For many reasons I've decided to build a 38' diameter geodesic dome to house an aquaponics system. This will be the culmination of many years of ideas and components coming together. I'd like it to be a functional space to grow fish and produce to eat, and also an idyllic retreat for relaxing, like those butterfly gardens they have in museums sometimes.
I also want it to be the largest aquarium I have ever known.
I spent hours as a kid in marine aquariums watching the sharks in the huge tanks, and more hours as an adult watching my own tanks. I love museum displays and underwater restaurants and all of the theatrical aspects of good set design. So I'd like my own smaller version of this. Not just for the wow factor and the relaxation, but also because it will help me assess the health of the fish in the tank. Below is a rough idea of what I have in mind:
The dome itself is coming along well. I've also made a 15,000 gal doughnut shaped tank in the ground before. I'm versed in earthbag building, and I've obtained a 10 foot x 3 foot x 3/8 inch slab of acrylic. Now the time has come to figure out if I can actually pull this off.
As you can see above the idea is to have a liner that completely covers the tank interior. I could do that with a 40' x 40' unbroken membrane that drapes all over everything and is tucked down inside the tank itself. This is the pond approach, which typically uses EDPM rubber liners. Another option is to use laminated polyethylene geographical textiles used to make soil retaining walls, such as 24 mil UV stabilized Dura-Skrim. (https://www.buildsite.com/pdf/ravenindustries/DURA-SKRIM-R24BV-Product-Data-1433858.pdf)
The reason I'm posting here is because I'm looking for ideas of how to create a waterproof seal between liner and window. Silicone sealant adheres well to LDPE, but poorly to acrylic. Weld-on works for acrylic but poorly for LDPE. I don't even know how I'd bond EPDM to acrylic. I used to refer to a chart that describes how to glue one surface to another but I can't find it anymore.
I could create a frame , carefully drill holes in the acrylic, and bolt the liner between the window and frame with some sort of gasket.
The good news is I can create the bond in advance on a table using clamps before installing it, then fill in the tank. The slab I have is flat. For aesthetics I plan to heat bend it into a curve but if it serves the project I don't have to.
If you have an idea of how I could pull this off I appreciate it!
I also want it to be the largest aquarium I have ever known.
I spent hours as a kid in marine aquariums watching the sharks in the huge tanks, and more hours as an adult watching my own tanks. I love museum displays and underwater restaurants and all of the theatrical aspects of good set design. So I'd like my own smaller version of this. Not just for the wow factor and the relaxation, but also because it will help me assess the health of the fish in the tank. Below is a rough idea of what I have in mind:
The dome itself is coming along well. I've also made a 15,000 gal doughnut shaped tank in the ground before. I'm versed in earthbag building, and I've obtained a 10 foot x 3 foot x 3/8 inch slab of acrylic. Now the time has come to figure out if I can actually pull this off.
As you can see above the idea is to have a liner that completely covers the tank interior. I could do that with a 40' x 40' unbroken membrane that drapes all over everything and is tucked down inside the tank itself. This is the pond approach, which typically uses EDPM rubber liners. Another option is to use laminated polyethylene geographical textiles used to make soil retaining walls, such as 24 mil UV stabilized Dura-Skrim. (https://www.buildsite.com/pdf/ravenindustries/DURA-SKRIM-R24BV-Product-Data-1433858.pdf)
The reason I'm posting here is because I'm looking for ideas of how to create a waterproof seal between liner and window. Silicone sealant adheres well to LDPE, but poorly to acrylic. Weld-on works for acrylic but poorly for LDPE. I don't even know how I'd bond EPDM to acrylic. I used to refer to a chart that describes how to glue one surface to another but I can't find it anymore.
I could create a frame , carefully drill holes in the acrylic, and bolt the liner between the window and frame with some sort of gasket.
The good news is I can create the bond in advance on a table using clamps before installing it, then fill in the tank. The slab I have is flat. For aesthetics I plan to heat bend it into a curve but if it serves the project I don't have to.
If you have an idea of how I could pull this off I appreciate it!