FEED BACK AND QUESTIONS LINKS TO ONLINE CORAL FARMING SCHOOL HOME PAGE Geothermal Aquculture Research Foundation INDEX TO MORE RESEARCH PLEASE PRINT THIS PAGE FOR LATER USE A clean, dry work area is needed, indoors if necessary to insure cleanliness, out-of-doors if possible. Secondary, well ventilated, warm area for final tank drying after construction. a. Inspect all plywood pieces for rough or flawed edges, which might later affect tank integrity. b. Lay bottom panel on the 16-inch stanchions. c. Apply glue along all four edges of bottom panel, sufficiently heavy to accommodate the edges of the back panel, end panels, and face frame. d. Raise back panel up under bottom panel, mating long edge of back panel into glue along edge of bottom panel. Insure that edges are flush, and that they make a 90-degree corner. e. Turn bottom panel over, glue side down, centered on stanchions so that all edges of bottom panel are accessible. f. Using screw gun, screw back panel to bottom panel, inserting 2-inch drywall screws at 3-inch intervals along entire length.

INSURE THAT ALL SCREWS ARE FULLY SEALED, AND TIGHT. g. Apply glue along one 16 inch edge of each end panel. (h) Raise each end panel up under bottom panel, and screw tightly to both bottom panel and back panel. Place drywall screws at three inch intervals. i. Apply glue along inside edges of face frame, where they will mate with the end panels. Raise lower face frame up under remaining edge of bottom-panel, and screw into place to bottom panel and end panels. j. Use three (3) screws in each end, and normal three-inch intervals along length. Insure that all edges are flush, and tight, after final tightening of screws. k. Turn partially-completed tank right side up on stanchions for inspection. At this point, all panels screwed together should rest on the bottom panel, for the strongest possible base. 1. Turn the tank face-up on the stanchions. m. Apply glue to FRONT exposed edges of end panels. n. Lay upper face frame in place, and screw to edge panels, using three screws in each end.

o. Check short face frame pieces for proper fit, sanding if necessary. THEY MUST FIT TIGHTLY WITHOUT SPRINGING UPPER AND LOWER FACE FRAME PIECES APART. p. Apply glue to ends of short face frame pieces. q. Lay short face frame pieces into place, and screw firmly to end panels, insuring that the outer edges are flush with the ends of the tank.fish tanks for sale in chicago r. Recheck all work, wiping away excess glue, and insuring that corners are square, true, and not pulled open by later construction.fish tanks for dwarf hamsters s. Allow to dry overnight if possible, though this is not critical.fish aquarium shop hobart APPLY PAINT IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA, PREFERABLY OUT-OF-DOORS, AND MOST ESPECIALLY AWAY FROM THE AIR SUPPLY INTAKE. aquarium air pump hack

THE FUMES ARE HIGHLY TOXIC, AND MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS IN HUMANS IF THEY ARE CONCENTRATED AND EXPOSURE IS PROLONGED. a. Apply epoxy paint to all exposed wood surfaces of tank. b. Make coat of paint as thin as possible, while covering the wood surfaces completely, because the paint runs easily. c. Allow coat to dry overnight.fish tank cleaning equipment d. Fill all cracks and holes with auto body putty, making as smooth a surface as possible.fish for aquarium in chennai e. Sand entire surface, using 120-grit paper or power sander, and apply second coat. Again, insure that the coat is as thin as possible, to avoid running paint. Use the 120-grit sandpaper for sanding the first two coats of epoxy paint. 220-grit for sanding the third coat, in preparation for the fourth or final finish coat.

(If power sander is used. then the sanding pressure applied would be less for the last coat.) Repeat procedure in steps until four (4) coats of the epoxy paint are applied. Allow tank to dry in well-ventilated, warm area for 24 hours before proceeding. a. Turn tank face down on level, flat surface, insuring that entire face frame is supported. b. Use 220-grit sandpaper to rough up a two-inch strip of the epoxy paint on the inside of the tank, around the glass opening. This rough area will serve as a bonding area for the silicon glue. c. Sand or file all corners of the glass panel, to avoid later injury to either workers or fish. d. Clean entire surface, and edges, of glass panel with Xylene cleaner, and then commercial glass cleaner. e. Apply 1/2-inch bead of silicon caulking around entire opening in face frame, on inside of tank. The bead should be approximately one inch from edge of opening, except along the top, and there the bead should be approximately one-half inch from edge of opening.

f. Install glass on inside of tank, insuring that the lower edge of the glass is resting full-length against bottom panel of tank for support. g. Press evenly on glass to remove all bubbles and gaps from silicon caulking seal. h. Re-caulk glass, along all edges. Pressing caulking with finger firmly into the corner formed by glass and face frame. Final caulking seal should be smooth, rounded, and gap and bubble free. Wipe any excess caulking away after seal is finished. a. Using three screws for each end of brace, install tank top brace, centered, spanning from top, inside edge of back panel to top inside edge of upper face frame. b. Apply heavy bead of silicon caulking into all interior corners of tank, again smoothing the seal with finger, removing all gaps and bubbles, and wiping away excess caulking when finished. Allow tank to dry for 48 hours in warm, dry area before adding water. This is absolutely the most important part of any plywood fish tank made, and the least researched by the vast majority of aquarium DIY people.

A tank coating that doesn't poison fish. The only sealer/coating that is qualified for use in an aquarium is a TWO PART EPOXY FOR POTABLE WATER TANKS. This coating is used to seal the interior of several thousand gallon community drinking water tanks, as a coating for holding tanks in fish farms and as a liner for large public aquariums. These coatings are NSF 61/USDA/ANSI/AWWA and FDA certified and approved. Further, epoxy coatings are highly resistant to salts and corrosion and are recommended for marine use. Some brand name coatings that can be used are: ----- carbolene brand "891" epoxy with color choices one of which is "4753"grey ----- ----- dupont brand "epoxide hs tank lining"------- ----- sherwin williams brand "tank clad hs epoxy"----- ----- rustoleum brand "9200" system epoxy with color choices one of which is "9271" dunes tan------- These epoxies contain no solvents or volatile organic compounds and are usually composed of 100% solids. Additionally, solvents and thinners are not recommended for use with this epoxy because they would defeat the purpose of using a non-toxic coating.