DIY Monster Fish Tank

beginning at 4:50 is a part about the Aqua Zoo in NY. It was a very small place in the country run on a nothing budget. The owner built everyone of one of these tanks.




His name is Dave Roberts and he's since turned this place into a little pub/restaurant (Fins Eatery and Pub) and still has several of the tanks in the dining area.

I bet he would talk with you if you gave him a call and had real questions. He's a talker.

 
Bayou Tiger said:
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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Wow wee! That is a major compliment and it Shan't be Denied! It sorta made my day, (better) ya know.
 
dikowt dowg said:
beginning at 4:50 is a part about the Aqua Zoo in NY. It was a very small place in the country run on a nothing budget. The owner built everyone of one of these tanks.




His name is Dave Roberts and he's since turned this place into a little pub/restaurant (Fins Eatery and Pub) and still has several of the tanks in the dining area.

I bet he would talk with you if you gave him a call and had real questions. He's a talker.

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Thanks for sharing that video. I saw some Sea Horseys!
 
Bayou Tiger said:
That's a huge fucking tank! Hahaha! Where do you plan on displaying this thing once it's completed?
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It's staying in the basement only a few feet away from where it is now. I went ahead today and put a fourth coat of Pond Shield on the tank and a second coat on my hair again! I don't think that 4th coat was needed but it sure won't hurt anything.

So now the earliest I could put the glass in would be Sunday and so I will probably wait until Monday morning to do that. Tonight I will prime paint the outside of the tank and tomorrow I will finish the painting the tank.
 
You probably already told us, but what kind of legs/feet will it be on, or will it just sit on the floor??
Those 4x4 shorty legs I saw earlier??
 
outofyourmind said:
You probably already told us, but what kind of legs/feet will it be on, or will it just sit on the floor??
Those 4x4 shorty legs I saw earlier??
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I built the stand for the tank before I started the tank and according to my very capable Project Manager, I overbuilt the living shit out of it! He estimated it will hold 17,000 pounds and that is a conservative estimate because each corner is three 2x4's and then the 3/4" plywood that I covered it with certainly added more weight capacity.

Thanks for asking, friend! Here's a couple pics of the stand. Made in the U.S.A. by the Clumsy!
Sturdy x several grillion..jpgSturdy & Purdy.jpg
 
It keeps getting better looking every day. I will probably put another coat of Pond Shield only on the floor of the tank. I saw an area about 2 sq. feet, I'm just not happy with it, it seems thin. The grey color is primer.
Primed.jpg

I used Bunny's measuring cups to mix the epoxy. I think they are ruined.
Let us make Christmas Cookies!.jpg


Lucky for me Amazon delivers super fast! I betcha Popeye works at Amazon.
Saved by Amazon!.jpg
 
One day at a time. This is one topcoat on the outside and a 5th coating of Pond Shield on the inside. I took the advice of my Project Manager and put two more coats on the inside but I didn't use the whole gallon. I think I used a little more than half.
IMG_20211121_183530.jpg
I used about 3 1/2 full sheets of plywood to build the tank and there was very little scrap left over because I was able to use so many narrow pieces. The biggest scrap pieces were the round end panel cut outs.

As is I estimate the tank weighs 220 to 250 pounds and the glass will add another 130 pounds. So I think the tank and stand will each weigh about 350 pounds.
 
I will have to wait until Wednesday morning to put the glass in because because it got one last coat of Pond Shield last night. It was the very neatest application of the six of them, I only got epoxy on my hands this last time.
 
bump manatee GIF
 
I had trouble trying to move the tank back up higher and it ended up going down a little bit at a time. It didn't crash down at all, it was a bit of a scary controlled slide, anyway now it's on a 4x4 on one end and a 2x4 on the other end. I think I can use a car jack and get it lifted back up, I hope it works. I put the glass in the two ends today and tomorrow I will wrestle with the front panels.

All four glass panels are 1/2" thick tempered glass and they are sold as table tops, two 22" round panels on the ends and two front panels 24" x 48". glass in end panels.jpgit got away from me.jpg
 
It looks like the car jack will work to get this mean lean & long baby monster tank where HE belongs! Hear me ROAR!
IMG_20211125_132149_1.jpg
 
It cost me a whole day by letting that tank make its way to the floor but that is okay because I'm making good progress.
 
outofyourmind said:
Finish Line Running GIF by Nike
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Well it is now! Actually I'm just getting started as a baby monster tank hobbyist.

I had one monster of a time with the second front panel (left side) but I will clean it up after that silicone glue dries. I fell down today too, right off that yellow and black tool box. I am all bruised up and sore from this build.
IMG_20211126_172415_1.jpg
 
I'm all beat up and I'm gonna feel it tomorrow. I fell down off my toolbox to the floor today. More bruises.
My table saw threw another piece at me a couple days ago. After the second time it happened earlier this year I thought I had it remedied but it doesn't take much for the fence to be untrue causing the blade to bind ever so slight against the wood and shooting it like an arrow.

When I failed to lift the tank and it dropped down instead, that was also a bruising situation!
IMG_20211126_205137_2.jpgIMG_20211126_210100.jpg
 
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