ago. you might send him a pm if he doesnt happen to see this thread.

[Big_Pun]

buddy and I about 3 years ago built one that was a lil over 1000 gallons used a whole sheet of 3/4 inch acrylic.tank sat inside garage and we cut it into wall in living room. inside was sealed with fiber glass and **** it was pain chasing leaks. even after it was all said and done and sealed he ended up draining it. the filtration and flow for that tank was expensive would have better to buy one.

[Gseclipse02]

i truly hate working on acrylic tanks they always get scratched up for the littlest things i would do the biggest glass tank you can do and call it a day

[Texreefer]

Depends on how big you want to go as to how much trouble you might have with it... my pylwood tank took a while to build but I did it right...anything larger than 120 and you will need to use 2x4 bracing all the way around, you will need at least 2 gallons of marine grade epoxy and then the cost of the glass and fiberglass.. basically to build a good Diy Plywood tank 3'x2'x2' would run you around $250 in materials... any bigger and your really not saving any money over buying glass, I was confident in my work and never had a leak.. but there is always that possibility... plywood tanks these days are mostly very shallow and used for Prop tanks. If you decide to go ahead, i will be happy to give you some tips on how I build mine

[buck27]

thank you all, I may be going another route I suppose. I see the video of David Saxby's tank on youtube and I druel all over the place. i would like to do something similar. If I was to plumb the tank into my garage i was wondering if the heat from the garage would be a pain? what you guys think? it gets pretty hot here during the day and I break a sweat in my garage with door open just standing in it. I would say upper 90s anyway. I have alot of thinking to do.

[buck27]

I was looking around on the internet and checked out glasscages.com they have a 500 gallon tank but its only 25" deep. I like the look of a deep tank. My 215 is 29". I think I would like one the same depth or even 30"