This is my 135 gallon Plywood tank build. This build is still in progress and Imp at the final stage. All I have left is to fiberglass the inside, spray with a colored aquarium safe epoxy and build the stand. In this Thread I will be doing a step by step guide for those who are looking for an idea or would like to build a tank similar to mine. I hope you enjoy reading this and I encourage any comments or suggestions you have. So with out any further delay here’s my build.
I purchased most of my material from Lowes, so you will be able to find this stuff in any of your local Lowes or home depot.
1. Three sheets of 8'LX4'WX3/4" exterior grade plywood
2. Three 2'x6'x8' Pine boards (for trim)
3. Three 1 3/4"x6' metal bands
4. One 36"x72" sheet of plexiglass
5. One Bottle of Duck Glue.
In this picture here is the first piece of plywood that has been measured and marked at 72" and 20" to give me length and the height of the front and back of the tank.
Here is my dad making the first cuts into the plywood. I asked him to help me with this build because he has been a carpenter/Master cabinet maker all of his life. This is the first Aquarium he has built though.
After we cut out the front and back of the tank we used the leftover wood to cut the sides of the tank out. The sides measured out to 22" wide and 20" tall.
Once the sides were done we glued and nailed the front and back to both of the side pieces.
Here we cut the bottom of the tank out and mounted it to the rest of the tank. We let the glue dry for 24 hours before making anymore cuts.
The next day we cut out the window and ran the metal bands around the tank for support and to stop the bowing.
Next we cut the plexi and fitted it to the front of the tan. We doubled up on the plexi just to be on the safe side. I used latex caulking and glass points to seal it to the tank. While waiting for the caulking to dry my dad did what he does best.... finish work! He cut and routed the pine boards to go around the outside of the tank. He also covered up the metal bands with the pine to make it aesthetically pleasing.
This is where I am now. I just have to wait for a day off so I can start the fiber glassing. I do plan on glassing the seams where the plexiglass meets the plywood and glassing over the metal bands that run over the top of my tank.
Next on my list of materials that I need to get is
1. Fiberglass roller
2. More Fiberglasses
3. Epoxy
4. Three 4"x4"x8' post for the stand
5. One 2"x6"x8' stud.
I will keep posting my progress until I am done. Like I said I welcome feed back. I think it’s the only way we can learn.
I purchased most of my material from Lowes, so you will be able to find this stuff in any of your local Lowes or home depot.
1. Three sheets of 8'LX4'WX3/4" exterior grade plywood
2. Three 2'x6'x8' Pine boards (for trim)
3. Three 1 3/4"x6' metal bands
4. One 36"x72" sheet of plexiglass
5. One Bottle of Duck Glue.
In this picture here is the first piece of plywood that has been measured and marked at 72" and 20" to give me length and the height of the front and back of the tank.
Here is my dad making the first cuts into the plywood. I asked him to help me with this build because he has been a carpenter/Master cabinet maker all of his life. This is the first Aquarium he has built though.
After we cut out the front and back of the tank we used the leftover wood to cut the sides of the tank out. The sides measured out to 22" wide and 20" tall.
Once the sides were done we glued and nailed the front and back to both of the side pieces.
Here we cut the bottom of the tank out and mounted it to the rest of the tank. We let the glue dry for 24 hours before making anymore cuts.
The next day we cut out the window and ran the metal bands around the tank for support and to stop the bowing.
Next we cut the plexi and fitted it to the front of the tan. We doubled up on the plexi just to be on the safe side. I used latex caulking and glass points to seal it to the tank. While waiting for the caulking to dry my dad did what he does best.... finish work! He cut and routed the pine boards to go around the outside of the tank. He also covered up the metal bands with the pine to make it aesthetically pleasing.
This is where I am now. I just have to wait for a day off so I can start the fiber glassing. I do plan on glassing the seams where the plexiglass meets the plywood and glassing over the metal bands that run over the top of my tank.
Next on my list of materials that I need to get is
1. Fiberglass roller
2. More Fiberglasses
3. Epoxy
4. Three 4"x4"x8' post for the stand
5. One 2"x6"x8' stud.
I will keep posting my progress until I am done. Like I said I welcome feed back. I think it’s the only way we can learn.
