Wood Tanks

marinelife · 12/28/2007, 12:58 PM

What do you guys know about making a wood tank, I have been researching in and thinking of making one.

I would do one that is 96" long x 32" deep x 65-75" High.

I was thinking it would go all the way to the ground and have a small area to the left for a built in sump and a few shelves for equipment. Most of the front would be acrylic and the right end would also be part acrylic for viewing from the end.

I will try and draw out a picture and post it sometime.

Let me know what you guy think and what you know or recommend about making a wood tank.

pledosophy · 12/28/2007, 02:49 PM

It's going to be expensive to find a front piece of acrylic that large. Typically it comes in 4x8' pieces. Fusing them together with a "clean: seam can cost a lot. Some people have gotten around this by using porthole style windows, or having a wood seem in the middle front of the tank.

chrismunn · 12/28/2007, 02:53 PM

i think last months TOTM was wood wasnt it? or am i thinking of some completely random thread i just read????

marinelife · 12/28/2007, 03:08 PM

Yeah that is what got me thinking about making one.

As far as the front goes, I am not sure what the final viewing area would be.

boxfishpooalot · 12/28/2007, 04:27 PM

I looked into it for the purpose of saving money. You have to coat the wood with epoxy paint for potable water tanks. Its not cheap paint either. Like 100 bucks a gallon. I dont know how much a gallon would do but add that to the cost of wood your probably better off getting a regular acrylic/glass tank.

intermision · 12/28/2007, 04:33 PM

All of the wooden tanks I have seen are built like inside out boats with marine epoxy as a sealer.

marinelife · 12/28/2007, 04:47 PM

I have found some sealer which does not seem to have a bad price and should not cost alot to get. The main display panel would cost the most that I can tell.

This is the epoxy I found more use
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/...tail/iid/11733

geraldwhite · 12/28/2007, 05:08 PM

You can buy 48x96 sheets but expect to pay a lot in shipping.

virginiadiver69 · 12/28/2007, 05:10 PM

I'm in the planning stages for one now. It will be 96" x 36" x 24".
GARF does not recommend building in plywood over 24". I got my glass from glass cages fro about $300, 1/2 Starfire.

marinelife · 12/28/2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by virginiadiver69
I'm in the planning stages for one now. It will be 96" x 36" x 24".
GARF does not recommend building in plywood over 24". I got my glass from glass cages fro about $300, 1/2 Starfire.

Do you have a link about not recommending over 24"
I would like to read more.

virginiadiver69 · 12/28/2007, 06:18 PM

http://www.garf.org/
Look in the DIY section. Lots of good info.
Lots of good stuff here to.
http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/vie...7da7c28bf0bf49

marinelife · 12/28/2007, 06:28 PM

Thanks, I am checking out Finger Lakes Reef, looks like alot of great information.

12/28/2007, 12:58 PM	#1
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	Wood Tanks What do you guys know about making a wood tank, I have been researching in and thinking of making one. I would do one that is 96" long x 32" deep x 65-75" High. I was thinking it would go all the way to the ground and have a small area to the left for a built in sump and a few shelves for equipment. Most of the front would be acrylic and the right end would also be part acrylic for viewing from the end. I will try and draw out a picture and post it sometime. Let me know what you guy think and what you know or recommend about making a wood tank. __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

12/28/2007, 02:49 PM	#2
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	It's going to be expensive to find a front piece of acrylic that large. Typically it comes in 4x8' pieces. Fusing them together with a "clean: seam can cost a lot. Some people have gotten around this by using porthole style windows, or having a wood seem in the middle front of the tank. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

12/28/2007, 02:53 PM	#3
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	i think last months TOTM was wood wasnt it? or am i thinking of some completely random thread i just read???? __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

12/28/2007, 03:08 PM	#4
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	Yeah that is what got me thinking about making one. As far as the front goes, I am not sure what the final viewing area would be. __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

12/28/2007, 04:27 PM	#5
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	I looked into it for the purpose of saving money. You have to coat the wood with epoxy paint for potable water tanks. Its not cheap paint either. Like 100 bucks a gallon. I dont know how much a gallon would do but add that to the cost of wood your probably better off getting a regular acrylic/glass tank. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

12/28/2007, 04:33 PM	#6
intermision Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 190	All of the wooden tanks I have seen are built like inside out boats with marine epoxy as a sealer. __________________ "Don't take life too seriously; you'll never get out of it alive."

12/28/2007, 04:47 PM	#7
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	I have found some sealer which does not seem to have a bad price and should not cost alot to get. The main display panel would cost the most that I can tell. This is the epoxy I found more use http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/...tail/iid/11733 __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

12/28/2007, 05:08 PM	#8
geraldwhite Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So Cal Posts: 156	You can buy 48x96 sheets but expect to pay a lot in shipping.

12/28/2007, 05:10 PM	#9
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	I'm in the planning stages for one now. It will be 96" x 36" x 24". GARF does not recommend building in plywood over 24". I got my glass from glass cages fro about $300, 1/2 Starfire. __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator

12/28/2007, 06:18 PM	#11
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	http://www.garf.org/ Look in the DIY section. Lots of good info. Lots of good stuff here to. http://fingerlakesreef.com/forum/vie...7da7c28bf0bf49 __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator

12/28/2007, 06:28 PM	#12
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	Thanks, I am checking out Finger Lakes Reef, looks like alot of great information. __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.