Building a tank...

Sean wrote:
I would like for it to be acrylic as it is much stronger and about
half the weight of glass. I was thinking about building a tank about
8 feet long and about 4 feet deep (front to back) by about 5 feet
high (floor to ceiling). This may be well beyond 300Gs,
[...]
water weight calcs....

Well, that part is simple: for all practical purposes 1 liter of fresh water
has a weight of 1 kg.

So let's do it in ISO units: 8'x4'x5' is about 2.4mx1.2mx1.5m = 4.32 cubic
meter

In other words your are dealing with a tank of about 4.32 tons of
freshwater, total weight probably somewhere near 5 tons. Sal****er even a
bit more. Or converted back 4230 liter are roughly 1100-1200 gallons.

I suggest you contact an architect because unless you are living in a former
factory your floors are certainly not designed to take that kind weight.

Good luck

jue

"Jürgen Exner" wrote in message
news:%SsCf.25$JO5.13@trnddc04...
Sean wrote:
I would like for it to be acrylic as it is much stronger and about
half the weight of glass. I was thinking about building a tank about
8 feet long and about 4 feet deep (front to back) by about 5 feet
high (floor to ceiling). This may be well beyond 300Gs,
[...]
water weight calcs....

Well, that part is simple: for all practical purposes 1 liter of fresh
water has a weight of 1 kg.

So let's do it in ISO units: 8'x4'x5' is about 2.4mx1.2mx1.5m = 4.32 cubic
meter

In other words your are dealing with a tank of about 4.32 tons of
freshwater, total weight probably somewhere near 5 tons. Sal****er even a
bit more. Or converted back 4230 liter are roughly 1100-1200 gallons.

I suggest you contact an architect because unless you are living in a
former factory your floors are certainly not designed to take that kind
weight.


No need. The house I am living in is 3 years old. It has an infloor
heating system all through the concrete foundation. To allow for this the
concrete had to be extra thick. In total (according to the contractor) its
about 2 and a half feet thick. If that won't hold the weight, I can't
imagine what one would have to do.

Sean

In article %SsCf.25$JO5.13@trnddc04,
Jürgen Exner wrote:
Sean wrote:
I would like for it to be acrylic as it is much stronger and about
half the weight of glass. I was thinking about building a tank about
8 feet long and about 4 feet deep (front to back) by about 5 feet
high (floor to ceiling). This may be well beyond 300Gs,
[...]
water weight calcs....

Well, that part is simple: for all practical purposes 1 liter of fresh water
has a weight of 1 kg.

So let's do it in ISO units: 8'x4'x5' is about 2.4mx1.2mx1.5m = 4.32 cubic
meter

In other words your are dealing with a tank of about 4.32 tons of

It's not the weight that's gonna get you it's the cost of the metierials
to build a 5 foot tall tank. Look at all the big tanks you see, 100, 200,
300+ gallons. Notice thet're not that tall? 2' max? That's cause the
thickness of the glass/acrylic you use is a function of the hight of the
tank. Five feet talk is absurd for an aquarium made freom glass or acrylic
you'd ned 1" glass about $100 a square inch or something stupid.

Best thing to do I think wold be to buuid this monster tank out of
marine plywood into the house and only use acrylic on the front
viewing glass.

I've seen this done, as a kid a guy in Hamilton Ont. named Stan
Winwood had marine setups in his house in the early 1970s
including one 800 tank built into the wall the same as
described above. Sweeeeet...


--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

It's not the weight that's gonna get you it's the cost of the metierials
to build a 5 foot tall tank. Look at all the big tanks you see, 100, 200,
300+ gallons. Notice thet're not that tall? 2' max? That's cause the
thickness of the glass/acrylic you use is a function of the hight of the
tank. Five feet talk is absurd for an aquarium made freom glass or acrylic
you'd ned 1" glass about $100 a square inch or something stupid.

Best thing to do I think wold be to buuid this monster tank out of
marine plywood into the house and only use acrylic on the front
viewing glass.

I've seen this done, as a kid a guy in Hamilton Ont. named Stan
Winwood had marine setups in his house in the early 1970s
including one 800 tank built into the wall the same as
described above. Sweeeeet...


The above measurements were a general guesstimate to get some ideas on what
I was dealing with and what types of things I would need (thanks again to
the people who helped provide some valuable information). I know the price
of the materials now and surprisingly they are cheap compared to what one
would pay for a comparable fully assembled. As for absurd: I can think of
many things that are absurd, smoking, drinking, doing drugs, wrecking a car
for kicks. Building a tank that will improve the look of a home while
providing a home for some friends is not one of them. And despite what you
think there are many tanks over 2' tall. A local fish shop here for example
has a 4' tall tank that they display Koi in. This thing is huge and its
made entirely of 1" glass. Marine plywood is out of the question. I want
to be able to view the tank from as many sides as possible. It can be done,
its just finding the way to do it that's hard.



