Where Do You Guys Get Such Big Aquariums?
- Thread starter breadhead
- Start date
From what I have seen since I joined the site is a lot come from
FishtanksDirect.com
The second biggest source is used tanks out of California
Just my observation
I ordered mine from Planet Aquariums. It was custom built and shipped to my LFS with their regular order so I didn't have to pay freight costs. I believe my 210g + stand + fitted lid + sump cost around $1500, and that was considered a really good deal several years ago. I would expect it to be like 25% more now. Definitely not the most cost-efficient route... but I sure got what I wanted quickly. That was low iron rimless glass - acrylic would probably run less.
I'd keep an eye on Facebook marketplace or your LFSs if they buy used tanks. If you're patient & in an urban area & lucky they occasionally pop up for ~$500-1000.
If you wanna go really big and are handy, plywood tanks are getting pretty popular now and there are lots of guides for building them online. I'm pretty sure I'll do that if I ever want anything bigger than my doorframe.
I'd keep an eye on Facebook marketplace or your LFSs if they buy used tanks. If you're patient & in an urban area & lucky they occasionally pop up for ~$500-1000.
If you wanna go really big and are handy, plywood tanks are getting pretty popular now and there are lots of guides for building them online. I'm pretty sure I'll do that if I ever want anything bigger than my doorframe.
Craigslist, free. 220g glass and 260g acrylic. Sumps we’re free too. 
I got both my tanks in my signature below from fishtanksdirect. I purchased the tanks and everything else besides the lights & sand from them; wood cabinet stand & canopy hood, sump filter. See prices on the website, prices higher than if I'd shopped for a deal but worth it for what are basically turnkey setups.
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My largest is an 800g and I looked everywhere trying to find any tank larger than the typical 210 and below. A couple helpful bits I found:
- There are a ton of geezers in the PHX area that like aquariums and they almost always have some xlnt tanks on CL in the region
- There are several CL amalgamators, among them is "search all of CraigsList"
- I often logged on to https://giantaquariums.com as he reposts a lot of CL ads. He also posts ads for a LFS in or near Houston, TX that's spendy but usually has an array of nice tank possibilities
- I eventually put an ad on CL myself stating that I was looking for a large tank of roughly 1000g+ ...and then I got lucky.
- There are a ton of geezers in the PHX area that like aquariums and they almost always have some xlnt tanks on CL in the region
- There are several CL amalgamators, among them is "search all of CraigsList"
- I often logged on to https://giantaquariums.com as he reposts a lot of CL ads. He also posts ads for a LFS in or near Houston, TX that's spendy but usually has an array of nice tank possibilities
- I eventually put an ad on CL myself stating that I was looking for a large tank of roughly 1000g+ ...and then I got lucky.
RE: 800gal tank: Nice. Good for you. Is it currently running, if so what do you stock in it.
Thank you, Sir. I feel lucky to have found one close and that I could make fit the budget. I don't have anything exotic in it compared to so many of the members here but I enjoy them all the same. In the 800g are a black arowana, multiple varieties of peacock bass, a flag tail, four large giraffe cats, etc. That tank has my largest fish and a few feet from it is another w/ my smallest, a 50 year old stainless rimmed tank w/ endlers, neocaridinas, corries, and a betta that lives in a 4' wide wisteria.