Wanting to build my own custom aquarium

First topic message reminder :

I want to build a custom extra large aquarium to house some extra large freshwater fish. I was woundering if any one had any suggestions on doing so. I want to make it 8x4x4. I already have a start for a stand to put it on. According to the thickness chart i found it stopped at 3 ft tall using 20mm(.79) thick glass so i was thinking of at least an inch, if not thicker. Would rather use archrylic then glass but would have to check the pricing and availability on it. I already know this will not be cheap. After i get the structeral end figured out i have the plans for everything else in my head. The stand so far is an old 4x8 woork bench with 6 4x4 legs on it and 2x6 running down the side connecting the legs. also has 2x6 cross beems in the middle. Really need to now if that would be enough to handle the weight of an aquarium that size. i will add 3 more 4x4 legs to it for sure.Will add pics of my stand plans by this week end. Also know this will be no easy little task to acomplish and it will take a lot of time to finnish but that is ok with me.

wow check out those post cajun 103 pages that is a massive build on the 4300

the "L" braced 55s look sweet...figure you can do that wich any identical tank


HMMM "U" shaped 90's have one just need 2 more lol

one of the louisiana members had this " L " shaped tank....

I thought about building a pond like your body Pete is the tank. I'm only on page 50 on the thread.Will be reading on as the night goes. I showed it to my wife, she told me she would leave if i started something that big in this house.

This is what got me started on wanting to build said aquarium. It is a 4x8 work bench i got for free a few years ago. All i did was put on the plywood top(also free) and put on some casters for moving it around. It has 6 4x4 legs 36" in length, a 2x6 top railing and a 2x4 bottom railing. All screwed and bolted to gether. My plan was to remove the ply wood top add some more 2x6 bracing and put a new thicker piece of plywood(3/4 or thicker) and remove the casters before i fill the tank with water. My only concern on the stand is, will these 6 4x4 legs hold the weight of a tank that size. ruffly 8000lbs. I think they will, just not 100% sure.

Lgsas i feel ya..my wife told me the same thing..one more tank and im out of here..nice idea i also like Ferns idea with plex..

i just skimmed through the thread......crazy stuff!!!!!!!
sasquathch buddy!!! your wife is entirely koo with this build? lol
shes a keeper!!

Plywood builds are fun! There are a few different epoxy's that you can use in combination with the fiberglass mesh tape as well as of course using a liner. I'm going the fiberglass route myself. Contimplating having a frame welded from angle iron for added protection. It's a 10' ray tank so have to be 1000% confident in it. ;o)

I myself would add legs (3) in the center as plywood gives more than glass and this would support the center of the tank

FishVixen wrote:

I myself would add legs (3) in the center as plywood gives more than glass and this would support the center of the tank

That what I was thinking, I will also have 2x6's in the middle from front to back. Also think I will go with a piece at acrylic 1.5" thick, I real want one big opeyn view from the front. I found some on co but it isn't cell cast acrylic. I want the cell cast so I may be buying It with tax return. Once I get started I will start a build logg with some pics. Hopefully I can get started on modifying the stand by this weakend. I wounder if I.should also add a DIY wimp similar to Ferns on the bottom, are a DIY canister (multiple stage and do too lol)? Which one would you use?

I want to know which one everyone would use and why. Let me know.

For a large tank this, I would probably look at fashioning a couple of the plastic drums into a two or three stage filter. How many gallons did you estimate this as being?

Great suggestion James

Almost 1000 before I add any decor or the 3d back ground.

I have some sketches of what i want the tank and stand to look like now. Should i start a build log or contonue here with it? I was thinking of starting a build log and calling it "The birth of THE BoHEMOTH"

Start a log in the DIY section and when completed write a summary for the library. Love the title.

Sure! Info like this is always helpful.

I'll get some more detailed sketches done and start the offical build log of "the birth of the bohemoth"

lol nice i'll be waiting!...

wow. going to be a big project but you can do it with the right funding lol. good luck.

I was thinking, what if I made it a seamless corner tank? One really big, 2" thick piece of acrylic in the shape of a u. It would be really expensive, but look real cool!

sounds like a winner to me!, keep us posted!..

Well had a lot going on over the holidays. will get back to work on the bohemoth this week. More then likly will be waiting on tax return to get the acrylic. Then i can really start the building stage.

here is another monster tank build, 1700g using plywood, fiberglass and acrylic.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_1700g_tank_8.php