View Full Version : Pros and Cons...
Flying_Diamond
06-20-2007, 2:59 PM
I was wondering what the pros and cons are of building my own aquarium...
I've been dableing* in the idea of building a glass aquarium around 75-100 gallons for some time, And I just wanted to know if it could actually work, and how thick the glass would have to be to hold the water.
Nolapete
06-20-2007, 3:04 PM
Unless you have a source of quality used glass, the cost of new glass would far outweigh the cost of an all glass aquarium. There's several other options though such as wood and glass or wood and acrylic that may be less expensive.
Most people will tell you that building your own aquarium is more for the satisfaction of having done it yourself rather than saving money.
Aquarium manufacturers buy tons of glass at a time in bulk. It's the only way they get it cheap enough to make a profit and keep the individual tank cost low to manufacture.
That said: Here's the best tank building calculator known to man, well at least this man.
http://www.garf.org/tank/buildtank.asp
Flying_Diamond
06-20-2007, 3:07 PM
Thank you for the link. Actually, my father owns a glass company and he buys his glass by the bulk so I can get the glass next to nothing from him and it would be cheaper, and more satisfactory than going out and buying one.
What I was more worried about was the support and the lack of black trim around the tank. Could that cause problems?
EDIT: forgot a paragraph. =]
Nolapete
06-20-2007, 3:41 PM
The trim is not necessary. Just look at the ADA Amano ones http://www.adgshop.com/Trimless_aquariums_s/5.htm You can silicone a piece of glass either across the center or on either end at the top to provide necessary support. My 225 was 6' long and had a 1' glass brace on both ends.
You could easily make your own trim from materials available at Home Depot or Lowe's. There's probably a company that sells lengths of that plastic trim. It would take some searching, but surely it's out there. It has to come from somewhere and I doubt the aquarium manufacters self manufacture it.
Flying_Diamond
06-20-2007, 4:18 PM
Wow, ok. I thought they would have to have that trim, but if they don't then I'll just put the 2 braces on either ends and build a canopy for the top.
Will I be able to find lights that will fit in a canopy that I build?
Nolapete
06-20-2007, 4:20 PM
Either ahsupply.com or go the cheap way and just use the shop lights from Home Depot like I did.
Nolapete
06-20-2007, 4:22 PM
The trim is really there to protect the corners from getting chipped and on the bottom to prevent a stress fracture in case a tiny rock or something else happens to be under the glass. It's a good practice. You can actually make your trim part of your stand. I'm sure you've seen the ones that hide the trim. Just make it a little snugger fit and there you go, built in trim.
Flying_Diamond
06-20-2007, 5:02 PM
Ok. I'll do that then.
JohnInFlorida
06-20-2007, 5:08 PM
This is not meant to be a complete turnoff from building your own, but once you get over 30 gal or so, the "devil is in the details" (see link). I believe that, for the most part, well-built DIY plywood/glass tanks are much more likely to survive than DIY all-glass tanks because it's much easier to overbuild with wood than with glass.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/general-planted-tank-discussion/41844-death-big-clear-kahuna.html
Whether you decide to build or not, this link makes a good read and refers to others that are just as interesting.
Keep Smilin'
John :)
Rbishop
06-20-2007, 7:00 PM
IMO, the trim is there for more than chips and rocks under the glass. Anybody have a link to a manufacturer's site that verifies that reasoning?
mostlycichlids
06-20-2007, 7:58 PM
IMO, the trim is there for more than chips and rocks under the glass. Anybody have a link to a manufacturer's site that verifies that reasoning?
I agree...older tanks had no trim but were built with much thicker glass then tanks now days. Plastic,wood or what have you on tanks these days do what glass braces did back in the day. The trim also adds more support to the top and bottom of the tank thus allowing the thinner glass to be better supported. I don't know of any manufacturers sites varifying this but I do know that glass was thicker and glass braces were used instead of the trim pieces today.