Building cost effective small tanks

[micstarz]

I'm looking to fill the space behind my betta rack. I was originally going to opt for growing dwarf plants and mosses, but I decided it would be a bit boring. Instead, I'd rather keep a scorpion, a beetle, a tarantula, possibly frogs or shield shrimps. I need to make four of these tanks.

To save on costs, only one side (the front) needs to be transparent, but All 5 panels of whatever material I may use can be transparent. I have no experience with glass, but I am willing to try. What are some materials I could use to construct these tanks? They will be housing terrestrial (for now) invertebrates that could potentially climb. How hard is it to make a hinged or sliding lid?

Here are some pics of the space behind my bettas:

The dimensions are:
18cm x 12cm x 14cm (Width times Depth times Height)
This is the maximum dimensions as it barely even leaves room for me to slip my fingers in to get the container out. (Maybe I will incorporate a tow string or a pull ring into the design)

Basically I need advice on how to contruct 4 glass containers (preferably waterproof, because I may keep killies in the future)

List of things you might want to generously tell me:
1. Suggested materials (glass, arcrylic,
2. How to join the 4 sides and the bottom materials together
3. Should I go for making a lid, or just cover the top?

If I use these containers for terrestrial animals exclusively (with soil), can I use PVC boards like these, joined together with silicone and a front panel of glass/acrylic?

Thanks!

An afterthought: is clay or cement safe? I could use it to make 3 sides and a bottom then put a glass pane up front...

 

[micstarz]

I actually meant corrugated polypropylene sheets like these:

 

[Noto]

Honestly, with tanks that small it will almost always be more cost effective to find premade containers of the appropriate size than to build from scratch.

One thing you could do is buy Sterilite or similar plastic containers of the right size, cut a 'window' in one side, and epoxy a piece of glass into the window. Just have a glass shop cut a bunch of pieces for you that are slightly smaller than the dimensions of one side of the Sterilite container; it shouldn't cost you much at all. These containers already have a secure lid. Depending on how much ventilation you need, you could either poke holes in the top (a cheap wood-burning tool works great, or you can use a drill and sand down the burrs) or cut away another 'window' and epoxy in a piece of window screen.

 

[houie925]

Ts and large scorps need more room and the smaller scorps are generally too dangerous to keep in a tank you aren't sure about. maybe grab a couple native bugs and test/refine your design for a while then once you are comfortable with the security of your tank step up to something more interesting?

 

[loogielv]

I actually meant corrugated polypropylene sheets like these:

i second this. you can find these plastic pieces in 18x24 for about $.70 a piece.

 

[micstarz]

Okay. I'll reconsider what to stock them with.
I can't find commercial ones that fit exactly the way I want them...

My options are:
Corrugated polypropylene sheets with glass front
Sterilite with glass front
All-glass
All-acrylic
What about if I get a piece of acrylic, line bend 3 corners and silicone the last corner and then attach a black base piece of acrylic with silicone?

My choice of materials are actually Glass>Acrylic>Sterilite>Corrugated sheets

 

[micstarz]

What about cement with a glass front panel?

 

[Noto]

You can certainly make them out of glass and silicone. It will probably be cheaper than acrylic. I believe there are a few glass tank build threads in this forum.

By the way, sealing acrylic with silicone is not very reliable; the silicone will come free easily. Much better to use a solvent cement made for welding acrylic together; Weld On is the common brand in the US.

 

[Docsoldlady]

When you said scorpion I first thought wooden "tank" with glass or plexiglass view window and maybe a screen top with hinges. Since you might want to put fish in there in the future I guess that is out.

How about checking out your local craigslist or newspaper for cheap 10 gallons or something? At least you'd know it could hold water in the future.

 

[micstarz]

You can certainly make them out of glass and silicone. It will probably be cheaper than acrylic. I believe there are a few glass tank build threads in this forum.

By the way, sealing acrylic with silicone is not very reliable; the silicone will come free easily. Much better to use a solvent cement made for welding acrylic together; Weld On is the common brand in the US.

Noted and Thanks! If you hadn't told me that, I could have continued my planning and ended up with 4 leaking tanks...

When you said scorpion I first thought wooden "tank" with glass or plexiglass view window and maybe a screen top with hinges. Since you might want to put fish in there in the future I guess that is out.

How about checking out your local craigslist or newspaper for cheap 10 gallons or something? At least you'd know it could hold water in the future.

Yeah...I'm thinking about breeding bettas or keeping Killies later on...
10gallons are WAY too big to fit inside one of those slots!