Final Coat of Pond Shield

1600 Gallon system update. The video today will talk about applying the final coat of pond shield to my plywood aquariums.
The king of DIY plywood aquarium build part 1: • HOW TO: Build a plywoo...
Pond Shield website: www.pondarmor.com/
Want read more about my system check out my Reef2Reef build thread: www.reef2reef.com/threads/ale...

[@kimberlynguyen3597]

This is such a helpful video! Thank you so much!!!

[@budattv5304]

I can't wait to see your system up and running!

[@warrenbrownartndesign]

Buda's aquarium me 2

[@algawura2]

I feel the same way. I started this build in July of 2015 so it has been a long journey to get to this point but I am getting closer to having water in the system everyday.

[@FreeSwimmer]

Your doing great and to much at stake to hurry. My build was 50% complete before I even started by knowing and gathering all my exact materials and having my exact measures. Also a previous build with plywood and Pond Armor was a definite plus. I'm still looking at another 4-5 months to finish. And my system will only be 700 gallons..

[@cubanstly]

THANK YOU SO MUCH ALEX CHEERS, LEO

[@koaleighhomestead2606]

Now this has really given me food for thought, I had previously watched some of your other videos but didn't realize until now that your aquariums are a plywood build, this is fascinating and something I'll be researching in depth, I may consider doing the same thing in a couple years, I'll have to check out the rest of your build videos, one of your first videos I had watched was your diy skimmer which I found completely fascinating. I'll have to jump over to Joey's channel and see how he puts together a plywood tank.

[@algawura2]

I am glad I gave you some ideas. I enjoyed building these plywood tanks. I would suggest watching Joey's channel to get a good design start and build instructions. If you plan to build over 30" tall I would automatically add an external bracing system on the tank. In later videos I do drain and add external bracing to my 720 gallon tank as it was bowing in some areas after it was filled for the first time.

[@koaleighhomestead2606]

AlexGs Aquarium Thanks for the tip and the knowledge you bring from your own experience in your videos. I'll be following the progress of your aquariums with great interest to see if I'll follow the same idea, I'm sure if I decide to go the plywood way, between the information between you and Joey I can't go wrong

[@eighthnotch_]

Thanks for this video. It's nice having a little bit more in-depth video of applying this stuff. I'm going to be building a plywood aquarium in the next 6 months or so, so this will come in handy.

[@algawura2]

Thanks for the comment. If you have any questions please let me know. I try to cover most of the major details on project videos. What size plywood tank are you planning to build?

[@eighthnotch_]

I was thinking of a 4x4x2 cube tank with one viewing panel to get my feet wet with building. However I also don't want to regret not going larger, so I was considering a 10x4x3 tank with EPDM liner and a large plywood sump using this product. I'm more of a freshwater guy but I've been watching your build the last few months. I'm interested to see how that 720 turns out.

[@algawura2]

4x4x2 would be an interesting size. If you have the space for a larger system I would always consider going bigger rather than having regrets. I went with the biggest tanks I felt comfortable with. I did not want to go longer than 8' as I wanted to keep all of the plywood seams on the tank corners.

[@eighthnotch_]

AlexGs Aquarium Ah I gotcha. One last question: Did you fiberglass the seams or the entire tank? I couldn't find it in your build thread.

[@algawura2]

I placed fiber glass on the bottom corner seams and vertical corner seams. The only seams that I did not use fiberglass on were the seams for the top euro brace as that piece was secured using screws and RTV 108. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

[@bubbashinobi1697]

You have me glued watching your setup Alex . I was one of the lucky ones to see the T-Rex ribs, added to your Aqua Scape on a Live stream. Happy Easter Bud 👍

[@algawura2]

Thanks for watching. I am still a ways off on putting out a full reveal of the aquascape but I might do more sneak peaks on live streams at Ricos Reeftank or CJ's Aquariums. Once I have lights and sand in the 480 Gallon tank it is going to look even better.

[@Mano0f]

excellent instrucions thanks

[@algawura2]

Thanks Mano0F. It seems like only yesterday that I was still building these tanks.

[@aaronbass8819]

keep 'em coming!

[@dannyvargas8328]

Thanks Alex, I don't understand the use of alcohol in the mixture, could you tell me how to use it exactly, greetings from Costa Rica

[@algawura2]

The Denatured alchohol will thin out the mix. Depending on where you are applying the product having it thined out can help during application.

