35 replies to this topic

[SamJohns]

Started knocking this together the other day.





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240x120x60cm, 1723Ltr for when these beauties outgrow my 200x75x75.

So far it has cost me about $250 for everything "pre-glassing".

Just need to put two cross braces the length of it on either top side. Also build the frames for the viewing panels which will be made out of either re enforced pool fence glass or Perspex. Leaning towards the glass at this stage.

Should be ready to fibre glass mid January when the fibreglass joint are back from break! Looking at roughly $700-$1000 to fibreglass inside and out.

After fibreglassing, going to use 40mm sheets of foam to insulate and some heavy weight coreflute on a wooden frames as two lifting lids.

Also looking to use cut sandstone blocks to raise it 75cm approx.

[Buccal]

Very nice.
Would be great to see more people do this type of thing.
It means those people can take their tank busters all the way.
Looking forward to seeing the finished product Sam.

[SamJohns]

And thanks for the help Mark!

You'll see me on gumtree next;

"Willing to adopt any TBs stuck in 6x2s FOR FREE, FREE FISH LOL"

[scottyhooton]

Nice work Sam

[SamJohns]

Cheers Scotty.

Wasn't going to post this up. But want to put it out there its not overly expensive to keep these real TBs!

Hate to see some of these fish in cramped envoroments!

But at the end of the day, this ain't going to do squat! Worthless people are going to proceed to keep fish in inadequate settings and more inadequate people are going to keep winging about it!

[werdna]

Good luck with the build Sam
I was going to build mine out of coolroom panels and liner, but always wanted to try this method.

[SamJohns]

Cheers Wendra. I was inspired after going to see Marks.

This one should get me through until the girlfriend and I buy a house. Then I will be definately using cool room panels to minimise running costs!

[sandgroper]

I wouldn't of use MDF, ply-wood of been better. Even better marine ply-would

[SamJohns]

Why would it matter if the whole thing is going to be fibreglassed inside and out Sandgroper?

[YIN93]

Cool project Sam. Cant wait to see the finish product.

[Niz]

Why would it matter if the whole thing is going to be fibreglassed inside and out Sandgroper?

probably for strength. With Ply you would only need a sealing coat of fibreglass.

Cool project anyways

[Buccal]

probably for strength. With Ply you would only need a sealing coat of fibreglass.

Cool project anyways

You are under estimating the strength of mdf wrapped in fiber glass by a million miles.
Using anything else other than mdf is a waiste of money.
My ray pens are bigger with only 10mm mdf used.
There is not a millimeter of bow or flex what so ever.
Sams finished project will have a actuall fiber glass wrap, not just resin.
The inside will be coated with Gel-coat for a definite finalized seal.

Just a fiber glass seal over ply wood is still very susceptible to movement and possible seal breaking on the joins.
When moving and transporting such large and long tubs, they do flex in that way.
And I would be worried about the corners getting hairline cracks on the not so flexible thin coating.
For such a small project it's worth having it fibreglassed.
Minimal materials and labour fits it into a days worth of work.
The place I send my projects to is great for their apprentices and they wrapp it thick.
Cashy jobs at apprentice rates in the bosses pocket, now ya gotta luv that.

Edited by Buccal, 31 December 2012 - 01:48 PM.

[Scales]

I look forward to watching this thread evolve. I will be doing something very similar when I move house, building a massive display pen for tb's in the middle of the house or build it into a wall and have a dedicated room for filtration.

The mdf/fibreglass combo has given me a whole new outlook on how to attack the situation, the original idea was to get concrete tilt panels built on top of the slab when we build our house and then position them pre brick work to be truly built into the house but that presented the problem of what if we eventually sell ect and also plumbing, sealing the viewing panels and ventilation.

Having worked with fibreglass for about 5-6 years for my first job when I was a kid knocking something up like this would be effortless for 4 blokes on a weekend. Construction day one and glassing day two and three. The beauty of it is sealing the viewing panels is just a matter of silicone and brackets. Plumbing could all be drilled in easy as and you could easily build in over head filtration to tie it all together.

Bring on heaps of pics and updates Sam 😃

[Juls]

Looking great, cool to see how u go,

To my mind MDF is far superior for this application because its stiffer and has less flex and little or no internal resonance.

Marine ply is ideal for boats because of its ability to flex constantly with little wear and tear.

Juls

Edited by Juls, 31 December 2012 - 07:40 PM.

[SamJohns]

Cheers. Ill update as soon as I take the next step.

After seeing Buccals setup and taking advantage of his knowledge I'm sure all will be 100% A Okay!

Now just gota wait til these fibreglassers get back from holidays....

[Niz]

You are under estimating the strength of mdf wrapped in fiber glass by a million miles.
Using anything else other than mdf is a waiste of money.

Well there you go, learn something new everyday Ive only heard of these done in ply previously.

[Peckoltia]

Coming along nicely man.

Look forward to seeing it full of water.

[SamJohns]

Well there you go, learn something new everyday Ive only heard of these done in ply previously.

All the ones I have seen done in Marine Ply are then coated internally with a roll on rubber product. So strength is obviously a factor when constructing. Where as this is more like a shell and the fibreglass with be the strength.

Cheers Alex. Hopefully get it fibreglassed by the end of the month.

[Peckoltia]

What are you going to filter this tank with Sam?

What's going in it? Look good with a couple thousand electric yellows

[SamJohns]

I'm thinking either breeding guppies or tadpoles.... Not sure which one yet. Might even try x breed fish v amphibian?

Filtration wise I will run off my main sump to begin with along with this new media Mark introduced me to. I think its called K2? Correct me if I'm wrong Mark. Great biological media. You use an air pump to constantly move the media. So no crap gets caught up at the bottom. Only benifical bacteria on media. All crap gets caught on the way out? I think, before returning to your tank.

Can be setup in a wheelie bin with an open catchment chamber for easy cleaning.