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DIY Projects Use this forum to post threads related to home made projects for your corns... Vivariums, hides, decorations, accessories, you name it. Anything to save some bucks or give your personalized touch.

DIY: Build your own Custom Tank
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Old 09-11-2008, 11:57 PM   #1
Jimmysan00
Thumbs up DIY: Build your own Custom Tank

Here is a project for a 20L tank, dimension 30x12x12

~Tank Information:
Material = Plywood w/ Glass
Tank Height = 12"
Tank Width = 12"
Tank Length = 30 "
Plywood w/ Glass Thickness = 3/4"
Approximate Gallons = 19

Cut List:
3/4" Exterior Grade Plywood

Bottom = 30 " x 12"
Front = 30 " x 11 1/4"
Back = 30 " x 11 1/4"
2 Sides = 11 1/4 " x 10 1/2"
1/4 inch Glass Front
Glass Front = 28 x 9 1/4
TANK IS A 2-3 PERSON PROJECT


Tools
* a. 1- portable or table power saw
* b. 1- screw gun, with Phillips bit
* c. 1- orbital or belt sander, with medium grit
* d. 1- caulking gun
* e. 4-inch paint brushes, one for each day of painting [ KEEP BRUSHES IN FREEZER TO REUSE ]
* f. 2- 16-inch stanchions (May be boxes, or anything of this height, used to support the plywood pieces during construction)
* g. Various containers for mixing glue, putty, and paint

MATERIALS LIST
* c. 2-inch drywall screws
* d. Resorcenol waterproof glue
* e. Autobody putty w/ hardener
* f. Two-part epoxy paint for potable water tanks (NSF 61/USDA/ANSI/AWWA and FDA certified and approved)
* g. Silicon caulking, non-toxic aquarium suitable
* h. Xylene glass cleaner
* i. Commercial glass cleaner
* j. 6-sheets, 120 grit sandpaper
* k. 2-sheets, 220 grit sandpaper
* l. 2-packs, paper towels Sufficient for more than two tanks

Single Tank Construction Procedure, Tank Assembly

1. Cut out the front frame. Ensure you leave a minimum of 2 inches around the edges.
2. Inspect all plywood pieces for rough or flawed edges, which might later affect tank integrity. Sand as needed.
3. Lay bottom panel on the 16-inch stanchions.
4. Apply glue along all four edges of bottom panel, sufficiently heavy to accommodate the edges of the backpanel, endpanels, and face frame.
5. Raise backpanel up under bottom panel, mating long edge of backpanel into glue along edge of bottom panel. Insure that edges are flush, and that they make a 90-degree corner.
6. Turn bottom panel over, glue side down, centered on stanchions so that all edges of bottom panel are accessible.
7. Using screwgun, screw backpanel to bottom panel, inserting 2-inch drywall screws at 3-inch intervals along entire length. INSURE THAT ALL SCREWS ARE FULLY SEATED, AND TIGHT.
8. Apply glue along one 16 inch edge of each side panel.
9. Raise each side panel up under bottom panel, and screw tightly to both bottom panel and backpanel. Place drywall screws at three inch intervals.
10. Apply glue along inside edges of face frame, where they will mate with the endpanels. Raise lower face frame up under remaining edge of bottom-panel, and screw into place to bottom panel and endpanels.
11. Use three (3) screws in each end, and normal three-inch intervals along length. Insure that all edges are flush, and tight, after final tightening of screws.

*** WIPE EXCESS GLUE FROM ALL JOINTS AFTER FINAL TIGHTENING, AS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHIP OR SAND AWAY AFTER IT IS HARDENED. ***

12. Turn partially-completed tank right side up on stanchions for inspection. At this point, all panels screwed together should rest on the bottom panel, for the strongest possible base.
13. If this is not the case, quickly disassemble the pieces before the glue sets, and reassemble properly.
14. Turn the tank face-up on the stanchions.
15. Apply glue to FRONT exposed edges of endpanels.
16. Lay upper face frame in place, and screw to edge panels, using three screws in each end.
17. Check short face frame pieces for proper fit, sanding if necessary. THEY MUST FIT TIGHTLY WITHOUT SPRINGING UPPER AND LOWER FACE FRAME PIECES APART.
18. Apply glue to ends of short face frame pieces.
19. Lay short face frame pieces into place, and screw firmly to end panels, insuring that the outer edges are flush with the ends of the tank.
20. Recheck all work, wiping away excess glue, and insuring that corners are square, true, and not pulled open by later construction.
21. Allow to dry overnight if possible, though this is not critical.

GLASS INSTALLATION

1. Turn tank face down on level, flat surface, insuring that entire face frame is supported.
2. Use 220-grit sandpaper to rough up a two-inch strip of the epoxy paint on the inside of the tank, around the glass opening. This rough area will serve as a bonding area for the silicon glue.
3. Sand or file all corners of the glass panel, to avoid later injury to either workers or fish.
4. Clean entire surface, and edges, of glass panel with Xylene cleaner, and then commercial glass cleaner.
5. Apply 1/2-inch bead of silicon caulking around entire opening in face frame, on inside of tank. The bead should be approximately one inch from edge of opening, except along the top, and there the bead should be approximately one-half inch from edge of opening.
6. Install glass on inside of tank, insuring that the lower edge of the glass is resting full-length against bottom panel of tank for support.
7. Press evenly on glass to remove all bubbles and gaps from silicon caulking seal.
8. Re caulk glass, along all edges. pressing caulking with finger firmly into the corner formed by glass and face frame. Final caulking seal should be smooth, rounded, and gap and bubble free. Wipe any excess caulking away after seal is finished.

FINAL FINISH

Single Tank Construction Procedure, Final Assembly Points

1. Using three screws for each end of brace, install tank top brace, centered, spanning from top, inside edge of backpanel to top inside edge of upper face frame.
2. Apply heavy bead of silicon caulking into all interior corners of tank, again smoothing the seal with finger, removing all gaps and bubbles, and wiping away excess caulking when finished.
3. Allow tank to dry for 48 hours in warm, dry area before adding water.

Check it out:
http://www.garf.org/tank/buildtank.asp
 

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