[@logicsfinest3471]

I’ve been keeping fish for over 30 years. Saltwater the last 10 years. You have inspired me to build my own plywood tank. I’m thinking 300 gallons for stingrays. Which I’ve never kept before. Do I absolutely need a sump for filtration. My 90 gallon and 75 gallon tanks both have two Eheim canister filters and an Aqua-C Remora protein skimmer each. The 75 gallon has 100 pounds of live rock and the 90 gallon has 150 pounds of live rock. Both are stocked heavy and never had any issues. Is having a sump filtration system an absolute must for building a 300 gallon plywood aquarium? And your 1,600 gallon system is great work. 👍👍

[@algawura2]

Thanks for the comment Paul Bryant. I have only cared for saltwater stingrays a hand full of times while I worked in an LFS so I would definitely consult someone with experience on care as some of them can be difficult to maintain. Having said that it does tie into your question about having a sump. A sump is not required but it does provide some benefits. First a sump provides additional water volume in the system which helps with water quality and stability. Next I would be thinking about the filtration required. In my experience canister filters become nitrate factories in saltwater aquariums therefore I avoid them unless it is for temporary use. I let the skimmer provide most of the mechanical filtration with limited use of filter socks in my system. This is just my experience with canister filters though and if you are having success and your nitrates are at your desired level then there is nothing wrong with using them. Stingrays are big eaters which means lots of waste will be generated. Having a good skimmer that is the correct size or oversized would be the way to go and while larger skimmers do not all require a sump it can make it easier to set them up and prevent micro bubbles from entering the display. I would also recommend looking into an algae scrubber or refugium tank to leverage macro algae to export nutrients from the water naturally. The sump more or less allows you to keep most of the filtration and other life support equipment out of the display. A sump tank can be above the display, below the display, or off to the side of the display. It just depends on the space available and the filtration requirements needed to maintain your intended livestock. Take your time in planning. If you have anymore questions please don't hesitate to ask.

[@logicsfinest3471]

AlexGs Aquarium thank you I appreciate your response. I’m going to continue planning and doing my research. As to the nitrate question. I perform maintenance on my Eheim canister filters once a month. That may account for zero nitrates in my aquariums. I will however seriously look into a sump filtration system for this build I’m planning. Your system is impressive and the work you put into the plumbing alone is very good.

[@bigdave1383]

Great videos, ive watched several multable times for help. I'm building a plywood tank 8x4x4 with 2x4s for all the walls and should I use 1/2 or 3/4 inch plywood for inside walls, I've already got the pond shield armor for painting the inside in sky blue and I'm praying it doesn't leak when done, another question I have is, what's best for front window it's the only window I'm doing but will only be like 6 to 7 for long x 3 feet high to help with bracing the front wall and window, should I go glass or acrylic and how thick. Thank you for any help, great videos brother

[@algawura2]

Thanks for commenting Dave Cox. I would go with 3/4" plywood and I would make sure that all corners are fiber glassed for extra support. On my 720 gallon tank I did discover I had bowing in the tank so I did drain that display and I added a bracing system using 2x4s. Since your tank is 4' tall I would ensure you make an extra strong bracing system as I have see a few plywood tanks that were taller fail because they did not have enough structural support. I used 3/4" low iron glass on my displays since it can be bonded to the pond armor using RTV108 or an equivalent aquarium silicone. Acrylic can be used but you will not be able to form a direct bond to the tank. The acrylic can be put in place using silicone but the silicone only acts like a gasket and the water pressure is what hold that seal in place. I did not feel comfortable using acrylic in part because I could not create a direct bond and the other reason was that it scratches too easily. Acrylic is still a good option though and The King of DIY used the silicone gasket method to hold the acrylic panels for his 2000 gallon tank and he has not reported any issues using this method. I am not sure on the acrylic panel thickness but there are some calculators out there that will tell you a recommended thickness. If you go with glass then standard 3/4" glass is only good up to 36" tall so depending on your placement of the viewing panel you might want to get 3/4" glass that is tempered as it adds significant strength to the glass. Tempered glass cannot be drilled but if its just for a viewing panel there should not be any issues using it. I have spoken to one tank manufacturer that builds 4' tall glass tanks and they used 3/4" tempered glass in their construction. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

[@bigdave1383]

AlexGs Aquarium thanks for all the help, love your videos and tanks

[@kevinsanchez1997]

BigDave 13 ** How did the build turn out? What did you end up using? Im planning on building one soon with the same exact dimensions and using the pond shield as well. Thanks in advance

[@bipedalhominid6815]

How come you dont fillet the inside seams with thickened epoxy/silica.

