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Plywood Tank building advice.
I just picked up an issue of Woodcraft magazine. In it is a how too for building your own plywood aquariums with glass viewing panels.
I found their advice on installing the glass panels interesting. After fabricating and waterproofing the tank, you apply the silicone around the perimeter of the opening and then install the glass panel or panels. Wedging it in place with some sticks to squeeze the silicone and create a good bond. The interesting part was their recommendation to fill the tank up to the top of the glass panel immediately. And then if you have any leaks, install a wedge in that area to stop it. The very even pressure makes sense, but it just seems counter-intuitive to put water in before the silicone cures. They also suggest 1/2" glass for up to 26", 3/4" for up to 36" and 1" for up to 48" tall. I have read lots of threads here on plywood tanks, but never noticed this detail. Is it common?
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**************** Get crazy with the cheez whiz... I didn't mean to take up all your sweet time Give it right back to you....One of these days |
#2
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#3
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When i made mine i made sure the glass overlaped the plywood by 3" all around and i used three big caulking tubes of aquarium grade silicone.
my tank is five feet long two feet deep and two feet high with 1/2" glass and one center brace and a lot of cotes of two part epoxy paint it's been up for five years now and no problems so far i also tacked in with some silicone some 65mil pond liner to protect the paint take a look at My Gallery to see some photos of it
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Sometimes I question the wisdom of my actions, but more often I seem to be acknowledging the stupidity of them. |
#4
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Thats a good article, I'm planning a large plywood tank next year and I'm keeping an eye out for these type of write ups, so I can hopefully grab the best ideas for my build up.
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Brad |
#5
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how does the sides hold up with all this pressure of water,how come it doesnt burst apart?
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#6
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I used 3/4" brich plywood with Stainless Steel Screws every 1 1/2"
along with a lot of waterproof polyurethane Gorilla Glue. and on the bottom i used two sheets of plywood with the top one being 3/4"smaller all around so i had two sides on the bottom to glue and screw and AcroSteve as far as placeing the glass all i did was to put the front opening down and then put down my silicone bead and then just layed the glass on top it and let the glass do the work , if need be just lay some sand bags on the glass to push it down
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Sometimes I question the wisdom of my actions, but more often I seem to be acknowledging the stupidity of them. |
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