Mehaffy's 1100+ gallon Plywood display in North Alabama

[Sltloser]

It is still going. I’ve just been really busy with life lately. Fish are great and finally getting the phosphate and nitrate under control. Have a couple of SPS growing

Pics! pics! pics! pics!

 

[Monkeynaut]

Let’s have an update with some pictures!

 

[Devaji]

Let’s have an update with some pictures!

 

[mehaffydr]

Sorry everyone I know its been a while with no updates. I think I may have just been feeling sorry for myself and didn't want to think about the tank for the last few months. The truth is about 6-8 months ago the tank developed a very minor leak on the side glass. I tried to just ignore it but that of course did not work and slowly the leak got worse until I was forced to do something.
I actually thought of selling everything and getting out of the hobby. Them one day 2 weeks ago I just got the urge and started tearing it apart. I moved all my fish and a lot of rock into a 10' diameter kids pool and a lpt into my large sump. The sump is still running to keep micro organisms alive and bacteria. All of my fish have been fine and survived the move. They are eating great and staying fat.
I removed the glass and will be finishing repairs this weekend and reinstalling the glass within the next couple of weeks. Good news is that no water got to the wood it was just a bad seal in the silicone. I am anticipating returning fish to tank in 45-60 days. Just have to wait for pond amour epoxy and then silicone to dry. Then of course a leak test so hopefully back to complete by year end. Looks bad right now but its really much better than it looks.
My recommendation for anyone building a wood tank do not do the rabbet for the glass like I did this seams to be a weak point.

 

[Red_Beard]

That sucks dude, dont give up!

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Thank you for the update. I know you're upset about the tank but even just having the pics of the fish in the pool are incredible to see. I went through something similar and had to put my setup in a 100g tub and in many ways enjoyed that more.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Sorry everyone I know its been a while with no updates. I think I may have just been feeling sorry for myself and didn't want to think about the tank for the last few months. The truth is about 6-8 months ago the tank developed a very minor leak on the side glass. I tried to just ignore it but that of course did not work and slowly the leak got worse until I was forced to do something.
I actually thought of selling everything and getting out of the hobby. Them one day 2 weeks ago I just got the urge and started tearing it apart. I moved all my fish and a lot of rock into a 10' diameter kids pool and a lpt into my large sump. The sump is still running to keep micro organisms alive and bacteria. All of my fish have been fine and survived the move. They are eating great and staying fat.
I removed the glass and will be finishing repairs this weekend and reinstalling the glass within the next couple of weeks. Good news is that no water got to the wood it was just a bad seal in the silicone. I am anticipating returning fish to tank in 45-60 days. Just have to wait for pond amour epoxy and then silicone to dry. Then of course a leak test so hopefully back to complete by year end. Looks bad right now but its really much better than it looks.
My recommendation for anyone building a wood tank do not do the rabbet for the glass like I did this seams to be a weak point.

So sorry about the tank leak! Best of luck to getting it all fixed back up again!

 

[Sltloser]

That's tough to hear, building my own right now I can only imagine how it would feel having to drain and tear out the glass again. I'm really glad to hear that you're sticking it out and getting it fixed up, it's going to work great this time!

Are you thinking of filling the rabbit and then placing the glass against the "new" face?

 

[mehaffydr]

That's tough to hear, building my own right now I can only imagine how it would feel having to drain and tear out the glass again. I'm really glad to hear that you're sticking it out and getting it fixed up, it's going to work great this time!

Are you thinking of filling the rabbit and then placing the glass against the "new" face?

I thought of that but was concerned that would not give enough strength. So I have sanded and resealed the inside and the rabbet. I have added an additional layer of 3/4" plywood to the outside that is glued and screwed similar to how I assembled the tank. I should have the glass reinstalled by this weekend.

 

[Sltloser]

I thought of that but was concerned that would not give enough strength. So I have sanded and resealed the inside and the rabbet. I have added an additional layer of 3/4" plywood to the outside that is glued and screwed similar to how I assembled the tank. I should have the glass reinstalled by this weekend.

I understand, I ended up using pieces of acrylic for my glass to sit on as I siliconed it to the flat surface. We'll see if it works .

That sounds like a good plan, hang in there man, you're doing a great job!!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I thought of that but was concerned that would not give enough strength. So I have sanded and resealed the inside and the rabbet. I have added an additional layer of 3/4" plywood to the outside that is glued and screwed similar to how I assembled the tank. I should have the glass reinstalled by this weekend.

Best of luck to getting the glass reinstalled!

 

[mehaffydr]

I sanded all of the area that holds the glass to get some texture in the Pond Epoxy.
I am planning to install glass Saturday. Weather looks great so I can leave the doors open to get rid of smell.

 

[mehaffydr]

Last Sunday 11/17 I reinstalled the glass!
Now this weekend I am cleaning glass, cleaning sand and rebuilding the Aquascape.
I am on track to have fish back in the display by year end.
So far I have lost some coral but no fish loses,
I'm a little concerned about temperature control. The pool in on concrete very close to outside wall and with the colder weather that might be issue




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