DIY Monster Fish Tank

Parka said:
I'm getting ready to put the second coat on. Those white stripes are fiber glass for the corners.View attachment 49211
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You dont need to seal the open ends of the plywood cut outs? Im not asking to be a dickhead. I am just completely unfamiliar with this process. I get the fiberglass reinforcement, but something in me is screaming to seal those ends around the glass cut outs.
 
Peter Gozintite said:
You dont need to seal the open ends of the plywood cut outs? Im not asking to be a dickhead. I am just completely unfamiliar with this process. I get the fiberglass reinforcement, but something in me is screaming to seal those ends around the glass cut outs.
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But Pete, those edges you speak of, they are on the 'outside' of the tank... I already got splatter on those edges so I was probably going to coat them with the Pond Shield anyway but it really isn't necessary. A good paint job on the outside is plenty sufficient.

One thing that caught my attention was how close the color of the Pond Shield matches the color of the paint I will be using, kinda cool!

And as far as you being dickhead, man alive, past present or future, I would deserve it because I trust you to make the right call. Both you and Padre @dbldwn711 stepped up for me, god damn it, I will stop gushing one of these days but the two of you are my champions!
 
Parka said:
But Pete, those edges you speak of, they are on the 'outside' of the tank... I already got splatter on those edges so I was probably going to coat them with the Pond Shield anyway but it really isn't necessary. A good paint job on the outside is plenty sufficient.

One thing that caught my attention was how close the color of the Pond Shield matches the color of the paint I will be using, kinda cool!

And as far as you being dickhead, man alive, past present or future, I would deserve it because I trust you to make the right call. Both you and Padre @dbldwn711 stepped up for me, god damn it, I will stop gushing one of these days but the two of you are my champions!
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Seth Meyers Lol GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers
 
TigerBait1971 said:
If it leaks, you just built a really nice humidifier. Win win.

:happy:
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Don't make me get brazen with you! Did you know I'm in command of this project? That makes me Project Commander!

"If it leaks" ... I will have my Project Manager determine the odds of that happening. @Bayou Tiger , he knows all kinds of good shit!
walking just passing through GIF
 
Parka said:
Don't make me get brazen with you! Did you know I'm in command of this project? That makes me Project Commander!

"If it leaks" ... I will have my Project Manager determine the odds of that happening. @Bayou Tiger , he knows all kinds of good shit!
walking just passing through GIF
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So the glass or plastic panels go in the recessed grooves? Then another layer of something?
 
Peter Gozintite said:
So the glass or plastic panels go in the recessed grooves? Then another layer of something?
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Yes, those four openings that the top brace created will each get a normal piece of window glass for lids.

Above that, I still need to build the hood which will house the lights. When it's finished it should be a pretty handsome set up.

My gosh though, this Pond Shield is so messy! I sorta had to stick my head inside the tank to reach everywhere and I got that stuff in my hair, on my ear and forehead and my hands are a mess and it is really REALLY hard to get this stuff off my skin. I'm just gonna have to cut my hair off, I got two separate patches in my hair.

And so now, it will be ready for glass on Friday but I might give it an extra day just to make sure the epoxy is cured.

I'm guessing there are about 200 screws on the outside of the tank and about 20% of them did not countersink so I will remove those troublesome screws one at a time, pre-drill a shallow countersink hole and put the screw back in. And then I can start filling all the screw holes and get the outside prepped for paint.

Have you ever heard of 'pot life' or 'pot time'? It's something I learned about using this epoxy. It's how much time until the epoxy starts to set up and become unusable. When I did the second coat which included using fiberglass in the corners, I had a batch start to set up before I was finished. I just had to mix up another smaller batch but my gawd, what a mess! The tank though, it isn't a mess, it looks good.
 
Parka said:
Yes, those four openings that the top brace created will each get a normal piece of window glass for lids.

Above that, I still need to build the hood which will house the lights. When it's finished it should be a pretty handsome set up.

My gosh though, this Pond Shield is so messy! I sorta had to stick my head inside the tank to reach everywhere and I got that stuff in my hair, on my ear and forehead and my hands are a mess and it is really REALLY hard to get this stuff off my skin. I'm just gonna have to cut my hair off, I got two separate patches in my hair.

And so now, it will be ready for glass on Friday but I might give it an extra day just to make sure the epoxy is cured.

I'm guessing there are about 200 screws on the outside of the tank and about 20% of them did not countersink so I will remove those troublesome screws one at a time, pre-drill a shallow countersink hole and put the screw back in. And then I can start filling all the screw holes and get the outside prepped for paint.

Have you ever heard of 'pot life' or 'pot time'? It's something I learned about using this epoxy. It's how much time until the epoxy starts to set up and become unusable. When I did the second coat which included using fiberglass in the corners, I had a batch start to set up before I was finished. I just had to mix up another smaller batch but my gawd, what a mess! The tank though, it isn't a mess, it looks good.
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Yes. Sweat time is the time you're supposed to mix, at let it sit before using. Pot life is how much time you have before it turns into paint ont a gorilla could use.

Worked with many epoxy paints, and have always hated it. Never did the inside of a box though. Good luck with the hair. Gotcha a Elvis wig to rock for a while
 
Parka said:
Yes, those four openings that the top brace created will each get a normal piece of window glass for lids.

Above that, I still need to build the hood which will house the lights. When it's finished it should be a pretty handsome set up.

My gosh though, this Pond Shield is so messy! I sorta had to stick my head inside the tank to reach everywhere and I got that stuff in my hair, on my ear and forehead and my hands are a mess and it is really REALLY hard to get this stuff off my skin. I'm just gonna have to cut my hair off, I got two separate patches in my hair.

And so now, it will be ready for glass on Friday but I might give it an extra day just to make sure the epoxy is cured.

I'm guessing there are about 200 screws on the outside of the tank and about 20% of them did not countersink so I will remove those troublesome screws one at a time, pre-drill a shallow countersink hole and put the screw back in. And then I can start filling all the screw holes and get the outside prepped for paint.

Have you ever heard of 'pot life' or 'pot time'? It's something I learned about using this epoxy. It's how much time until the epoxy starts to set up and become unusable. When I did the second coat which included using fiberglass in the corners, I had a batch start to set up before I was finished. I just had to mix up another smaller batch but my gawd, what a mess! The tank though, it isn't a mess, it looks good.
Click to expand...

Were all those screws stainless steel?
 
Parka said:
Have you ever heard of 'pot life' or 'pot time'? It's something I learned about using this epoxy. It's how much time until the epoxy starts to set up and become unusable.
Click to expand...

Someone actually read the manufacturer's recommendations!

Many products have this. Thin set comes to mind. Most people just mix it up and use right away.
 
I've built marine tanks before.....and by built I mean put together...using an actual glass tank! What I built was the completed tank.

Much like the hotrods I've built over the years...I built engines but didn't pour the engine block...
ifin' ya kno wut I mean'!

To build the actual tank! ...that will hold all that water! That's gutzy my man! I hope it all works out as you are planning. It looks awesome. You really have a lot of work into it so I am pulling for you to have a very successful outcome.

If in doubt, add another coat of that seal. Use the whole gallon can of it...
 
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