Building a tank...

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

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...
In article ,
CanadianCray wrote:
Actually there has never been a recorded case of Piranhas killing a human.

There was an article in TFH in I think the 80s or 90s where Axelrod
too pictures of a school of Pirana as he swam alongside them. He
said this they're fine and unless it's the 2-3 week period when the
rains start up again after a dry seaosn then no problem.

But they'll strip the meat off your bones if you try this in that
period just after the rains start.

Just ask the natives there. Not surprisingly they have this all
figure oud.


Correct. During the dry season the fish are slowly starved as a lot of the
wildlife around them dies from lack of oxygen and from the elevated temps in
the small pools. The Piranha that do manage to survive do so by feeding off
the remains or living parts of their comrades and what little vegetation
they find in the pools. Some Piranha spend weeks floating in the fine line
of life and death with nothing to eat. When the rains come its a fest
because these guys are emancipated and very near to starvation. Isn't it
fortunate that it's at that time that Storks and Herons (I'm pretty sure
those are the birds) start hatching their chicks in the tree tops above the
swollen rivers? Many fall to the hungry Piranha. Isn't it scary how nature
weeds out the unworthy?



Sean

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...
In article ,
CanadianCray wrote:
I don't think I would feel safe with a homemade version that large. I know
they can be just as good or better. I am just thinking what do you guys
think an insurance company might do if one that large fails & they find it
is home made.

Silly rabbit. If a tank that big fails it'll kill you and if it
doesn't the wet electricals will. Who needs insurance?


I would say that could be said for any tank over 10 gallons my friend.

Sean

your gonna move a tank that big???
wouldn't you want to build it in place??

good luck!!


Brad


"Sean" wrote in message
news

"CanadianCray" wrote in message
...
I don't think I would feel safe with a homemade version that large. I
know
they can be just as good or better. I am just thinking what do you guys
think an insurance company might do if one that large fails & they find
it
is home made.

Why wouldn't it be as safe? Its going to be tested outside the house and
allowed to sit for a week. If it doesn't fail in that week, chances are
its
not going to fail at all. I now have a person who is going to help me
through some of the processes. He works here in a local fishshop and has
been building homemade tanks for years, he now has a small business
(though
orders are rare for that type of thing here). I don't see why it matter
if
its homemade in an unfinished basement with good drainage.

Sean

"URBANFLAGE" wrote in message
.. .
your gonna move a tank that big???
wouldn't you want to build it in place??

good luck!!


Brad

No, I wouldn't. I would try out my skills on a smaller version and then
work my way up. Do you just think I am going to sink 1000's of dollars into
something without knowing or having any knowledge of what I am doing and
hoping for the best? Are you really that naive?

Sean

"CanadianCray" wrote in message
...
I don't think I would feel safe with a homemade version that large. I know
they can be just as good or better. I am just thinking what do you guys
think an insurance company might do if one that large fails & they find it
is home made.
========================
Knowing the damage 30g of water can do on the main floor of a house, you're
talking some serious damages. I hope there's a working drain in the floor.
I shudder to think of one of my 55s letting go.
--
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

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message
...
In article ,
CanadianCray wrote:
I don't think I would feel safe with a homemade version that large. I know
they can be just as good or better. I am just thinking what do you guys
think an insurance company might do if one that large fails & they find it
is home made.

Silly rabbit. If a tank that big fails it'll kill you and if it
doesn't the wet electricals will. Who needs insurance?
==========================
You can always hope you're on the second floor if and when it lets go! I
think the only reason I wasn't electrocuted that day was the water reached
the main fuse box and blew it. We had no electricity....... :-(
--
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

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