I am hoping to build a large aquarium soon. Any information helps like what size glass, thickness, etc. Hoping dimensions to be about at least 5 ft long x 3ft wide x 2.5 ft tall Thank you in advance.
Any experience building a large aquarium?
- Thread starter Monstermikefishkeeper
- Start date
Check the DIY section; a huge amount of information there well worth reading and considering.
You'll have to better define what kind of size you are talking about. Everyone's idea of what constitutes a "large aquarium" is different...especially on MFK.
You'll have to better define what kind of size you are talking about. Everyone's idea of what constitutes a "large aquarium" is different...especially on MFK.
Thank you. Well I am hoping for at least 300 gallons to grow out my pacu and redtail catfish and the other soon to be monsters I have.
You'll be surprised at how large a 300-gallon seems when you build your first one...and how small it seems when you've got one...
But, as long as you keep the depth (height) down to about 24 inches, it makes for a much easier build, simpler engineering decisions, utilizing lighter/cheaper/easier-to-source materials opposed to the deeper tanks. Read and re-read everything, think things through carefully, plan out all details, measure-twice-cut-once. Don't cut corners, either to save money or time. If all available sources tell you to do ABC, then do ABC...don't figure that XYZ will be "good enough". The time to consider utilizing experimental designs and streamlining existing construction methods is after you have some experience under your belt, rather than on your first build.
You'll never foresee every possible pitfall...but try to! Good luck!
But, as long as you keep the depth (height) down to about 24 inches, it makes for a much easier build, simpler engineering decisions, utilizing lighter/cheaper/easier-to-source materials opposed to the deeper tanks. Read and re-read everything, think things through carefully, plan out all details, measure-twice-cut-once. Don't cut corners, either to save money or time. If all available sources tell you to do ABC, then do ABC...don't figure that XYZ will be "good enough". The time to consider utilizing experimental designs and streamlining existing construction methods is after you have some experience under your belt, rather than on your first build.
You'll never foresee every possible pitfall...but try to! Good luck!
Thank you so much for the information. To me it sounds as though you have built one like this. Thank you!
Same here. Before I jump right to building a gignatic tank bigger than I have ever built before should I practice on something maybe 1/3 of the size? Thank you
Virtually all my tank building has been with plywood, and a standard 4x8 sheet makes one perfect 120-gallon tank (48 x 24 x 24 inches) with almost no waste. Nice, light, maneuverable pieces of wood and glass; I think it's a perfect first-tank project. It's about the smallest size where plywood starts to save you money over buying an all-glass tank, and even there it's a close call. The real savings start to show up around the 300-gallon mark.
You'd have to check into prices for glass or acrylic to determine at which point you save money by DIY. I susect that the ease of assembly aspect will be the same. But I'm sure that DIY-ers who use those materials will chime in with more info and opinions.
You'd have to check into prices for glass or acrylic to determine at which point you save money by DIY. I susect that the ease of assembly aspect will be the same. But I'm sure that DIY-ers who use those materials will chime in with more info and opinions.