Aluminum Aquariums?

[gonzo111]

Let me start by saying hello. Its my first post. Been into fish for many years and I have a question. Can I build an aquarium out of aluminum and then paint it? Has anyone done this? I have sheets of aluminum measuring 144" by 48" and a machine shop at my disposal. This stuff is about 1/8" thick and with bracing would be a heck of alot tougher than glass or wood. Im thinking about welding one together but dont know if the aluminum will hurt the water chemistry.

[Kagh't]

i can tell you right off that 1/8" will be no where near thick enough to take the strain of a tank that large, even steel wouldn't be strong enough.
for aluminium, i'm guessing you'd have to go for an inch or so to build that type of tank, but i'm only guessing there.

aluminium won't affect water quality, but you can give it a coat of G4 to make properly sure.

[TKOS]

You'd want to heat treat the auminum first as well or you will end up with lots of spot corrosion (tiny white dots all over the aluminum surface).

[gonzo111]

Thanks for the replies! What Im thinking about doing is taking two sheets and making it into an aquarium aprox 24" wide 20" tall and 120" long. I have a automated plasma cutting system at the shop that allows cutting the sheet into different shapes. Ill be able to basically make a welded aluminum rectangle with framed holes in it where I want the glass to be. By doing this I fugure Ill be saving a small fortune on glass as Ill only need one piece measuring 193/4" by 119 3/4 ".
If anyone knows anybody that has ever done this please let me know. :D

[fish_e_o]

i've seen it done with concrete then coated with epoxy but not aluminum (that is what they do at the vancouver aquarium). i hope this helps

[><(((\"> JLange]

Originally posted by gonzo111
Thanks for the replies! What Im thinking about doing is taking two sheets and making it into an aquarium aprox 24" wide 20" tall and 120" long. I have a automated plasma cutting system at the shop that allows cutting the sheet into different shapes. Ill be able to basically make a welded aluminum rectangle with framed holes in it where I want the glass to be. By doing this I fugure Ill be saving a small fortune on glass as Ill only need one piece measuring 193/4" by 119 3/4 ".
If anyone knows anybody that has ever done this please let me know. :D

If I remember right from my days working in a metal fab shop, you would need at least 1/4" OR form or weld longitudinal stringers to it to keep it rigid. IMHO 1/8" without reinforcement, will not keep it's shape with that stress.

You would need to coat it with something (Marine Epoxy?) to keep it from corroding

JOhn ><>

[><(((\"> JLange]

Originally posted by gonzo111
Thanks for the replies! What Im thinking about doing is taking two sheets and making it into an aquarium aprox 24" wide 20" tall and 120" long. I have a automated plasma cutting system at the shop that allows cutting the sheet into different shapes. Ill be able to basically make a welded aluminum rectangle with framed holes in it where I want the glass to be. By doing this I fugure Ill be saving a small fortune on glass as Ill only need one piece measuring 193/4" by 119 3/4 ".
If anyone knows anybody that has ever done this please let me know. :D

Not exactly the same but like the attached picture.


JOhn <><

[gonzo111]

Interesting! My design was going to incorporate hemned flanges as a structural bracing. Using the bracing system that you are talking about but on the outside I really think I could build something larger than what Im thinking about with the 1/8 thick material. Thanks for the idea.