I plan to build a large tank (lets say a 75 gallon, 48x18x20) with one quarter inch glass, lotsa aquarium silicone, and some 90 degree moulding, I also want to weld a stand for it also. What guidelines and blueprints must I follow so that I have the safest tank setup possible? And what brand or kind of filter do ya'll suggest? Thanks*thumbsups
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- Thread starter Antwan
- Start date
It sounds like fun building your own tank. But I have to agree with Geoff: Buy the tank. But you can build the rest of the stuff (stand and hood). Imagine coming home from work one day to find the mess of a broken 10 gallon tank. Now imagine the mess of a broken 75 gallon!
If you really want to make a tank, try a smaller tank (10g). See how well you do with that, then try to build that 75 gallon.
If you really want to make a tank, try a smaller tank (10g). See how well you do with that, then try to build that 75 gallon.
My only advice is to use thicker glass than 1/4 inch. I'd definitely say use at least 1/2 inch, because that's what mine is (dimensions: 48x24x19). You'll also want to use tempered glass on the bottom at a minimum too, to support the weight of rocks and the water. From what I've been told in the last couple of days, the bottom pane is usually 1/4 inch thicker than the rest, so you should be looking at 3/4 inch tempered glass at the bottom.
I'd probably go w/ buying the tank, then building a nice wood or metal stand and canopy. I'm building my own canopy now. I think that I can do it under $40 with the lighting, which saves me a bundle. I'm on a quest to build one for under $100 total, and since I got the tank/stand for $50, I have only $50 more to spend.
You'd be surprised at the deals out there...really! Like I said, I got my 75G for only 50 bucks w/the stand! Here's the pics of it:
http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=6876
Look around in the local trading post, newspapers, and online listings. I'm sure you'll find someone who just upgraded, and their wife is demanding that the old one is G O N E !!
If you do decide to build, good luck with it! I'd be interested to see how it's done....be sure to take pics!
Take Care,
Frank
I'd probably go w/ buying the tank, then building a nice wood or metal stand and canopy. I'm building my own canopy now. I think that I can do it under $40 with the lighting, which saves me a bundle. I'm on a quest to build one for under $100 total, and since I got the tank/stand for $50, I have only $50 more to spend.
You'd be surprised at the deals out there...really! Like I said, I got my 75G for only 50 bucks w/the stand! Here's the pics of it:
http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=6876
Look around in the local trading post, newspapers, and online listings. I'm sure you'll find someone who just upgraded, and their wife is demanding that the old one is G O N E !!
If you do decide to build, good luck with it! I'd be interested to see how it's done....be sure to take pics!
Take Care,
Frank
I think building a tank is a bad idea if you don't know what your doing. If you know what you're doing then I think it's a great idea. Plus, I think it would be fun to build your own tank. Be sure to post some pics.
Out of curiousity.....Do you know what you're doing, Antwan? How are you going to get all of these supplies and equipment? I would imagine that most people don't have the necessary equipment laying around the garage.
Out of curiousity.....Do you know what you're doing, Antwan? How are you going to get all of these supplies and equipment? I would imagine that most people don't have the necessary equipment laying around the garage.
I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing. Well, I plan to get the glass at a glass shop and bleach it and stuff. Then I'll get the moulding from home depot. The aquarium sealant I could get at a wal-mart. I've already got a basic idea of how its going to fit together. I don't think I'll be needing a lot of equipment to put this thing together, just a lot of materials. If I do, I have easy access to a ton of tools and machinery. And I'll give ya'lls a look-see when I get done, too. Any other questions or comments?
If you have a store around you that makes custom tanks, I would definitely ask them for pointers, or even have them do it for you. I do think that unless you want a realllllllly big tank that it would be cheaper to just buy one, but then you wouldn't get the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Just make sure you know exactly how to do it.
At one of the fish stores around here, I walked in and saw an absolutely GIGANTIC tank that I guess some guy had custom made for him. It was so big that the bottom was reinforced steel. It was over 10 feet long and six feet wide. I'd say it was about my hight, 5 foot 2-ish... Now, where on earth would you put THAT?!?!?!
At one of the fish stores around here, I walked in and saw an absolutely GIGANTIC tank that I guess some guy had custom made for him. It was so big that the bottom was reinforced steel. It was over 10 feet long and six feet wide. I'd say it was about my hight, 5 foot 2-ish... Now, where on earth would you put THAT?!?!?!
No custom tank builders around here. And if I order one like the one I want, I'm gonna be going up into the hundreds, but I could do it myself for less than $500, thats for sure! I just need the materials and the reassurance that what I'm doing will pay off.
My biggest fear is coming home to see my dead Oscars and Cichlids and my room filled with 90 gal. of stank water. I don't think its go down to that though. I'm starting to think about acrylic now, cause it weighs less. A 90 gal. is gonna weigh 900 lbs. Thats kinda scary with it being home made.
If anyone has a tank around that size, I'd appreciate verrrrry much if I could see some pics of the structure, like the corners, the way the glass is fitted together, how much silicone, braces etc. Hints and Tips would also help out a lot.
thanks
My biggest fear is coming home to see my dead Oscars and Cichlids and my room filled with 90 gal. of stank water. I don't think its go down to that though. I'm starting to think about acrylic now, cause it weighs less. A 90 gal. is gonna weigh 900 lbs. Thats kinda scary with it being home made.
If anyone has a tank around that size, I'd appreciate verrrrry much if I could see some pics of the structure, like the corners, the way the glass is fitted together, how much silicone, braces etc. Hints and Tips would also help out a lot.
thanks
Ive build a few tanks already but not 75Gs, only 20G right (thats all I need for now). Its very simple actually. I get my glass free so it is much cheaper than buying tanks plus I can make them the sizes I need.
Send me your e-mail address (PM) and I will send some info about cutting, constructing tanks!
Here's my project that Im around 75% complete. The tanks I built from scratch.
http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=6893
Send me your e-mail address (PM) and I will send some info about cutting, constructing tanks!
Here's my project that Im around 75% complete. The tanks I built from scratch.
http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=6893
diamonds_in_da_ruff@hotmail.com There is my address and feel free to use it. I just need pointers on how to make the 90 gal. 900 lb. tank safe, know what I mean?
Thanks a bunch! I forgot to tell you, I'm not cutting the glass, the shop is. I think I'm going to leave it to the pros'. I'll just make sure and tell them what its for and to make sure the cuts are accurate. So I should follow the measurements from the calculator, and use half inch glass instead. And then use three quarter tempered on the bottom, right? thanks
Glass thickness is dependant on the height of the tank because the higher the water level, the more pressure on the bottom joints and glass. So, definitly 1/2" if thats what the calculator is telling you. About the tempered on the bottom, I would not! Why? If you ever want to drill holes in the bottom for overflows or whatever you will have that option (though I dont like holes on the bottom). Tempered is not necessary on the bottom.
If the glass shop is cutting the glass for you, your laughing then. All you need to do silicon it which is the easiest part of building a tank. Just follow the e-mail I sent about siliconing and also see the tank repair thread in the diy section for some pics!
If the glass shop is cutting the glass for you, your laughing then. All you need to do silicon it which is the easiest part of building a tank. Just follow the e-mail I sent about siliconing and also see the tank repair thread in the diy section for some pics!