Tank Building Idea

dishsail · 08-03-2005, 12:31 PM

Hello Fellow Reefer's:

I'm hoping that you maybe be willing to give advice or suggestions on this project that I am embarking on this up coming winter. I have an idea to design and build this style of fish tank (attached). The deminsions of the tank are 36" wide x 15" deep x 20" high. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

VWD · 08-03-2005, 01:00 PM

welcome to TRT!

First more info will help, The way it looks now water will spill over the right side if your fill it, the left side is taller. just kidding.

Loverotties · 08-03-2005, 01:22 PM

LOL Vince!Maybe it's in one of those fun houses!More pics please!

skeety · 08-03-2005, 01:34 PM

Not sure I understand the question either. But I'd like to help.

Are you asking if you can build a half-hex tank? I don't see why not.

or are you asking about the stand?

or how think you'd need the glass to be?

Or are you asking something else entirely?

skeety · 08-03-2005, 01:36 PM

btw...saw your post count, and don't remember welcoming you...so...

WELCOME!!!!

Nice to have you aboard. I have the utmost confidence that you'll grow to love it here!

Jeremy1973 · 08-03-2005, 01:44 PM

Welcome aboard!

I have seen a tank set-up similar to what you have sketched out in a local fish store (LFS) once, and the way they had it set up I would just sit and stare in to it for 10 min. With the LR, caluerpa, mushrooms, and misc. corals it looked like a mini-jungle in there and was just spectacular. Are you doing acrylic or glass? Built in overflows?

dishsail · 08-03-2005, 09:37 PM

Right now, I'm just looking for ideas of what people think of the layout and the possibility of building it. Looking for all types of suggestions from glass to lighting to filtration system to inhabitors. Let me know what you all think. Thanks, and I'll keep you posted with new drawings.

Thanks.

aussiereefer82 · 08-03-2005, 09:59 PM

First of all Welcome to TRT.

I would advise you to get advise off people who build tanks professionally. If not done right tanks can be a flood waiting to happen. When tanks start to get a bit larger things need to be taken into consideration eg. 50gals of water has a fair amount of pressure and the joins on hex tanks may not be the easiest to do. Knowing how to brace the tank properly would be a good advantage. There will be plenty of info from others but also consider the fact that getting the tank built will probably not cost a whole lot more and may save you thousands if something did happen, plenty of people have built tanks only to have them fail.

HTH

tims · 08-03-2005, 10:31 PM

I woudl suggest having it built with acrylic. this way you can drill easier to plumbing. I tae it withit being that deep you will be using MH lighting?

Welcome to TRT!

VWD · 08-03-2005, 11:16 PM

I have always wanted to build my tank , but in the end it alway came out to be fast and cheaper to buy one.

M I N I O N · 05-20-2008, 06:09 PM

I would build it using 5/8" acrylic instead of glass. Measure five times cutting the acrylic and read up on geometry, more specificly calculating distance using angles. the front and right panels sound have 22.5 degree angles cut at their sides facing the "corner" piece and that should have 22.5 degree angles cut on both sides. Once everything meets up you should have a perfect 90 degree transition. Sand your ends smooth with very high grit paper and use a good solvent to bond them. I get mine from hobby shops. With that corner bonded you can sand the corners down uniform and polish them. It should look proffesional if you do it all right and placed in the right room with other modern pieces of furniture it could look really good. I would go with a black back and a rear left corner overflow. The left side I would make with clear acrylic and paint the back black. By doing so the left corner will look more professional. If it were me i would also make the stand a cherry color wood with brushed stanless steel running up that cut corner on the stand and hood, the same in the back right.... but thats just me. :-)

motorslave · 05-20-2008, 07:28 PM

Not at all undoable! I would rcoment an external overflow. This will leave all the spave in the tank. One the top piec you want very rounded corners where it is cut out, this relieves pressure points and will help to reduce the potential for cracking. I think 5/8 would be fine for a 20" deep tank. As far as inhabitants, do some snooping around here and see what kinf od tanks you like. LPS, SPS or Softies all have different requirements for flow lighting etc. You can dial that in as you go since you have time.
Welcome to TRT!