Two bay 6' x 2' x 8" Tubs

2x8 walls and 23/32 plywood

Berh Forever black

Liner, measure and straight edge

Drywall square and some math

Folded, positioned and clamped

Stainless steel stapled

Yellow crayon to mark bulkhead hole

Metal rack decking holes cut for plumbing

Bulkheads and common manifold

Don't silicone the manifold on until it's on the rack

Top View

Another look

In place, just needs 20 minutes of plumbing to the main supply and drain line

Second Plywood Tub

Is complete, flowing on the system and has fish swimming in it.

Fit the liner, over lapped the top and stapled it with stainless steel staples.

Cut the bulkhead hole.

A valve, bulkhead and a few fittings.

Some sand and surface skimming.

Welded Plywood Tub Liner

Received the first sample of a professionally manufactured welded boxed liner.

 No measuring, folding, just drop it in the box and fill with water.  I think it's time to order a production run.  How many do you want?

 Tight perfect folds, heat welded together.  Just build your box and drop it in.

The inside corner with vertical seam.

Plywood Ranchu tub: SXK 11/10 (Ranchumaniax)

The first tub is complete. Its plumbed to the central recirculating system and inhabited by a dozen SXK 11/10 (Ranchumaniax).

Its nice to have a square foot per fish.


2 inch main recirculating water line feeding a one inch vertical manifold that supplies water to each of the three shelves.

The tub is plumbed into a 2 inch drain line returning water to the main sump.  The sump is plumbed to drain via the 2 inch drain line. Its nice to have sumps plumbed to drain so they don't overflow if tap water is left running a little to long.

Plywood Tub: Filling

Plugged and play.

Plywood Lined Ranchu Tub

Plywood lined Ranchu Tub:

23/32 4 ply exterior grade sheathing plywood

1 1/4 deck mate screws

Behr high gloss exterior "black forever"

Pond liner

Stainless steel staples

Make the box and paint it black.

Drill the bulkhead hole before you paint.

Fold the liner in to a box, put it in the plywood tub

Do a large water change to fill with water for a perfect fit.

Clamp into place and mold to the box as you go. Cut the corners to allow the excess to wrap over the sides of the tub.

Once the fit is perfect staple the extra liner to the outside of the tub with 5/8 inch stainless steel staples.

Once the fit is perfect use a razor to very carefully cut a hole in the liner to receive the bulkhead fitting. A little silicone will go a long way for a leak free connection.

Tighten the bulkhead with a home made one inch bulkhead tool. Trace the nut with a sharpie onto the end of a two inch schedule 40 pipe and sand out the excess with a dremmel.

Thread in the one inch street elbow for a finished tank ready to plug into the central system.

72 inches by 24 inches by 12 inches. Total Volume 80 Gallons will run at between 50 and 75 gallons depending on water depth.  Total cost about $35.

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