Need help on building a tank

[zach c.]

Hey guys i just signed up, my names zach my friend told me about this site when i asked for some tips about building my own glass tank. and you guys got some real amazing tanks and fish . now i dont have fish but i got some cool turtles and there only 2" now i had them since they were baby hatchlings and at full grown there gonna get about 12" so im going to need a big tank. and buying the size i want is expensive so since my dad is a real handy kinda guy i figured me and him could build a tank i want atleast a 150gallon long style not the small and tall and i plan on using 3/8 or 1/2 inch for glass and GE silicon I windows and doors now is that silicone good? cuz i can buy a 4 pack at lowes for 15$ or i can get the small tubes of aquarium silicone from walmart but ill need alot of those lol, so if u guys have any tips at all or anything i should know please let me know this is the 1st tank ill be building and i checked out that graf thing that gives me the materials i need and stuff and when i build it should i build on top of the bottom peice or should i build the sides surrounding the bottom peice of glass and also what are some good measurments for a 150 gallon long LxWxH but it still needs to have good depth. Thanks.:)

[jem454]

For the most part unless your building bigger than 300 gallons, its cheaper to buy a tank. Glass and acrylic prices are ridiculous.

[zach c.]

for 135 gallon tank it would cost me 270 for the tank and the shipping would cost me 300-400 or more. and the glass shop thats in my town knows my family:):)

[jem454]

You cant buy a tank locally without shipping?
Most glass places are close to 200 dollars for a piece of 93" glass

[Dr Joe]

Build it to suit your space and your turtles' needs.

What kind of turtles have you got?

Full aquatic or partially terrestrial?

(I could just suggest an 8ft x 4ft x 3ft high with 2 center drains and a 55g W/D and extra filtration area and most all will cope in there, but I don't think that's what your looking for here :D )

Filtration is going to be a big part of a DIY turtle tank if your smart and want healthy critters.

Having a friend in the glass business is definitely going to be a big plus here!:thumbsup:.

Dr Joe

.

[zach c.]

red ear sliders they love as much water as u can possibly fit in a tank. the more water they have the happier they are:) i want a 150g long style say 60" long or 72" long but i need a width and height to go with that 24" high maybe?? also my biggest question is would i build on top of the bottom peice of glass or do i build surrounding the bottom??

[amehel0]

surrounding. thats how my local aquarium builder does it.

[zach c.]

i got a question about assembling the peices together should you only do 1 peice at a time and then wait about a day or 2 before siliconing the other? like say connect the back piece of glass to the bottom and clamp it togeter and let it cure before doing another peice of glass or can u assemble it all at once??? my dimmensions are going to be 60x24x25 with 1/2" glass

[Dr Joe]

Yeah, I've had a lot of sliders, they're a great turtle, you have to give them a good sized basking area that won't allow them to crawl out of the tank. Oh, don't forget the splash factor :D.

Use bar clamps (strap clamps don't put as even a pressure and don't square up as easily) and do all 4 sides and bottom at once. Construct on a know flat surface & check for squareness.

Dr Joe

.

[zach c.]

all 4 sides surrounding the bottom piece right? also does anyone have anypics of how they clamped the glass together?? and how long do i leave the clamps on for?

[zach c.]

Also what is the name of the glass that im supposed to buy to make this aquarium?

[portabuddy]

foat glass (un-tinted)is nice for a tank... nice and flat, no ripples.

[cvermeulen]

You're going to have to special order the glass, so tell the guys at the glass shop you're building an aquarium. Annealed plate glass with ground edges is what you'll need. (Basically regular plate glass... if they ask if you want it tempered say NO)

[KABB44423]

Yeah, I've had a lot of sliders, they're a great turtle, you have to give them a good sized basking area that won't allow them to crawl out of the tank. Oh, don't forget the splash factor :D.

Use bar clamps (strap clamps don't put as even a pressure and don't square up as easily) and do all 4 sides and bottom at once. Construct on a know flat surface & check for squareness.

Dr Joe

.
i also hear that you can you duct tape to hold it 2geather top middle bottom on every corner:D

[KABB44423]

You're going to have to special order the glass, so tell the guys at the glass shop you're building an aquarium. Annealed plate glass with ground edges is what you'll need. (Basically regular plate glass... if they ask if you want it tempered say NO)
why not tempered? isnt that what there making tanks out of these days? just curious:popcorn:

[zach c.]

well i called my local pet store today about a 150 gallon tank & the price wus suprisingly conveinent $525. After i called the glass shop and gave him my dimensions and for 5 Peices of 1/4" glass would be about $210 without any discounts.
Its tank building time!!!:popcorn:(next weekend tho, im short on cash lol)

p.s my orginal dimesnions were going to be 60x24x25 tall with either 3/8 or 1/2" (thats wut garf suggests) but the glass shop said it was going to be more expensive cuz he has to order it, and i didnt even ask how much more expensive it would be to upgrade from 1/4 to 3/8 so im going to call him tommorow and ask

but as for 1/4" glass i can make a tank 79x24x18 tall using garfs calculations wich i would be able to use 1/4" do u think thats long/tall enough for 2 12" turtles when they reach that size?

[zach c.]

also wut would be the best way to go about bracing it ? id need some step by step instructions on that lol so if u can please leave some tips

[zach c.]

and are u supposed to use styrofoam under the bottom peice when u build it? like the pink styrofoam like they use for insulation ? and do u make the styrofoam the same size as the bottom peice or bigger? probly bigger so when u attach the sides to the bottom there not just hanging there right?

sry for all the questions i just want this tank to come out perfect with no imperfections so im trying to figure out all i can

[zach c.]

Also when siliconing the glass together do i put silicone on the edges of the bottom then stick the other 4 peices on or do u put silicone on all edges that are going to be in contact with eachother (like the bottom edge and the edge thats being stuck to the bottom

[cvermeulen]

Guy. questions are well and good, but if you're building a tank this big go to the library and get a book on it. Read the whole thing before you buy anything.

[Mystix212]

Go for 5x2x2. Thats 150G. Allows for good movement. Use 2-3 canister filters and several powerheads. Messy things.

[zach c.]

i cant go 2ft high that requires 3/8" or bigger and thatll cost me 356$ for the glass and i can buy a 150 gallon for 525 at the store so im going to use 1/4" glass with 6 1/2 ft long 2 ft wide and 1 1/2ft tall- for only $233 i made a cardboard replica of it and its massive looks perfect ill post them up in a bit if i can figure out how

[Mystix212]

Excellent. Any idea of stockings?

[zach c.]

2 Red Ear Slider turtles :D:D:D:D:D:D:D check my other thread for the replica of the tank

[Mystix212]

Did that.

Is it possible to spawn these?