Thinking About Making My Own Tank...

[DannyBlackbourn]

Hey everyone.

I'm new to keeping fish, However once I have my two tanks ready cycled I want to think about getting a third one up and going...

However I was thinking about maybe building my own tank.

I'm not very clued up on what to do... so any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[saltynay]

Approximate size wanted?

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

Approximate size wanted?

between 4-6ft x 2ft. height 1.5ft maybe...

I have quite a bit of space and want a reasonably sized tank

I can get the glass from a friend (Glazier) just wanted to know how to put it all together, is it as simple and using silicone to fix the sides together?

also what should I do about a lid? if I could buy a lid and then cut the glass the the required lengths maybe that would be better?

 

[saltynay]

For that size I would use support braces aswell as the natural strength of the glass and silicone. Building a lid is really easy just a wooden box with a handle for the door and holes cut for wires.

this guide should answer most of your Q's:
http/saltaquarium.about.com/od/diytanksr...diyaquarium.htm

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

For that size I would use support braces aswell as the natural strength of the glass and silicone. Building a lid is really easy just a wooden box with a handle for the door and holes cut for wires.

this guide should answer most of your Q's:
[URL="http/saltaquarium.about.com/od/diytanksr...diyaquarium.htm"]http/saltaquarium.about.com/od/diytanksr...diyaquarium.htm[/URL]

Thank you

 

[rabbut]

I probibly wouldn't start building tanks with one of that size. It's easy to mess up the silicone joints, and that's a lot of water to get onto the floor...

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

I probibly wouldn't start building tanks with one of that size. It's easy to mess up the silicone joints, and that's a lot of water to get onto the floor...

I was going to test with small bits of glass first anyway... maybe make a small puffer tank lol...

Don't fancy having that much water fill up my flat LOL!

 

[rabbut]

OK, for a 1.5ft height, 6mm would be fine. If it's your first time building a tank of that size though, I'd go with 8mm glass, as it gives you better margins for error You want normal Plate/float glass for it. Do not, I repeat do not order toughened glass... Nick toughened in the wrong place and it just shatters, giving no time to reduce water damage or rescue live stock. When plate/float gets nicked, it cracks, giving ample time to rescue stock and remove some of the water to containers, reducing the mess it makes should you break a pain. Depending on what lights you are going to use, you'll then probably want 2" wide strips running the length of the tank, both top and bottom to increase your gluing area and hence seam strength. Then, at the top you want 3" strips running the width of the tank, at each side and across the center. If you want externals/equipment power leads to go in, you may need to cut parts of the braces to allow the leads/hoses in

All the best
Rabbut