making my own tank.

tenaj-6 · 07-03-2008, 10:32 AM

So far ive cut my glass. Im gonna get the glue tomorrow. its gonna be a 50 gallon long tank. ill post pics and instructions as i go along.

k-dawg- · 07-03-2008, 10:49 AM

cool, I've always wanted to build my own tank, will be following

fishbguy · 07-03-2008, 11:10 AM

good luck.

Do you have plans for it? as far as biuilding? Are you going to get rims for it?

Don't forget to post pics.

**lohachata** · 07-03-2008, 04:34 PM

i have made a lot of tanks over the years.from 2 gallons to 350 gallons.for bigger tanks i use only 1 piece of glass.the rest of the tank is plywood.my first big tank i bought used from a guy that had it for 5 years.it was a 120 gallon..2' x 2' x 4'.........i had it for over 10 years and sold it to a friend who had it for another 10 years.the 240 that i sold when i got divorced in 85;and the 350 i built for a friend are still in operation..and the 350 is a saltwater tank.you can build a 120 gallon tank with 1 piece of 1/4" glass... 1 sheet of 4' x 8' x 3/4" B/C exterior grade plywood...1 8 foot 2 x 4....1 tube of silicone sealer and 1 qt. or so of a good epoxy paint and a bunch of wood screws.

tenaj-6 · 07-03-2008, 05:21 PM

in gonna make it all glass. got it free.
dimensions as follows.
1 metre long (39")
40cm width (16")
40cm high (16")
The glass is 10mm (3/8") thick.
so far the glass is just cut to shape. ill post pics tomorrow wen i start to build.
any tips will be greatly appreciated

k-dawg- · 07-03-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lohachata

i have made a lot of tanks over the years.from 2 gallons to 350 gallons.for bigger tanks i use only 1 piece of glass.the rest of the tank is plywood.my first big tank i bought used from a guy that had it for 5 years.it was a 120 gallon..2' x 2' x 4'.........i had it for over 10 years and sold it to a friend who had it for another 10 years.the 240 that i sold when i got divorced in 85;and the 350 i built for a friend are still in operation..and the 350 is a saltwater tank.you can build a 120 gallon tank with 1 piece of 1/4" glass... 1 sheet of 4' x 8' x 3/4" B/C exterior grade plywood...1 8 foot 2 x 4....1 tube of silicone sealer and 1 qt. or so of a good epoxy paint and a bunch of wood screws.

Do you have a cutting diagram for that by any chance lohatcha?

**lohachata** · 07-03-2008, 08:39 PM

i used to have several sets of plans all drawn up.but i can't find them.i will draw up another set for you with instructions...send me your address so i can send them..it may take a few days but don't let me forget..

**lohachata** · 07-03-2008, 08:47 PM

also..usually when someone has a big tank that get a panel cracked or broken,they throw it out.there are 5 pieces of glass to a tank.one panel breaks....that means that you can build 4 tanks...i have an old 150 gallon tank that i got for free because the bottom was cracked.
so i have the front,back and 2 ends left..that means i can build two 300 and two 75 gallon tanks..works for me.

**TheOldSalt** · 07-04-2008, 07:52 AM

Nice.

I also build plywood tanks. Most of them haven't exactly been for show, though, being rather ugly.

The GARF.org site has a good bunch of plans on it for making tanks, including a calculator function that computes everything and then tells you exactly how everything should go. That site is a real bugger to navigate, but definitely worth bookmarking.

**lohachata** · 07-04-2008, 06:41 PM

the site name itself will tell you it will be an experience....lol

s13 · 07-04-2008, 07:08 PM

Shouldn't be using glue on a glass tank I don't think=P more silicone

shade2dope · 07-05-2008, 12:14 AM

Sure hope that what he was thinking plus I am sure you need certain silacone to hold the pressure of the water.

**Scuba Kid** · 07-05-2008, 09:10 AM

No, just regular 100% silicone is fine. Just make sure it doesn't have mildewcide in it.

tenaj-6 · 07-05-2008, 10:31 AM

got my glue yesterday well its silicone. didnt get around to puttin it together but i scored the glass where im gonna glue it.

important notice.

before building make sure you hace clamps the correct size.

wen its made ill post instructions as well as pics.

any tips will be greatly appreicated

oh yea and itll b monday before i get around to building it.

**Scuba Kid** · 07-05-2008, 10:56 AM

Again, make sure the silicone is 100% silicone with nothing added to it. Any mildewcides will eventually leach into the water.

shade2dope · 07-05-2008, 02:30 PM

I cant find the site that spoke about that a aquarium building company was trying to sue Dap as before it said aquarium safe and they had been using it to build tanks.It couldnt hold the force and the ones they sold all broke.It may have been just talk.

tenaj-6 · 07-06-2008, 02:03 PM

well on the tube it says aquarium safe co i presume it is.

s13 · 07-06-2008, 05:08 PM

also, the DAP brand aquarium silicone says its only for tanks 30 gallons and smaller

tenaj-6 · 07-08-2008, 07:52 AM

ok ill ost a new thread with pics and a guide how i built the tank.

07-03-2008, 10:32 AM	#1
tenaj-6 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: cork, ireland Age: 22 Posts: 82	making my own tank. So far ive cut my glass. Im gonna get the glue tomorrow. its gonna be a 50 gallon long tank. ill post pics and instructions as i go along.