Sean

The above measurements were a general guesstimate to get some ideas on what
I was dealing with and what types of things I would need (thanks again to
the people who helped provide some valuable information). I know the price
of the materials now and surprisingly they are cheap compared to what one
would pay for a comparable fully assembled. As for absurd: I can think of
many things that are absurd, smoking, drinking, doing drugs, wrecking a car
for kicks. Building a tank that will improve the look of a home while
providing a home for some friends is not one of them. And despite what you
think there are many tanks over 2' tall. A local fish shop here for example
has a 4' tall tank that they display Koi in. This thing is huge and its
made entirely of 1" glass. Marine plywood is out of the question. I want
to be able to view the tank from as many sides as possible. It can be done,
its just finding the way to do it that's hard.

Alright well, you can't stop a determined Newfie. It's gonna be a bit of a bitch
having it viewable on all sides. Most BIG tanks tend not to be. Theres a 10K gal
tank in France somewhere on the web written up. It's only glass on 1 side
though.

Making a very big tank is no different than making a small tanks. The parts
are jsut heavier. Once you find out what the correct material to use is
you "simply" cut and glue it per the dirctions give in the previous
articles URLS.

Why do you say arcylic is not so expensive? What have you found.

I will admit there ar days when I fanatasize about an enormous
aquarium built on the bedrockbelow this place that sticks up
20 feet in the center of the house, but that's public aquarium
dimensions.

Sure would be a neat way to hear the house though :-)

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

Why do you say arcylic is not so expensive? What have you found.

I checked around town here. I can get a 0.5" sheet of acrylic for $500. Or
I could buy Lexan, which would be about the same strength as a 1.5" thick
sheet of acrylic (according to the guy I just called here at a plastic shop,
but I shall check the PDFs on the product before I do anything ). He said
its the same stuff that they make bus shelters out of and its practically
indestructible. Anyways that runs for a little cheaper then the acrylic, so
now I've got my ballpark figure I say its going to be cheaper in
relation to what we have to pay here for tanks. A 100G tank here cost
anywhere from $1500-2000, I don't know what prices run where you are but
fish keeping isn't exactly a big thing here and the price/selection reflects
that. The local stores had a Xmas dealy happening and they were proud to
boast that they now have 55g tanks for the low price of $899. Comes with a
$10 filter/pump combo and a bag of substrate...ridiculous.





I will admit there ar days when I fanatasize about an enormous
aquarium built on the bedrockbelow this place that sticks up
20 feet in the center of the house, but that's public aquarium
dimensions.

Sure would be a neat way to hear the house though :-)

Build it in a garage That's my dream.

Sean

"Sean" wrote in message
...
A 100G tank here cost
anywhere from $1500-2000, ............
=====================
Borrow someone's van or pickup truck and head for the States. Have the
closest pet shop near the boarder have the tank ready to go. That should
be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying it in ca, even including gas and
maybe staying at an overnight flea bag hotel. :-))
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Troll Information:
http://tinyurl.com/9zbh
Reading Headers:
http://tinyurl.com/amm9s
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

1500-$2000?????? Where are you shopping? I have picked up numerous 100gallon
setups for under $600. Including stands & canopies. I am in the Toronto
area.

"Koi-lo" wrote in message
...

"Sean" wrote in message
...
A 100G tank here cost
anywhere from $1500-2000, ............
=====================
Borrow someone's van or pickup truck and head for the States. Have the
closest pet shop near the boarder have the tank ready to go. That should
be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying it in ca, even including gas and
maybe staying at an overnight flea bag hotel. :-))
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Troll Information:
http://tinyurl.com/9zbh
Reading Headers:
http://tinyurl.com/amm9s
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Koi-lo" wrote in message
...

"Sean" wrote in message
...
A 100G tank here cost
anywhere from $1500-2000, ............
=====================
Borrow someone's van or pickup truck and head for the States. Have the
closest pet shop near the boarder have the tank ready to go. That should
be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying it in ca, even including gas and
maybe staying at an overnight flea bag hotel. :-))


Sounds like a plan but I live on an island and for me going to the States is
like going on a vacation (at least it will cost that much anyways). It not
the point though I want to build it, I want to experiment with it.



Sean

In article ,
Sean wrote:
Why do you say arcylic is not so expensive? What have you found.

I checked around town here. I can get a 0.5" sheet of acrylic for $500. Or
I could buy Lexan, which would be about the same strength as a 1.5" thick
sheet of acrylic (according to the guy I just called here at a plastic shop,
but I shall check the PDFs on the product before I do anything ). He said
its the same stuff that they make bus shelters out of and its practically
indestructible. Anyways that runs for a little cheaper then the acrylic, so
now I've got my ballpark figure I say its going to be cheaper in
relation to what we have to pay here for tanks. A 100G tank here cost
anywhere from $1500-2000, I don't know what prices run where you are but
fish keeping isn't exactly a big thing here and the price/selection reflects
that. The local stores had a Xmas dealy happening and they were proud to
boast that they now have 55g tanks for the low price of $899. Comes with a
$10 filter/pump combo and a bag of substrate...ridiculous.

Ah, see, well, tanks are half a buck a gallon in Tronno. Used, albeit,
but that's fine. It takes two 4x8 shets to make a 240. I can buy one
for half the price of one sheet. But for BIG tanks it's your only option.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net