[@algawura2]

This was the final coat of epoxy as a finishing coat. All of the inside seems had fiberglass applied after the first coat of epoxy was applied to the tank. One note I will add is that I should have applied fiberglass to the inside seam of the Eurobrace as the one issue I had with this tank was the cut on edge plywood had a small section where the epoxy alone was not enough to protect the wood. Likely due to the glues used to laminate the plywood layers together not allowing epoxy to properly bond with the plywood. It was a minor issue that did not impact the overall structure of this tank but it is something I would do differently.

[@usibo79]

how does the plywood attach to the pvc sheeting? specifically what size was the pvc bottom? and where can i get one ? i am going to build a pvc drop off reef tank.. so any advice you can give is very aprieciated

[@algawura2]

The use of a PVC bottom was not easy for this tank as there were a few challenges to overcome before I was able to complete an installation that would last. The PVC sheet I used was 96"x48"x.5" and it was purchased at home depot. The challenges with this material were overcoming that it floats and bonding it to the tank as PVC cannot be glued to any material. The attachment to the plywood was completed with two steps. Pond armor will bond to PVC that has been primed which is what I used to bond the bottom of the PVC sheet to the tank. With rocks on the top of the PVC it helps to hold the center of the sheet down after the tank was filled. The edges of the PVC sheet then became a concern which required a secondary method to hold it in place. I used a router to remove ~1/4" of material around 3 edges of the PVC bottom as the front edge of the PVC would be held down by the viewing panel glass. I then cut 1/4" thick glass strips to fit around the edge and then used RTV 108 to bond the glass to the sides of the tank which were coated in pond shield. This ensured the outside edge of the PVC was secured in place on all four sides while the bottom was also glued to the tank using pond shield. This PVC sheet will hold up good to build parts and create a tank bottom as long as it is not being used to hold back water pressure. Let me know if you have anymore questions. Thanks for the comment.

[@ronmogab1799]

We applied it our concrete outdoor pond but its so slippery as i stepped in to arrange the rocks and fell. Can i add sand to the mixture for grit? I worry about the dog and kiddos getting in. Please advise. Thanks

[@algawura2]

If you have a pond safe sand I don't see why you would not be able to mix it in to get some grit as a top coat. I would recommend some smaller tests with different amounts of sand in the mix to make sure the sand you choose holds well providing the desired grit before applying it to a larger area.

[@FreeSwimmer]

Looking real good sir. Solid stuff ! Maybe tell how much denatured alcohol you put into your recipe.. First coat, and the next coats..

[@algawura2]

I followed the instructions for using 1/2 of the 1.5 quart kit on a rough surface. I think first coat was 1/4 cup of denatured alcohol and the coats after that only get an 1/8 of a cup of denatured alcohol.

[@FreeSwimmer]

I will be diligent about my recipe because thinking my mixes were considerably less de-natured alcohol.

[@jamesgriffith8767]

So, that small quart kit covers a large area if the surface is smooth and non porous? If I am applying pond armor to cement pond I would imagine it's gonna take twice the amount.

[@algawura2]

I have not used this product on cement before but the first coat will soak into the material that it is applied too including cement. If you are applying to cement the acid wash process is critical to follow otherwise the pond shield will not create a proper bond. As for the quantity to purchase I did end up getting more than originally planned for my build but the nice part about the small kits is that you can purchase in smaller batches if needed to apply extra coats. Originally I purchased a 1.5 gallon kit and then the extra I needed I purchased in smaller kits so that I did not end up with more product than I needed. Its best to purchase the amount needed for your project and if needed purchase more if your run out. I would also suggest that if you are not sure on the quantity to purchase for your project that you reach out directly to the maker of Pond Armor as Butch is very helpful in providing information about the product and the quantity needed for specific applications. I did reach out when I was first considering this product and received some solid advice.

[@devynferguson3852]

The box says to apply the second coat within 10 hours and then sanding is not required. Have you done it this way? Is there a specific reason you wait the 24 hours and sand?

