Wow that would just make me nervous, especially 300 gallons. So you just put an aquarium safe paint on the plywood to make it water proof and ta daa you have a plywood tank. Thats pretty cool, I wouldnt trust my engineering enough to build my own tank. I have to buy mine pre-built and then if anything goes wrong with it I can blame it on someone else

Shaun Duke (west Jordan)

60 Gal Paper Bag tank

All sides of the tank are made from plywood except the glass viewing side.  The reason I am changing it out is because I have had some problems with it.  When I built it, I should have not built the overflow out of plywood as well.  I had the paint crack on the overflow and begin to seep into the wood.  I fixed the problem but to be on the safe side I've decided to change it out.  I should be getting my new tank shortly.  Sand Bubbler,  if  you want to call your tank a paper bag tank I'm sure no one would mind.

Kevin/KeoDog I would like to ask you a question? I have been wondering since I joined the website and club. Just as a little background I'm fairly new to the club and I havent been on the reef tour yet, so why do you call your tank a plywood tank? It cant possibly be made of plywood, can it???   So whats with the name?   Should I start calling my tank the paper bag tank Thanks for humoring me, my question really is a sincere one.

Xacttech wrote: Save yourself some headache, buy a lemar My next tank will be one.

LeeMar tanks are the most expensive I know. They are starfire glass, but when the aquascaping is complete and the fish and coral go in, the effect of the pricey glass is negligible.

Save yourself some trouble. Buy a used, but not too used, glass tank from someone on this MB, but before you lay down the cash, ask the MB if this person has a good reputation.

I few thanks that are hinted at there is that

#1 Acrylic is softer than glass and will scratch really easy. The year or sp with the tank would be great , but then the scratches would start to add up.

Also you can not use any type of cleaner with amonia in it on acrylic surfaces it will crystalize the plastic (cloud the plastic)

As for clarity there is a enw glass called Starfire* that is super clear and refracks light the same as water.  If you have seen it is is truely awesome.

I have called a couple of places around the valley and most can order it, I know that it is procey bbut didn't get any proce quotes, but if you want the best there is starfire is the way to go.

* Starfire Clear Glass is a lead free, low iron product that represents the very best in glass trophies although not clear enough to be called “crystal”. A slight blue tint is evident in the most-clear product.  ( http://froogle.google.com/froogle?lnk=next&q=starfire&am p;sa=N&show=dd&start=10 )

I agree with Corey though, it was fun but i wouldnt do it again.

A 180 that size would probably be just as cheap as building one and would save you A LOT of reasearch and construction time. If I were to buy a tank, id go with glass.

For acrylic you should use Acrylite GP (sold at Regional Supply).

If you are doing it to save money and dont want any unusual tank shape, then maybe look for a used tank.

my 180 is that size.

I built a tank out of acrylic (30"x30"x24"). Acrylic is cheaper, lighter, easier to work with and clearer. If you can be careful and not scratch it, it has many benefits.

http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1854& KW=94+gallon&PN=0&TPN=4