has any one ever heard of building an aquarium with plywood and does it actualy work better then glass?

Question

was planning to build an aquarium but cant afford all the glass andwas wondering if it is possible to build it bigger with plywood then glass

Answer 1

I've never tried it myself (I'm just not that handy), but I do have a link bookmarked for making a 140-gallon tank using mostly wood:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=saltaquarium&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.athiel.com%2Flib6%2Ftank.htm

It looks interesting enough to try.

Answer 2

Yes, it can be done. Three sides and the bottom made of plywood, front made of glass or acrylic. It isn't even all that hard and I, personally, know of people who've built tanks like this for breeding tanks, etc.

But there are some pitfalls to avoid:

You will need to paint or seal the inside of the wood after the tank has been assembled. The paint or sealer should be something which is non-toxic, but durable. A little research here can save you a lot of grief later.

Mostly people seem to use an epoxy resin type of sealer. Some of these contain cyanide or other algae-inhibitors. These will be toxic to your fish, so avoid them. On the whole, though, if you can find an epoxy resin withot these chemicals it will work better than most other alternatives. Also, be sure you allow plenty of time for the resin to cure and rinse the tank thoroughly three or four times (or more!) before filling the tank with water and fish.

The front can be glass or acrylic, but I'd stick to acrylic. Sure, it scratches easier, it's more expensive, etc. But it doesn't break as easily and it's going to be easier to attach to the wood in a way which can be sealed.

The bit about the glass breaking isn't just about it breaking when the tank is full. Some years ago I knew someone with severe nerve damage in their hands from trying to install the front in a tank like this. Their partner in the project dropped his end of the glass, the glass broke clear across and the top piece fell on this persons forearm. The doctors said she was lucky not to have lost her hand.

On the whole, this is only worthwhile for very large tanks. If the tank is less than 200 gallons, don't bother. It will cost very nearly what a new all-acrylic tank would cost in any case. It's a lot of work and there are a number of ways it can go horribly wrong.

Keep in mind that a lot of aquarium stores sell the tanks for what it cost them. So you are going to be hard pressed to find them cheaper. They do this because they make their money on the animals and food they sell you later.

Answer 3

I have two rats. Had three, but the third was born a runt and had many health issues dying about two weeks ago (RIP Kev). You can not put them in an aquarium. They need the air a wire cage provides them. I mean yes, you can use an aquarium (pet stores do), but the rats will be MUCH happier with more air. And more space for that matter! Rats need houses with at LEAST two levels. (Mine has 4). They are very smart, so they can get bored easily!! Most stores, even Walmart sells rat grain/pellets. Also give them treats every now and then. Healthy snacks too! They can drink from a bowl, but the water stay much cleaner in a bottle. My rats do best using "corn cob horse pellets bedding" from TSC. It help the cage not smell. And it's not dusty; dusty bedding makes rats sneeze or potentially inhale too much dust. Also, it's a bad idea to get a rat unless you have a lot of time. A healthy rat is a social rat. They love human attention and play time in a rat proofed room! So unless you have about 1 hour per day to spend with your new friends, it's not a good idea. Rats are the best

Answer 4

Yes, first find a source of a good epoxy resin (E-Bond Epoxy of Ft. Lauderdale is great)....You need to use best grade plywood...and depending on the actual size you want...3/4 or 1 inch is best. The best way is to build a internal support frame of 2 X 4 (pine is ok)...this must fit into the inside of the plywood casing. All joints must be square, and the surfaces sanded. Assemble the frame, glue and screw the joints...brass screws are best...do not use nails!...Then apply ends, back, and bottom... For the front viewing panel...Calculate the size of the window or windows, cut the openings about 1 inch smaller than the glass size (you need space for the silicon glue) the make a frame for those openings....at least 1 X 3 inch wood...sand, glue and screw to front panel. Apply two coats of epoxy resin to the inside of the front panel...allow to thoroughly dry, then place glass in the frames with a good silicon glue (Dow-Corning is excellent)....lay panel flat, glue, put in glass and use a few bricks to apply weight....excess on the inside can be trimmed a bit but that's not critical...Glue and screw front panel on to the framework. Allow the glue to dry completely....then apply the first coat of epoxy to the inside....recoat the front panel too.. (if you are using an external filter....drill holes...and coat the holes well...(this is a weak point)....remember do this in a well ventilated space....recoat the inside three times....then do the ends and back and coat the bottom well. I use cross-braces across the top as there is always a bit of bowing...If you have a router, you can rabbet a quarter of an inch around the top for glass covers. Let the Epoxy set for three or so days and then flush off the tank...decorate and enjoy...if I can help further, let me know....

Answer 5

I saw a picture long time ago on a forum of some gal that built a pond in her basement. Not sure what kind of wood she used, but you'll need to put a liner in. Those are expensive. You could also check into that acrylic they use for some tanks. I would imagine that would be cheaper than glass(?).

Answer 6

It's possible. My step-father raises fish for the local pet shops and some of his are made of plywood and plexiglass. You just have to make sure that you seal everything very good with a good sealant. The stuff they use to patch small boats works very well. And reinforce the sides with two-by-fours, because plywood isn't quite that strong.

Answer 7

Don't know why you would want to do that. Usually people take up the hobby of keeping aquariums because then enjoy looking at the fish they keep. How would you go about doing that with an all wooden setup? Plus it would be harder for you to determine problems when they arise (and trust me - they will).

Answer 8

Yeah it work's really well,i made a windscreen for my car out of ply,if you need any help you can contact me at,intensive care Southend hospital.

Answer 9

Glass works better as you can see through it but if you want you can make it almost out of anything you want just remember some epoxy kills fish.

Answer 10

Great idea. Give the fish some privacy.