[@davidrickards]

I just ordered this product and my old concrete fish pond is still damp and after cleaning with a brush and vacuum I still have old mortar sand coming off the walls. I may need to return the product and get a rubber liner. if it won't adhere to a damp surface.

[@algawura2]

I would got to www.pondarmor.com/ and call the their questions line or email them. The owner of the company normally is quick to respond and might be able to offer you some advice for your fish pond. I have never applied this product to a damp surface or concrete.

[@davidlyons8278]

Hi.. I have a question..... does pond shield stick to fiberglass? I am also building plywood aquarium.... I am fiberglass all the corners.... Thank you David

[@algawura2]

Yes it works with fiberglass. My tank corners have a layer of fiberglass chopped mat.

[@wildburpp]

Thank you. Why denatured alcohol?

[@algawura2]

When I was applying the pond armor that was the recommendation to thin out mix so it was not so thick. The instructions varied depending on the surface and the type of coat that was being applied.

[@bigmikesvinyl8514]

@@algawura2 Isn't denatured alcohol toxic ? I would be worried it would leave something behind after it flashed off that could be harmful to fish.

[@algawura2]

@@bigmikesvinyl8514 That is what the manufacturer of Pond Shield recommends. In a straight liquid form I am sure it could be toxic but this product is fish and reef safe. That aquarium system was running for 3 years and grew into a beautiful reef before I moved.

[@thewigofdub2669]

you said you have used pond shield alot. I have built the same tank as seen in DIY king 370 plywood tank i went to do the water proofing process and noticed part A of my Pond shield was super hard already. had to use a wood spoon to get it out of the can. then after popper mixing it still was very hard to work with and super hard to apply the first coat. any advice? all video's ive seen have shown it poor right out of the can smoothly and mine for sure did not do that.

[@algawura2]

Andrew Dubwig I would email or call pond armor direct. www.pondarmor.com/contact-us/ The clear part of the mix will be in a thick gel state but the part with the color tint should not be very thick and flow easily from the can. I only had a small amount of leftover from the tint part in a poorly sealed can that was exposing the product to air. It was thick like tar after a few months of sitting around. In my case it was extra and I did not use it because it was not in its original state. I would contact the company and see what they say before attempting to use it. I have spoke with the owner before when a order was damaged during shipping and he was prompt in responding to fix the situation.

[@thewigofdub2669]

thanks for the help i contacted them and the guy who answered my call was very nice and is sending me a new can of part A. thanks for you help i myself cant wait to see how this tank turns out. I did it different then DIY's video. I made the front viewing panel and both sides viewing panels as well. meaning ill have to do the filtration from the back of the tank. in his video he had a problem with the water lever not going to the top of the viewing panel. I for one hope mine doesnt turn out that way.

[@algawura2]

I am glad they cleared that up for you. I am interested to see some pictures of your tank. What is the size of your display?

[@thewigofdub2669]

its sitting at 80 inches in length and 40 inches front to back in with the front is 34 inches top to bottom. i got some pictures of the work i did on it today.

[@thewigofdub2669]

i uploaded pictures to my facebook.

[@jeremybrunson31]

How many coats of epoxy did you do

[@algawura2]

Thanks for commenting jeremy brunson. In total I applied 5-7 coats of epoxy depending on what was being coated. The first coat in the tank will absorb into the wood. Second coat was strictly for fiber glassing the inside corners of the displays. I then applied a minimum of 3 extra coats of epoxy. I did have some left over and some defects to repair so some areas received a thick coating as I did not want to waste any epoxy. Sanding and cleaning between each coat of epoxy is a must. I would not push beyond what you can use in 30 minutes as it becomes difficult to work with. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

[@jeremybrunson31]

I’m think about skipping over fiberglass part

[@jeremybrunson31]

I don’t see the real need joey skipped over it in his n his came out fine

[@algawura2]

If you watch part 2 of the how to build a plywood aquarium series ~4minutes into the video by Joey The King of DIY he did apply fiberglass to the corners of his plywood tank. I am not sure if you are referring to another Joey but I used a similar method to The King of DIY. If you are building a large plywood tank I would highly recommend using fiberglass as it does provide a lot of extra strength to the corner seems.

[@jeremybrunson31]

He did two plywood aquariums he make a 260 with liquid rubber with no fiberglass so I figure it was fine