07-03-2008, 10:49 AM	#2
k-dawg- Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 18 Posts: 183	cool, I've always wanted to build my own tank, will be following __________________ Kevin 5.5G Nano Reef 50G Reef

07-03-2008, 11:10 AM	#3
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,865	good luck. Do you have plans for it? as far as biuilding? Are you going to get rims for it? Don't forget to post pics. __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

07-03-2008, 04:34 PM	#4
lohachata Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Age: 63 Posts: 510	i have made a lot of tanks over the years.from 2 gallons to 350 gallons.for bigger tanks i use only 1 piece of glass.the rest of the tank is plywood.my first big tank i bought used from a guy that had it for 5 years.it was a 120 gallon..2' x 2' x 4'.........i had it for over 10 years and sold it to a friend who had it for another 10 years.the 240 that i sold when i got divorced in 85;and the 350 i built for a friend are still in operation..and the 350 is a saltwater tank.you can build a 120 gallon tank with 1 piece of 1/4" glass... 1 sheet of 4' x 8' x 3/4" B/C exterior grade plywood...1 8 foot 2 x 4....1 tube of silicone sealer and 1 qt. or so of a good epoxy paint and a bunch of wood screws. __________________ if we ignore nature;maybe it will go away 10 gallon..nothing but air 10 gallon...just more air 10 gallon...stale air just don't ask about the rest

07-03-2008, 08:39 PM	#7
lohachata Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Age: 63 Posts: 510	i used to have several sets of plans all drawn up.but i can't find them.i will draw up another set for you with instructions...send me your address so i can send them..it may take a few days but don't let me forget.. __________________ if we ignore nature;maybe it will go away 10 gallon..nothing but air 10 gallon...just more air 10 gallon...stale air just don't ask about the rest

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07-03-2008, 05:21 PM	#5
tenaj-6 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: cork, ireland Age: 22 Posts: 82	in gonna make it all glass. got it free. dimensions as follows. 1 metre long (39") 40cm width (16") 40cm high (16") The glass is 10mm (3/8") thick. so far the glass is just cut to shape. ill post pics tomorrow wen i start to build. any tips will be greatly appreciated

07-03-2008, 08:47 PM	#8
lohachata Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Age: 63 Posts: 510	also..usually when someone has a big tank that get a panel cracked or broken,they throw it out.there are 5 pieces of glass to a tank.one panel breaks....that means that you can build 4 tanks...i have an old 150 gallon tank that i got for free because the bottom was cracked. so i have the front,back and 2 ends left..that means i can build two 300 and two 75 gallon tanks..works for me. __________________ if we ignore nature;maybe it will go away 10 gallon..nothing but air 10 gallon...just more air 10 gallon...stale air just don't ask about the rest

07-04-2008, 07:52 AM	#9
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,253	Nice. I also build plywood tanks. Most of them haven't exactly been for show, though, being rather ugly. The GARF.org site has a good bunch of plans on it for making tanks, including a calculator function that computes everything and then tells you exactly how everything should go. That site is a real bugger to navigate, but definitely worth bookmarking.

07-04-2008, 06:41 PM	#10
lohachata Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Age: 63 Posts: 510	the site name itself will tell you it will be an experience....lol __________________ if we ignore nature;maybe it will go away 10 gallon..nothing but air 10 gallon...just more air 10 gallon...stale air just don't ask about the rest

07-04-2008, 07:08 PM	#11
s13 After ye booty Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pensacola, Florida Age: 19 Posts: 153	Shouldn't be using glue on a glass tank I don't think=P more silicone __________________

07-05-2008, 12:14 AM	#12
shade2dope Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Age: 19 Posts: 371	Sure hope that what he was thinking plus I am sure you need certain silacone to hold the pressure of the water. __________________ 3 Aulonocara Sp Maleri 2 female Two eletric blu ali 1 male 1 female,Clown Pleco,abn,Yellow Lab Two Haplochromis ruby green and some juvies, two flame backs one female, compressicep,Fancy Guppies Goby Dragon,Jack Demsey,Altolamprologus calvus (Chaitika)

07-05-2008, 09:10 AM	#13
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,163	No, just regular 100% silicone is fine. Just make sure it doesn't have mildewcide in it. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

07-05-2008, 10:31 AM	#14
tenaj-6 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: cork, ireland Age: 22 Posts: 82	got my glue yesterday well its silicone. didnt get around to puttin it together but i scored the glass where im gonna glue it. important notice. before building make sure you hace clamps the correct size. wen its made ill post instructions as well as pics. any tips will be greatly appreicated oh yea and itll b monday before i get around to building it. Last edited by tenaj-6; 07-05-2008 at 10:34 AM.

07-05-2008, 10:56 AM	#15
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,163	Again, make sure the silicone is 100% silicone with nothing added to it. Any mildewcides will eventually leach into the water. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

07-05-2008, 02:30 PM	#16
shade2dope Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Age: 19 Posts: 371	I cant find the site that spoke about that a aquarium building company was trying to sue Dap as before it said aquarium safe and they had been using it to build tanks.It couldnt hold the force and the ones they sold all broke.It may have been just talk. __________________ 3 Aulonocara Sp Maleri 2 female Two eletric blu ali 1 male 1 female,Clown Pleco,abn,Yellow Lab Two Haplochromis ruby green and some juvies, two flame backs one female, compressicep,Fancy Guppies Goby Dragon,Jack Demsey,Altolamprologus calvus (Chaitika)

07-06-2008, 02:03 PM	#17
tenaj-6 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: cork, ireland Age: 22 Posts: 82	well on the tube it says aquarium safe co i presume it is.

07-06-2008, 05:08 PM	#18
s13 After ye booty Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pensacola, Florida Age: 19 Posts: 153	also, the DAP brand aquarium silicone says its only for tanks 30 gallons and smaller __________________

07-08-2008, 07:52 AM	#19
tenaj-6 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: cork, ireland Age: 22 Posts: 82	ok ill ost a new thread with pics and a guide how i built the tank.

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