I am thinking of incorporating a tank into a dresser/computer hybrid that I'm buildin

[Tfry]

It will be my first fish tank let alone build of one.

questions (and pardon my ignorance as it is complete and total)

1: How do I know what thickness of glass I will need. Right now the dimensions that I plan on using will be 34" in LENGTH, 13" HIGH, and 24" deep. I know these seem like odd measurement, but they fit the aesthetic that I'm looking for. Is there any reason that I wouldn't be able to use these dimensions.

2: As this won't be a stand alone tank I was hoping that only the front wall would need to be glass and that there might be some kind of epoxy/sealant that I would be able to treat wood with that would allow me to not have to line the walls; maybe I will just build the box for the aquarium and then just lay a plexy glass liner and then just seal the seams.

3: Any recommendations for what sealant to use

4: What are the most common mistakes that are made/unexpected by first time builders.

5: Any literature you recommend

[HD Fatboy®]

The only kind of sealant I can help you with is the one sold by LFS and aquarium stores which costs a couple bucks more than regular silicone sealant sold at hardware and builing centers...the sealant you do not want is the ones labled for bathrooms, it has an additive for mildow resistance...that will harm fish....24: deep may need some special lighting....as far as thickness of glass I would recommend 1/4" min. Also I do not know about lining the wood box with either glass or acrylic, I have never seen it done...But I am thinking why would't that work?

[Geoff]

i suggest building the tank out of either all glass or all acrylic. there is not a good adhesive that will bind the two properly for use in a tank. i wish there was though, then all of my tanks would have been acrylic tanks with glass fronts.

with the tank only being 13" high i believe 1/4" glass or acrylic is fine. though 1/4" acrylic my bow more than you like, you can always go thicker. both are fairly easy to make, if you get the correct adhesive. any 100% silicone will work for the glass. while Weld-On 4 or Weld-On 16 for the acrylic.

mechanical binding is needed for attaching acrylic or glass to a wood tank. the size you are talking, the prices of either the glass or acrylic is not outrageous. that is when you start looking at glass/acrylic over 1/2" think.

www.glasscages.com will build you any size tank you want. they are also very reasonably prices.

G~

[wanareef]

If you want to make the tank out of wood, then just 3/4" ACX will do. Then cut a "frame" from the front side and you can just silicone it in. For the seal on the wood part, I used epoxy and fiberglass - over build but the epoxy when dry acts as a liner and the silicone will adhere to that, plus you have the pressure of the water pushing against the glass.

I have built several "wooden" tanks, the biggest is a 250gal and the first one 110gal, in my earlier freshwater days. This will work with salt as well.

You will bascially have a wooden box per your dimensions, the front of it looks like a pix frame, paint on the epoxy after you mix it, let it dry. I made my liner 1/4" thick but your needs 1/8" will work, apply the silicone install the glass then place weights on the glass till it dries, your done.

Checkout RC on the plywwod tansk there.

good luck