415 Gallon Plywood Tank Build

acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Here is my plan for the layout for the bottom of the tank for the CL holes.......

I'm planning at least 4 CL holes in the bottom, but might stick with original plan of 8 running either a VFD pump or 4Way or 8Way OceansMotions...


This shot shows the layout of the CL drains that will flood the CL pumps, and also shows the bulkheads for the overflow.....I will be utilizing the BeanAnimal plumbing system.....

This shot shows where the holes will be drilled in each corner. I'm planning on a Tunze located up top under the euro bracing. Haven't determined the exact size of Tunze's I'm gonna run yet.

Gemmy this pic gives you an idea of how the wavebox will be mounted on the tank. From an earlier pic I showed you from inside the tank, it will be perfectly flat inside the tank other than 3 holes allowing the Tunzes to fire into the tank.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Shawn, this looks amazing - a little over my head, I have to read up about these systems. This is a very inspiring thread - I see something like this in the future
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Thanks Al......Trust me I've seen your work and definitely no way is it over your head.....Just very tedious and time consuming. It actually is fun, because it makes you pull out all the stops, and use all your skills. I had gotten lazy not working in my dad's shop and leaving the mechanical field for UPS, and had to get reaquainted again with the mig welder. Pouring epoxy was a learning curve, but the hardest part to learn is actually mixing your epoxy mix without introducing tons of bubbles....Sounds easy to do, but trust me just looking at your mix you see bubbles appear.
I had talked a bit(small) bit about what I'm considering running for my CL's, and here is a quick link for those that might be interested in VFD pumps...... http://ttp://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1368855&highlight=vfd+control+questions. Actually quite cost efficient means of providing a tank with tons of flow.......
Really a plywood tank build just lets you do things as you want....Some builds I've seen are really out there.....They are smokin'....If you can dream it, you can build it. Just takes time fitting all your cuts precisely.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/600#post_3343484
Thanks Al......Trust me I've seen your work and definitely no way is it over your head.....Just very tedious and time consuming. It actually is fun, because it makes you pull out all the stops, and use all your skills. I had gotten lazy not working in my dad's shop and leaving the mechanical field for UPS, and had to get reaquainted again with the mig welder. Pouring epoxy was a learning curve, but the hardest part to learn is actually mixing your epoxy mix without introducing tons of bubbles....Sounds easy to do, but trust me just looking at your mix you see bubbles appear.
I had talked a bit(small) bit about what I'm considering running for my CL's, and here is a quick link for those that might be interested in VFD pumps...... http://ttp://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1368855&highlight=vfd+control+questions. Actually quite cost efficient means of providing a tank with tons of flow.......
Really a plywood tank build just lets you do things as you want....Some builds I've seen are really out there.....They are smokin'....If you can dream it, you can build it. Just takes time fitting all your cuts precisely.
Thanks Shawn, I am definately going to read up on this - Happy New Year to you and your family, all the best my friend.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Here are the tank jet bulkheads I'm planning on using on the tank. The "eyeball" in the center of the bulkhead is adjustable. Have to get them ordered in the morning. They will be black in color not white.
 
btwk12

btwk12

Member
just puttin my post in here so i can get all the updates! lol my best friend is thinking about doin a project like this but we don't know how to seal the viewing areas (glass/acrylic) to the wood frame. you probably already explained it but it's a long thread!!!
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by btwk12 http:///forum/thread/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/620#post_3343592
just puttin my post in here so i can get all the updates! lol my best friend is thinking about doin a project like this but we don't know how to seal the viewing areas (glass/acrylic) to the wood frame. you probably already explained it but it's a long thread!!!
Has he started his build? It depends which material your going to use for your viewing panels.....Does he know yet which one? Or is he still undecided like me still?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by btwk12 http:///forum/thread/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/620#post_3343592
just puttin my post in here so i can get all the updates! lol my best friend is thinking about doin a project like this but we don't know how to seal the viewing areas (glass/acrylic) to the wood frame. you probably already explained it but it's a long thread!!!
There are a lot of excellent builds out there and all are tailored to the builders needs/wants, but the best place to look and get the basics down is fingerlakesreef. They have a dedicated plywood build forum and you and your friend will get all the details as far as what's involved, and the do's and don'ts from experienced builders that have been doing it for years.....
 
