BackToTheReef
Valuable Member
For everyone that has built their own big tanks what made you choose either plywood or all acrylic (or all glass)?
I am looking at doing a big boy (thinking about calling him "Onion Boy" because I keep going on about layers...Vertical layers for LPS, SPS, layers of flow, layers of aquascape from front to back. I guess Shrek would work too). Originally was planning on 8'x3'x3' but think I want more space to make sure I can pull off both my stocking goals and aquascaping goals which go hand in hand.
Teetering toward a 10'x4'x(3 or 4)' Display with the rest TBD. I'd like to set it up like I have shown in my awful 1st attempt at sketch up. 3' infront of the wall with the front panel and side panels viewable and 1' behind the wall (blacked out like the back).
Originally thought about doing it in acrylic but I'll be danged if I can find pricing on 10' sheets and based on the calculator I was using it is going to need 1.5" to 2" thickness depending on how high I go. Even though I see a lot of manufacturers going with 1.5 on dimensions the calculator says go thicker so I'm not sure who to believe.
2nd instinct was to try plywood but I was unsure of how to do the side viewing panels and if I did figure that out then it might weaken the overall structure. We're talking up to 1,000g in the main display, that's a lot of water to gamble with. Since I want a tall tank and it is most likely going in a tight space (8' ceilings) I figure I will have to shrink the stand height to allow for space for lighting an access up top. Which means I think I want to go acrylic just in case I decide to whack the bottom of the tank with a piece of furniture. It might scratch but maybe not burst! Even though I would do some serious 2x4-2x6 framing/bracing on the exterior would pay to double up the ply? Found some 3/4" marine grade that came in 10' sections so I could avoid joints which just seem like a disastrous idea with out doubling or tripling and offsetting seams.
I have an idea for some potentially spiffy doors for access to the tank from the front. Soft close cabinet hinges (maybe) and/or pneumatic prop rods that will be able to pop all three sides open in short sections.
Still a ton of ideas and thoughts rolling around in my head. Worried about flow since most of the power heads won't work on thicker materials (will they work through plywood??) so trying to look at closed loop options without turning the tank into swiss cheese.
Thanks for any input you guys might have. I've enjoyed digging through a bunch of the build threads and trying to pull nuggets out of each!
I am looking at doing a big boy (thinking about calling him "Onion Boy" because I keep going on about layers...Vertical layers for LPS, SPS, layers of flow, layers of aquascape from front to back. I guess Shrek would work too). Originally was planning on 8'x3'x3' but think I want more space to make sure I can pull off both my stocking goals and aquascaping goals which go hand in hand.
Teetering toward a 10'x4'x(3 or 4)' Display with the rest TBD. I'd like to set it up like I have shown in my awful 1st attempt at sketch up. 3' infront of the wall with the front panel and side panels viewable and 1' behind the wall (blacked out like the back).
Originally thought about doing it in acrylic but I'll be danged if I can find pricing on 10' sheets and based on the calculator I was using it is going to need 1.5" to 2" thickness depending on how high I go. Even though I see a lot of manufacturers going with 1.5 on dimensions the calculator says go thicker so I'm not sure who to believe.
2nd instinct was to try plywood but I was unsure of how to do the side viewing panels and if I did figure that out then it might weaken the overall structure. We're talking up to 1,000g in the main display, that's a lot of water to gamble with. Since I want a tall tank and it is most likely going in a tight space (8' ceilings) I figure I will have to shrink the stand height to allow for space for lighting an access up top. Which means I think I want to go acrylic just in case I decide to whack the bottom of the tank with a piece of furniture. It might scratch but maybe not burst! Even though I would do some serious 2x4-2x6 framing/bracing on the exterior would pay to double up the ply? Found some 3/4" marine grade that came in 10' sections so I could avoid joints which just seem like a disastrous idea with out doubling or tripling and offsetting seams.
I have an idea for some potentially spiffy doors for access to the tank from the front. Soft close cabinet hinges (maybe) and/or pneumatic prop rods that will be able to pop all three sides open in short sections.
Still a ton of ideas and thoughts rolling around in my head. Worried about flow since most of the power heads won't work on thicker materials (will they work through plywood??) so trying to look at closed loop options without turning the tank into swiss cheese.
Thanks for any input you guys might have. I've enjoyed digging through a bunch of the build threads and trying to pull nuggets out of each!
