dean9922
04-11-2009, 01:09 PM
just finished up my 100 gallon tank, posted some pictures and was asked how, so here goes.....Also note i have never done anything like this before so lots of learning, swearing, asking questions and more swearing went into this tank....lol
First off, i went to the lumber store to get my wood cut, (I used oak plywood but other plywood would work as well) as i don't have a table saw of my own. Make sure they cut wood exactly, it cost me a few dollars more but it was well worth it. My measurements were 48LX18WX24H
you can use any measurements you want. Also note i got all my plans off of
Garf.com. It will tell you exactly how to cut the boards for a tank of any dimensions, along with a stand, canopy.
I then took my front piece of wood into a cabinet shop where they routered the wood for a viewing area. I went with a 3" picture frame so to speak.
Also get some wood trim to cover any areas that you will see after tank is built. It is stainable and finishes the look. Not sure what it's called but you put it on with an iron. Just have to trim and sand.
In assembling the tank, I used 2"drywall screws and spaced them every 2"
along with using a countersinking bit so screw goes into the wood a bit. Then cover the screw with a wood filler, let dry then sand even.
I used Gorilla wood glue along with screws to get a nice tight seal and then clamped together till dry.
Sanding was needed to smooth any rough surfaces after all assembled and dry.
Next came what to put into the tank sides, back, bottom & front....glass, acrylic?
When i priced out glass I just about fell over....OUCH!!!!
So i made alot of calls and got some help from Big Tuck who has done this sort of thing before and he suggested going with the fibreglass resin on the sides, back and bottom. At this point all i needed was the one piece of glass in the front.
Special Note: Thanks alot BIG TUCK!!!!!
I was able to find a resin which you could tint, so i picked the greenish color because the blues they had I did not like to much.
On all joints i used a 3" fibreglass cloth where i put resin down on seems and then more resin on top of the cloth untill cloth turns clear. Make sure you have windows that open if doing this in the house....WOW.....smell does not last long however....
Let that dry for 24 hours then i sanded all seems untill nice and smooth. I then used the tinted resin and put 2 coats on (sanding between coats) with a cheap paint brush, letting each coat dry for 24 hours. The final coat i used a roller which went on nice and smooth....i guess you could use a roller on all coats....oh well you live and you learn!!!!
After everything cured well (left tanks alone for 3 days) i placed my glass inside tank opening. I had my glass cut 3/4" less then the actuall inside dimensions so that you get a "floating" glass. Make sure a aquarium safe silicone is used and use "lots" of siliclone. When i did it, the silicone actually came out on the outside of the tank, which was cleaned up with a razor blade after it was dry. (24 hours) I then added just a bead of silicone along all the glass edges.
the canopy was built off plans from Garf.com once again as was the stand.
I wired the canopy myself which will be hooked to a timer.
The only issue i had and someone may want to keep in mind is that the dimensions i uses create a few problems such as to get a little overhang from the tank to the base, you go over the magic 48" mark with a 4X8 sheet of plywood which i ended up having to buy 2 sheets of plywood....so maybe keep the dimensions a little smaller so you can utilize your sheet of plywood.
If anyone has any questions regarding this tank build, just send me a private message and i'll be happy to help if i can......
costs were about $650-750 for everything, however when i build another tank it will be cheaper as i had to get some special tools etc that i just didn't have before...i figure i could do another complete tank for about $300-400
anyway, here are some pictures also!!!!!!
First off, i went to the lumber store to get my wood cut, (I used oak plywood but other plywood would work as well) as i don't have a table saw of my own. Make sure they cut wood exactly, it cost me a few dollars more but it was well worth it. My measurements were 48LX18WX24H
you can use any measurements you want. Also note i got all my plans off of
Garf.com. It will tell you exactly how to cut the boards for a tank of any dimensions, along with a stand, canopy.
I then took my front piece of wood into a cabinet shop where they routered the wood for a viewing area. I went with a 3" picture frame so to speak.
Also get some wood trim to cover any areas that you will see after tank is built. It is stainable and finishes the look. Not sure what it's called but you put it on with an iron. Just have to trim and sand.
In assembling the tank, I used 2"drywall screws and spaced them every 2"
along with using a countersinking bit so screw goes into the wood a bit. Then cover the screw with a wood filler, let dry then sand even.
I used Gorilla wood glue along with screws to get a nice tight seal and then clamped together till dry.
Sanding was needed to smooth any rough surfaces after all assembled and dry.
Next came what to put into the tank sides, back, bottom & front....glass, acrylic?
When i priced out glass I just about fell over....OUCH!!!!
So i made alot of calls and got some help from Big Tuck who has done this sort of thing before and he suggested going with the fibreglass resin on the sides, back and bottom. At this point all i needed was the one piece of glass in the front.
Special Note: Thanks alot BIG TUCK!!!!!
I was able to find a resin which you could tint, so i picked the greenish color because the blues they had I did not like to much.
On all joints i used a 3" fibreglass cloth where i put resin down on seems and then more resin on top of the cloth untill cloth turns clear. Make sure you have windows that open if doing this in the house....WOW.....smell does not last long however....
Let that dry for 24 hours then i sanded all seems untill nice and smooth. I then used the tinted resin and put 2 coats on (sanding between coats) with a cheap paint brush, letting each coat dry for 24 hours. The final coat i used a roller which went on nice and smooth....i guess you could use a roller on all coats....oh well you live and you learn!!!!
After everything cured well (left tanks alone for 3 days) i placed my glass inside tank opening. I had my glass cut 3/4" less then the actuall inside dimensions so that you get a "floating" glass. Make sure a aquarium safe silicone is used and use "lots" of siliclone. When i did it, the silicone actually came out on the outside of the tank, which was cleaned up with a razor blade after it was dry. (24 hours) I then added just a bead of silicone along all the glass edges.
the canopy was built off plans from Garf.com once again as was the stand.
I wired the canopy myself which will be hooked to a timer.
The only issue i had and someone may want to keep in mind is that the dimensions i uses create a few problems such as to get a little overhang from the tank to the base, you go over the magic 48" mark with a 4X8 sheet of plywood which i ended up having to buy 2 sheets of plywood....so maybe keep the dimensions a little smaller so you can utilize your sheet of plywood.
If anyone has any questions regarding this tank build, just send me a private message and i'll be happy to help if i can......
costs were about $650-750 for everything, however when i build another tank it will be cheaper as i had to get some special tools etc that i just didn't have before...i figure i could do another complete tank for about $300-400
anyway, here are some pictures also!!!!!!