Habitat - Indoor :: Making an ATBA. Need some help

[atagtmeier]

I am making an ATBA for my 55 gallon tank. I want it to cover the entire top of the tank, I am hoping it to be about 11 inches tall. I got the plans all drawn up and everything, just one more thing to figure out before going forward.


I am thinking it will rest right on top of the tank. How much weight should be safe to put on top of the thing? Should I screw it into the wall behind the tank instead and "hang" it from the wall? I don't want to make too many holes in the wall, but at the same time I figure a few holes are much better than 55 gallons of water all over the floor.

[atagtmeier]

One m ore thing. Is there a type of paint or sealant I can put on wood so it doesn't rot or absorbe all kinds of moisture? I am also wanting to paint the outsides black to match the tank stand.

[raptr20]

you can most likely build right on the rim of the tank (unless you are using very heavy materal). When i had my 55 gallon tank i made a ATBA for the entire top out of plexie glass. now with my 100 gallon tank i made it out of wood (3 sides) 1 side of plaxie glass along with plexie glass plateform and ramp. I didnt treat the wood with anything or even paint it. I wanted to but i was afrid of the chemical leaking in. My current setup has been up for about half a year and it apperas i have some mold under the platform. other than that both of my tanks were more than able to support the small amount of material used for the ATBA and the turts weight.

[atagtmeier]

I'm gonna make the frame out of 1x2 's and then take 1/8" ply wood for the back and sides. from will have the same ply wood but I am ging to put plexi glass, I'm thinking a thinner piece of it, for the windows and have it hinged so it will flip up for cleaning easier. Gonna make a removable panel also in the back where the tubes for my filter go in. Gonna to the same on the oposite side of the back also. That was i have room for easy upgrades to the filter system or if I want to move it at all.

[raptr20]

sweet well when your are done post some pics so we can all see