Ep 5. Sweet Tank O' Mine

Tanked is a popular reality TV series that follows the adventures of two brothers-in-law, Wayde King and Brett Raymer as they design and build some of the most outrageous and unique fish tanks in the world. Each episode showcases their latest creations as well as the drama and challenges that come with running a successful aquarium business.

In episode 5 of season 12, titled "Sweet Tank O' Mine", Wayde and Brett take on one of their most exciting and unique projects to date. They are tasked with designing and building a tank for Hard Rock Cafe in Louisville, Kentucky, that combines two of their greatest loves: music and fish.

As always, Wayde and Brett start by meeting with the client and getting a sense of their vision. Hard Rock Cafe wants a tank that embodies the spirit of rock and roll while also showcasing their logo and featuring a variety of aquatic life. This is a tall order, but the brothers-in-law are up for the challenge.

They start by creating an initial design concept using 3D models. This allows them to visualize the tank and make any necessary changes before they start building. They also need to consider the location of the tank within the cafe, as well as the types of fish that will be living in it.

One of the unique challenges of this project is incorporating music into the tank. To do this, Wayde and Brett decide to create a custom-made guitar shaped tank. The neck of the guitar will be elevated, and water will flow down from the top, creating a waterfall effect. They also plan to add LED lights that can pulse with the rhythm of the music that is playing in the cafe.

Another aspect of the design is incorporating the Hard Rock Cafe logo into the tank. Wayde and Brett decide to use a technique called etching, which involves carving the logo into a piece of acrylic and then backlighting it with LED lights. This will create a stunning visual effect that highlights the branding of the cafe and adds to the overall feeling of rock and roll.

Once they have their design in place, it's time to start building. Wayde and Brett work tirelessly in their workshop, cutting and shaping the acrylic and building the frame of the tank. They also start to add the music and lighting aspects, which involve a lot of wiring and programming to get right.

As the build progresses, the team faces a variety of challenges. They need to find the right size of acrylic sheets, ensure that the tank has adequate filtration, and make sure the guitar shape is perfectly symmetrical. There are also unexpected setbacks, such as a leak in the tank that requires them to start over.

Despite these challenges, Wayde, Brett, and their team soldier on, putting in long hours and working their magic to create a truly stunning final product. The finished tank is a sight to behold, featuring vibrant tropical fish, a stunning guitar shape, and the iconic Hard Rock Cafe logo.

Throughout the episode, we also get a glimpse of the day-to-day business of Wayde and Brett's aquarium company. We see them meeting with clients, handling logistics, and managing their team of workers. It's a reminder that while their builds are impressive, there is a lot of hard work and dedication that goes into their success.

Overall, "Sweet Tank O' Mine" is a fantastic episode of Tanked that showcases the creativity, skill, and passion of Wayde King and Brett Raymer. Their ability to combine two seemingly disparate elements – music and fish – into a stunning piece of art is truly remarkable. Fans of the show will love seeing this unique project come to life, and newcomers will be captivated by the sheer creativity and ingenuity on display.