That’s what it cost me to build mine.
My tank
$ 71 Pool sides
$280 EPDM liner (25’ x20’)
$140 (12) pieces Styrofoam for bottom (8) and top (4)
$ 74 (2) Rolls Insulation for sides (4’ x 100’ 1 ½” thick)
$ 30 Misc stuff (spray adhesive, hardware, plastic sheeting, spray foam)
$595 Total
Construction:
52” high x 7 ½ foot diameter tank:. This was brand new swimming pool sheet metal sides. I got a 24 foot round and cut 1/3 of it off. Measure the exact distance you need hole to hole and drill matching holes to the ones already there and bolt it together with ¼-20 hardware.
Base: I put 4 2x8 pieces of Styrofoam together and cut a 7 ½ foot circle, repeat. Stack on top of each other and you have an R-20 base. Could have gone with 3 layers and lose 2 more inches in height.
Liner: Bought from pond supplier, cut a 16 ½ by 16 ½ piece. I put mine in square but if I had to do it over I’d cut it round so I don’t have to trim it afterwards. Place inside and pull up over the sides. You have to do some pleating of the material but it’s not too hard. I held it in place with duct tape.
Cover: I took another 4 pieces of foam board and this time cut an 8’ circle. Glue edges together and lay an 8’ diameter piece of left over EPDM on it and contact cement it in place. Cut holes for any pipes. R-10 (flip it over, the EPDM side goes down)
UPDATE: Heat and contact cement don’t work well together!! Liner is starting to detach from foam board. Its not going anywhere though, it’s supported in the middle and on the edges. My project for next summer is to find a better way to glue it up.
UPDATE: People are telling me that the pink foam will not hold up in the long run. I did a test by putting some in the oven at 190 to 200 and placed some weights on it to simulate loading. After 4 hours I couldn't see any change. Now that was only 4 hours I have no idea how it will fair over 6 months. I'll check in the spring and maybe add some of the foil covered foam.
Seal top to side with Dow Corning high temp sealant
Wrap tank with insulation. I used 6 layers for 9 thick. R-26
Cut four 8’ diameter half rounds, place on top for 2 layers or another R-9.
I wrapped the whole thing with plastic sheathing just to make it look nicer and add a little protection. Looks like a giant cake.
This is roughly the same as the STSS 1200 gallon tank that they sell for $2560 (plus shipping), and theirs is only R-14.
I had to buy more material than I needed so I’m selling what I have left over at my cost.
Sheet metal pool sides: I paid $212 so I’m asking $75 for the piece that has the holes in it at the other end and $70 for the piece with no holes.
Insulation. I bought 6 rolls for $222 and only used 2, so I’m asking $37 each, Johns Manville brand 4’ x 100’ rolls
So far its working great, temp was up to 145 over night before I let the fire go out. I'll try to get it higher tonight.
UPDATE: Its been up to 172 consistantly with no problems. The bottom only gets to 155.
Email me
Greg H
My tank
$ 71 Pool sides
$280 EPDM liner (25’ x20’)
$140 (12) pieces Styrofoam for bottom (8) and top (4)
$ 74 (2) Rolls Insulation for sides (4’ x 100’ 1 ½” thick)
$ 30 Misc stuff (spray adhesive, hardware, plastic sheeting, spray foam)
$595 Total
Construction:
52” high x 7 ½ foot diameter tank:. This was brand new swimming pool sheet metal sides. I got a 24 foot round and cut 1/3 of it off. Measure the exact distance you need hole to hole and drill matching holes to the ones already there and bolt it together with ¼-20 hardware.
Base: I put 4 2x8 pieces of Styrofoam together and cut a 7 ½ foot circle, repeat. Stack on top of each other and you have an R-20 base. Could have gone with 3 layers and lose 2 more inches in height.
Liner: Bought from pond supplier, cut a 16 ½ by 16 ½ piece. I put mine in square but if I had to do it over I’d cut it round so I don’t have to trim it afterwards. Place inside and pull up over the sides. You have to do some pleating of the material but it’s not too hard. I held it in place with duct tape.
Cover: I took another 4 pieces of foam board and this time cut an 8’ circle. Glue edges together and lay an 8’ diameter piece of left over EPDM on it and contact cement it in place. Cut holes for any pipes. R-10 (flip it over, the EPDM side goes down)
UPDATE: Heat and contact cement don’t work well together!! Liner is starting to detach from foam board. Its not going anywhere though, it’s supported in the middle and on the edges. My project for next summer is to find a better way to glue it up.
UPDATE: People are telling me that the pink foam will not hold up in the long run. I did a test by putting some in the oven at 190 to 200 and placed some weights on it to simulate loading. After 4 hours I couldn't see any change. Now that was only 4 hours I have no idea how it will fair over 6 months. I'll check in the spring and maybe add some of the foil covered foam.
Seal top to side with Dow Corning high temp sealant
Wrap tank with insulation. I used 6 layers for 9 thick. R-26
Cut four 8’ diameter half rounds, place on top for 2 layers or another R-9.
I wrapped the whole thing with plastic sheathing just to make it look nicer and add a little protection. Looks like a giant cake.
This is roughly the same as the STSS 1200 gallon tank that they sell for $2560 (plus shipping), and theirs is only R-14.
I had to buy more material than I needed so I’m selling what I have left over at my cost.
Sheet metal pool sides: I paid $212 so I’m asking $75 for the piece that has the holes in it at the other end and $70 for the piece with no holes.
Insulation. I bought 6 rolls for $222 and only used 2, so I’m asking $37 each, Johns Manville brand 4’ x 100’ rolls
So far its working great, temp was up to 145 over night before I let the fire go out. I'll try to get it higher tonight.
UPDATE: Its been up to 172 consistantly with no problems. The bottom only gets to 155.
Email me
Greg H
