I'm looking at buying a plywood/glass tank that has been removed from a resteraunt. It used to be in a wall, but the current owner has a partially constructed stand for it. The tank has odd measurements 95''x19''x36'' tall. Comes out to be 305g. Problem is I havent seen the tank, but I have talked to the person about it. They say its glass and that it def holds water with no leaks. Being as tall as it is the glass must be pretty thick. They are asking 100 bucks for it which seems like a really good deal. My main concern is the glass being in poor condition bc replacement glass for a 36'' tall tank would be expensive. The seller told me that the glass has very few scratches, but is just dirty. It woudl have been nice if they had just cleaned it for the pictures, but oh well. Im probably going to go check it out this weekend. Is there anything I should look for specifically that would be a good indication of whether its a viable tank or not. Im prob going to have to store it for a while as I was planning on building a tank this spring/summer for my new place next fall. I dont have a place to set it up until august so I might clean it up and refinish it and see if I might be able to sell it and take the proceeds and either build a custom tank or buy one. Any guess as to what a tank that size and type might be worth in good condition? Thanks for the help guys.
Buying a plywood tank...
- Thread starter retiredrunner
- Start date
100 is an awesome deal, just check to make sure the epoxy or whatever was used to seal it doesnt have any cracks. If it does dont get it. Water will get in the cracks, warp the wood...and its all over from there. If it has a few light scratches empty you probably wont see them when its full.
Just out of curiosity does it come with the filter too?
Just out of curiosity does it come with the filter too?
If the tank was constructed properly, then it should be sealed from water completely with epoxy. Also, if the seal around the glass is deteriorating it's no biggie, it's really easy to replace.
Just look up DIY plywood tanks on Google and see how it's done. The only thing to bear in mind when sealing glass into a plywood tank is to let the silicone seal for at least one week! That's important because while the silicone says it will cure ion a day or two, it doesn't work that way when you apply 10 tubes of it at once.
Just look up DIY plywood tanks on Google and see how it's done. The only thing to bear in mind when sealing glass into a plywood tank is to let the silicone seal for at least one week! That's important because while the silicone says it will cure ion a day or two, it doesn't work that way when you apply 10 tubes of it at once.
Thanks guys. Nope no filter comes with it. I'm not sure how it was set up previously filter wise. I have to make a call today as to whether Im going to buy it or not. Anyone else have an opinion? Thanks a lot for the advice.
Yeah really odd size. It appears to have been custom built into a wall of a resteraunt. Id like to have a wider tank, but this one appears to be a good deal. i wish it was 2/3 as tall and a third wider, but I guess that is the advantage to building your own.
It is very cheap for what it is, but what fish do you intend to keep in it? It would seem pointless to me to have a 300g tank and the biggest fish I could fit in it would be less than 18inches long 
If you intend to keep smaller fish then it might work out ok? But, the viewing glass is probably worth the $100 in itself? I'[d say its well worth the money but is it what you want?
If you intend to keep smaller fish then it might work out ok? But, the viewing glass is probably worth the $100 in itself? I'[d say its well worth the money but is it what you want?
Ok guys well I bought the tank. It was on ebay and I am nervous bc Ive never seen it before. I also have to drive and go get it. Heres the real kicker. The tank is in Ft Lauderdale just outside Miami and I like in Alabama, which is going to be a 650 mile trip. I ll be spending more money on gas than I will be on the tank. The seller said the tank has "very few scratches" and that it (and I am Im quoting directly here) "holds water real good". Hopefully this doesnt turn into some kind of Deliverance experience...haha. The seller acted like it was a pain to answer my questions about the tank so I am going to be ultra pissed if the glass is in bad shape. I may ask them to fill it with water to demonstrate that it does in fact "hold water real good" before I give them the money. Its def. going to need some work from what Ive seen in the pictures, but Im hoping that will mostly be cleaning and staining the exterior and finishing the stand which is partially complete. The seller had a pic of it and they said it was "real sturdy". Its 4x4 posts on the 4 corners and then single 2x4s in the middle, which is rediculous for an 8 foot long tank. They are lucky they never got a chance to set it up bc it woudl have decimated that stand and then flooded their house. I will probably add sistered 2x4s in the middle of the gaps bn the 4x4s and the 2x4s. I ll probably also sister up the middle 2x4s. Anyways I ll let you guys know how it goes on the trip. Im taking my girlfriend so we will probably hit the beach while we are there so I ll probably be back on Monday.