Live fish box

madaff · #1 21-01-2003, 09:45 AM

Just thought I would pass on what I have been doing for the last 2 hours.

Today I went and purchased one of those 100L foam boxes $25.
Purchased a 1 L bottle of 2-pack epoxy $33.00
Purchased 2 x 45mm rolls of clear packing tape $6.00
Rule bilge pump and others bit's of hose's etc $32.00

This is what I did.

Have you ever tried to break polystyrene once it has been wrap with packing tape. Bloody hard job! I think they used this foam/tape for designing stunt planes in the wings(models I think). I wraped the entire outer of the box with tape which has made very rigid. By the looks of things it would require it to puntured with a bit of force to cause any damage. Then I mixed the epoxy and painted it inside the box. This is basicly odourless and if it is anything like rod building epoxy should form a tough lining. Once totaly dry you can put a second and third coat it you wish, it will only make it even tougher.

Take a piece of scrap polystyrene and tape it up, and see how much it takes to break if you can. Bloody amazing what effect the tape has on the styrene.

For $96.00 it's the cheapest tank I have built so far and it should last for a while too.

Just though you may be interested.

jm0771 · #2 21-01-2003, 09:57 AM

Hey madaff,

What type of epoxy did you use as I know some types will eat polystyrene.I was thinking of doing something along those lines but giving the outside the epoxy treatment.

Thanks

madaff · #3 21-01-2003, 10:10 AM

I think it's called West systems it's a general purpose 2-pack epoxy resin. All most identical to that of what you use for building rods. It does heat up a little but cools down very quickly. The guy who sold me the box said thats what I should use, seamed ok when I left it and had been epoxied for about 1 hour. The guy at the hardware said that if you polystyrene you should use a epoxy with polyethyelene, and vise versa. But I think I have my wires crossed with that one. Check with the hardware.

madaff · #4 21-01-2003, 10:14 AM

ps I think you need to use something like the tape as the box can only expand. The feeling I get is that making the box stiff without using some form of fiberglass sheets could cause it to crack.

Mind you, try it the boxes are cheap as.

jm0771 · #5 21-01-2003, 10:23 AM

Thanks mate,I'll give it a go

Matt Ireland · #6 21-01-2003, 05:07 PM

Hi

what are theses foam boxes? where do you get them ? Do you know if bunnings have them (I dont know if you have bunnings in WA)

thanks
Matt

madaff · #7 21-01-2003, 07:23 PM

We do have Bunnings, I think it sarterted in WA and now has spread it's wings.

But no I don't think they have them, you will need to go to a place that sell foam matteress etc.

LakeConjolaFish · #8 21-01-2003, 08:20 PM

Madaff,

Can you do me a favour mate and tell me what the dimensions of the box is .

Thanks

pw-bream · #9 21-01-2003, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by madaff
you will need to go to a place that sell foam matteress etc.

Maybe Clark Rubber would have them if you have Clark Rubber where you live.

mike_mad_fisho · #10 21-01-2003, 10:51 PM

gday in
queensland the have the clark rubber branches AND i am pretty sure that i have seen these boxes before.
thanks michael

madaff · #11 22-01-2003, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LakeConjolaFish
Madaff,

Can you do me a favour mate and tell me what the dimensions of the box is .

Thanks

Jim from memory it's about 1.4m's long x 60cm's high x about the same wide. Looks similar to that of a thwart seat.

LakeConjolaFish · #12 22-01-2003, 06:19 AM

Thanks for that

Dave W · #13 22-01-2003, 06:28 AM

That's a ripper idea

My lady keeps complaining about the 'fish' smell in the big esky - I'll have a look around and see what I can come up with

Matt Ireland · #14 22-01-2003, 07:17 AM

thanks guys, ill have a look around, theres a clark rubber in coffs where my girlfriends parents live, I miight give them a call

madaff · #15 22-01-2003, 08:34 AM

I just finished fitting the rest of the plumbing and works fantastic.

The bilge pump feeds through a hose then into a elbow connected 5/8 sprinkler tube with an end cap. Then drilled out tiny holes, about 30 of them with the cordless and now have a brillant spray bar. The plumbing bits cost $14 at Bunnings.

Should the water get hot while you have fish in your tank. What I found works best is to throw frozen bottles of water into the tank. This will help keep the water cool and the fish happy.

Hope all this works out for you.

Oh forgot something. Because of your non boaters requirements. What I have done is glue in some ribs two thirds to one side of the tank. What you need is 4 bits of styrene about 20mm square x the height of you tank. Glue these in place with contact after it has all been epoxied. This will allow you to partition off your section from the non boaters. The partition should have holes cut at the bottom to allow flow. The good thing about the partition is that you can remove it and utilise the whole lot when you need to.