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Materials
List (and Estimated costs...costs will vary depending on your area) |
| 2 each, 4'X 8'X
3/4", AC EXTERIOR plywood ($73.62 at local lumber yard...these were not available at Home Depot) |
| One piece 94"X24"
glass, 3/8" thick...it does not have to be
tempered-$139.40 |
| Two 1 pound boxes
of 2-inch drywall screws ($8.22 for two boxes at the depot) |
| 4 tubes of
Waterproof glue ($39.88 at the Depot) NOTE: be sure that you use a product that says that is recommended for use "Below the Waterline" |
| l-gallon, autobody
putty (bondo) w/ hardener ($25.00 at the Depot) NOTE: The hardener is sold with the bondo, but be sure to buy an extra... If You're like me, you'll probably use more than you need anyway. (try to follow the directions though...they can be rather handy)... be sure to get the cream hardener, not the liquid... the liquid is for fiberglass applications. |
| 5- gallons, two-part
epoxy paint - under $100 because someone else ordered it and never picked it up
at the store, so I got it at a discount. WARNING: DESPITE WHAT SOME "INFORMED" SALESPEOPLE MIGHT TRY TO TELL YOU, DO NOT USE ONE PART EPOXY PAINT...IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE SAME STRENGTH AS TWO PART EPOXY PAINT (that's why they still make two part). Suggestion: Go to your local fish store, check out their tanks, and see the different colors they use...figure out which color you like for your application, as well as the color of rock you intend on using, and then go for it... (If you have a spouse who might have some input, you might consider getting their opinion as well). Also, once the aquarium is complete, with all of the recommended coats of epoxy paint, you can always use a regular paint to make the outside a different color so that it compliments the decor of your home...just be sure to sand the areas first so that you get good adhesion. (that means sticks to the surface well) |
| 3-tubes, silicon
caulking, non-toxic aquarium suitable (Purchased on E-bay for just under $25.00 with shipping...was not available at the Depot, and since I live in a pretty rural area, and couldn't find it locally, Ebay was the answer) It is best to get these in the kind of tube for your caulking gun, as it will be easier to apply it evenly. |
| Professional Glass
Cleaner ($6.00 at the Depot) (Do yourself a favor, and get some good stuff...the extra little bit of money you spend will be worth it...don't make your task more difficult by "making do", or "cutting corners"). |
| A pack of 120 grit
sandpaper ($4.00 at the Depot) |
| A pack of 220 grit
sandpaper ($4.00 at the Depot) |
| Four cheap,
throw-away 2" paint brushes- one for each coat of paint ($12.00 at the Depot) (Don't waste your time trying to clean, and save brushes that are used to apply an epoxy paint...its just not worth it...you can put them in the freezer though, if you insist on re-using them throughout the project) |
| An inexpensive roller
frame, and a pack of roller covers ($10.00 at the Depot) (Like the brushes, use them, and then throw them away...you can keep the roller frame though for a future project if you want to) I just used what is commonly referred to as"weeine rollers"...they're great for use in small areas...I used the heavier nap covers for the initial two coats of paint, and then I used the smaller nap covers for the final coats so that they would be as smooth as possible, and thereby reduce sanding time...sanding isn't one of my favorite things to do. |
| Lots of Paper
towels (Cost: about $2.00-make sure you have plenty, and avoid using rags...you want paper towels because you can just throw them away, and it is important to use something clean when you are cleaning...re-using nasty, old rags defeats the purpose) |
| A caulking gun (I already had one, so I didn't need to buy it...It seems like a decent caulking gun costs around $6.00 though.) |
| Total Cost: just
over $400.00 wow, imagine what this would have cost to buy at the
store. |
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