Thread: Adelaide fishkeeper

Originally Posted by Griller76

Thanks mate - I am a bit obsessed with my fish

You have built aquariums! 2,000 is MASSIVE for a glass aquarium!

My 7,000 will be a display tank and maybe a breeding tank for Giant Gouramis.The glass will be added to a wood window frame and held in place by a seat of silicone.

I've never seen a glass tank over 1500 liters or an acrylic one over 3,000 except in public aquaria where the tanks are worth $100,000 and up. Oh - I did see a private aquarium in port lincoln that was huge but I know the acrylic alone cost $1,000,000 and had to be imported from Japan. My budget of $10,000 prohibits that kind of tank.

I don't know much about woodwork but I do know a lot about water and fish keeping. I used to manage a large aquaculture farm near Port Lincoln and I was president of the South Australian Native Fish Association. Water pressure on the sides is subject only to depth, not volume. A 900mm deep tank of 500 liters has the same pressure on the sides as a 900mm deep of 5,000 liters. I know that sounds strange but that is how fluid dynamics work. Depth is the killer when it comes to pressure. If I wanted to be cheap I could build a 600mm deep tank with an enormous area, but in truth I want something more spectacular. I'd like a tank between 900mm and 1800mm deep.


I'd like it to be a tank that I can get into and swim around. At this size I'll probably have no choice but to get into it for maintenance and cleaning.

I knew it sounded wrong but I could not put my finger on it. When we built tanks I had a friend that work at the Territory wildlife park and he was in charge of the aquariums including building and repairing there tanks so he would work out what size glass to use. The 2000 tank ran around a living room on 4 walls (stopping at the door) I guess it was several tanks put together as apposed to one big one like you are thinking about. We also built it so you could reach the bottom making it about 500-600 deep. we had Neon tetras in the thousand swimming in big schools it did look awesome.
I like your plan and it should look spectacular. It will be great to be able to swim in there.
You maybe best posting again in the box making section BOX MAKING - Woodwork Forums as I am more into turning and it would have to be a big lathe to turn a bowl that size. The lads in there will have more experience than me at building Big boxes.

My first box ever - to be a fish tank filter.
This is the link to my thread in the box making section.

Thanks Rum Pig. That sounds like one cool tank, 2000 liters full of neons!

I missed that I will read it now I know

If I can find a Photo of the tank I will post it but it will be a photo of a photo as it is that old style photo.... thats right film
I know I took some but I was a lot younger then and these things took second priority to pubs clubs and women and many moves.

I'm looking forward to that pic.

You didn't miss the thread mate - I created it at your suggestion and posted the link