btwk12

btwk12

Member
we have'nt started building yet, still doing a lot of recearch and planning as he knows it wont be cheap, or any time real soon! (nothin good happens in a hurry) he has never ran a SW tank, always has had a FW, but thats irelevant to the build. he's wantin his to be 8' long. and he's not dead set on building his own tank, the $ involved and the risk of amateurs building a 400+ gal tank and sitting it in his living room is weighing in on him a little bit!
we were figuring a round about cost of how much it would be total and it made sense to just have glass cages build a tank for him! but thats the easy way out!
 
btwk12

btwk12

Member
but tyvm for the info i will def check that site out. enough talking about my build though sorry! your build is looking very good by the way.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I've used GlassCages in the past a couple times and their work has always been decent......It's hard to compare or price at times due to GlassCages won't do external overflows or waveboxes.....As far as price where you tie your money up is on the epoxy...Depending on the brand will dictate your price....I chose West Systems since their reputation and quality of product, and there are other quality products available, but for instance a gallon of resin and quart of hardner is roughly $155.00 and that's not shipping if you have it shipped in and depending on size that is quite a bit of epoxy.....So you could figure $1000.00 easily on epoxy.....You can't put a price on your labor, because it's an experience you won't forget......Honestly if you take your time and I've added a lot of extra safety measures into my build from the steel framing to filleting the 45's, and then doing a generous pour on all the 45's, and then laying fiberglass all throughout the tank.....trust me if it comes apart it was an act of God.....
 
btwk12

btwk12

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/620#post_3343808
Honestly if you take your time and I've added a lot of extra safety measures into my build from the steel framing to filleting the 45's, and then doing a generous pour on all the 45's, and then laying fiberglass all throughout the tank.....trust me if it comes apart it was an act of God.....
i noticed that everything you have done looks well thought out, and the craftmanship is exellent! i cant wait to see it up and running. how long do you think you have left time wise?
 
btwk12

btwk12

Member
i am in the process of looking for a new house right now, and when i do finally move i will also be starting the build of my dreams. but i will not be building the tank. glass cages is about 6 hours from me so i will just simply order and pick up my tank lol! i myself am not as patient as i should be, and plus there is so much other stuff that needs to be done in order to set up a bigger tank. the dt i have now will then be my sump
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Thanks Henry.....I had followed that build from the early on, but loose track of things.....that is insane!!!! I'm going to have to do some reading tonight and catch up on the thread.....
 
posiden

posiden

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/620#post_3344625
Hey seen this one? First link then go to post #143, or read the whole gig if you so desire.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Reef+Aquarium+1350+gallons+in+Bucharest
That's one nice build Spanko.
Mr Wilson is a wealth of knowledge IMO. He has done some really nice work. He's the one that helped me build my 20L. Have you checked out his web site?
Acrylic51,
I'm too lazy to go back and check out your discussion on the LEDs. What are you going to use for the heat sink? IIRC 2Quills posted a source.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I've been around here forever and going to ask a stupid question....What the H3ll does IIRC mean?
I'm really undecided on the heat sinks....I've looked and sourced out a few places that can custom cut heat sinks like Rapidled sells, and then there's always the idea of DIY heatsink using "C" or "U" channel.....I'd feel a little more comfortable probably with an actual heatsink, only because I haven't really seen to many people do the channel and give real results. Another reason is haven't come up with a way to actually tie the channels together. I want as clean a build as possible. Disadvantage to actual heatsinks is weight. I still have to do some homework as far as searching out something on the line of wall speaker mounts that are adjustable or swivel. I seen a build on RC that it was done and it makes it super nice being able to adjust the lighting as well.
 
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