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As a carpenter with 30 years experience I would have done a couple things differently but thanks for posting! I love seeing DIY fish tanks being built. Also there's no reason that tank couldn't have been on a 2x4 framed stand. Plenty of older two story houses are framed with 2x4 walls on both stories. (A doubled 2x4 carries a download of over 3000 lbs.) Also the top 2x is typically doubled up to tie the corners together. Also the bottom piece of ply wood typically goes in first so it doesn't have to be so tight because the others rest on top of it removing any gaps
I’m a carpenter of 30 years also. Always entertaining watching amateurs. Not sure why the walls were not framed typically instead of toe screwing every stud.
Investigate Interseal 670HS if you ever build another tank. Much cheaper, much easier to apply and better overall tried and true product. No fiberglass necessary in the corners. One coat and your finished.
Yes I agree poor design, toe nail is not strong, typical wood frame floor / wall design with full length headers would be way stronger , if the plywood went under the walls it would provide much more shear strength and some stainless straping on the corners would be great,,, treated wood would be next level,,, and forget the 4x4 just strap front wall to the back… here in Florida everything has to be strapped together and if he used the right mastic sealant there would have been zero leaks,,,
So helpful, thank you so much! Definitely subscribed. The way you've narrated is so straightforward and fantastic - I really appreciate this how-to style of video! :D
That's my experience as well! Usually you second coat while it's tack dry, but with having to get in and walk on the floor, in this scenario, it's better to let it dry and sand so that you can get a single even coat every time you apply.
Michael, we used Pond Shield’s pond armor liner product for this build. It is a fish safe epoxy that can be applied to wood. Yes Kern that is correct. I do epoxy garage floors as well and having spikes to walk across the first coat while applying the second coat is nice on concrete. I didn’t want to risk poking any holes in the plywood with spike shoes so I chose not to do that in this scenario. -Philip, Aquarium Outfitters
One thing I don’t understand when building these big aquariums is why it isn’t raised from the floor? Raise it about 50 cm (20”) and you’ll be able to enjoy the view without kneeling down or laying flat on the stomach. Otherwise a great build. 😊👌
I built my 1000g tank on 16-4x4 legs with 3 sheets of 1' plywood on top of that. The top 1' was the tank bottom. There is a 210g plywood sump below it in stand. I had a 21' high viewing panel. It is 13mm thick float glass. The glass is 24' high with 1 1/2' silicon around. The tank has been running for about 7 years now, trouble free. Interesting video.. I agree, overkill is good 👍 I recently built a 300g plywood tank for my dining room and its my predator tank and doing well.
Why so much worry about the weight? Your building on a slab. It's the outward and lateral pressure that is the most concerning. Your weak point is the million between the 2 viewing windows.
Thanks for your question JBF. I built the tank so I figured I would answer your question most accurately. The weight of the tank is a concern a few different ways, but most importantly safety. I don’t know if you have been inside our store but our wonderful building definitely has some age! It is not new construction. Because of its age the slab has settled over the past 30+ years and allowed for a very slight tilt causing the tank to not be perfectly level. Yes there are ways to create a new level surface but due to costs and humidity inside the building using our existing surface was the best option. Constructing tanks the same weight as 2 standard size pick ups in a small area of square footage we have to expect more shifting and settling of the slab as it adjusts to the weight of the tank. Lastly, we never ever want the tank to bust open risking the health of our customers, staff, or fish. Safety is the most important aspect of building a tank like this. I hope that answered your question! Thank you! - Philip, Aquarium Outfitters.
You worry when it's your store and when you're the one potentially getting sued! You overkill the build at the beginning so you don't have to pay the cost at the end if something fails.
I built a 2500 gallon aquarium in college to prove how territory can limit reproduction! I had 20 pairs of damsels in the tank. Instead of using the plywood for the strength I used 5/16 plywood and 2× 6 but then I used 2 layers of 6 oz cloth and because of the cloth it was incredibly strong! We used 5/8 plexiglass which was a mistake because it scratches very easily! Don't know the costs but was under 1000 dollar's in the 90's😂😂😂
Hey Rembrandt! I’m assuming you mean fiberglass the entire tank? The epoxy actually does a better job of sealing the wood surface than the fiberglass would believe it or not! Also the glass is half an inch thick.
Great question! The cost difference is the main reason. A glass aquarium of this size could cost anywhere from $20,000 or more! Plus shipping costs would be enormous. A tank like this can be constructed for less than $10,000 in materials. - Philip, Aquarium Outfitters
Why does everyone always use screws? Nails are basically better in every way when thinking long term, especially when there's water involved. Cheaper, stronger, faster, more corrosion resistant. Yes, screws are superior for pull (vs push) stress, but small adjustments in the framing will easily compensate (and make it far safer)
As a carpenter with 30 years experience I can say screws definitely have their place in construction. Especially when you don't want your fasteners to back out over time like the fasteners connecting the plywood to the framing because they'd end up compromising the epoxy. Also, if you've ever tried to separate 2x stock that's been screwed together vs nailed together with a hammer and flat bar you know how much better screws hold than nails. As far as corrosion goes stainless steel screws are commonly available where I live on the coast and required by code in some applications especially right by the ocean.
