Best material to build a 5 gallon tank?

[biofish]

I need a custom five gallon tank to fit where I would need to put it and I’m just trying to figure out the best and hopefully most price savvy way to do that. Would plexiglass work? Or acrylic glass? It seems a little bendy for a fishtank but I’ve heard works for small tanks? Or would getting getting precut glass work better? I’m not sure exactly how to cut plexiglass

I’m good with which silicone to get; got that covered.

And just to make sure the equation to get the gallons of a tank is gallons = ( L x W x H) / 231?

 

[FishHobby99]

If you buy it at Lowe’s they will cut it. Give them a call for details.

 

[OliveFish05]

You want 1/4 inch or 6 mm glass. I would have someone cut it if I were you! You can’t use silicone on acrylic like you can on glass unfortunately.

 

[biofish]

You want 1/4 inch or 6 mm glass. I would have someone cut it if I were you! You can’t use silicone on acrylic like you can on glass unfortunately.

Oh? What would you use on acrylic? Is there another fish safe type of adhesive?

 

[itiwhetu]

I use secondhand 6mm glass. The glaziers give it away. It is easy to cut yourself. Make sure that the silicone has "For aquarium use" on the packaging. There are very few silicones that can withstand the forces associated with aquariums.

 

[OliveFish05]

Oh? What would you use on acrylic? Is there another fish safe type of adhesive?

I believe it requires some type of chemical bonding, though I am not entirely sure!

 

[Colin_T]

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height) going to be?
Taller tanks need thicker glass.

-------------------
To work out the volume of water in an aquarium,
measure length x width x height in cm
divide by 1000
= volume in litres.

If you want to convert that to gallons, divide the litres by 3.785 for US gallons, or 4.5 for UK gallons.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I think I'd find a better place, or buy a stand, and buy a standard glass aquarium.