I have been thinking about building a custom tank in the next year or so and am now in the planning stages. Im am now weighing my options on whether or not it would be worth constructing the actually tank itself vs buying one (im a police officer and dont get paid alot). The dimensions I am going for are 8'x2.5'x4' (length x width x height in feet). If my calculations are right it should put it just under 600 gallons. I need reliable (not opinions) information on glass thickness, bracing, weight/ safety concerns on a tank of this size. My main concern is safety number one as I have small children and secondly cost. I have lots of resources as far as construction goes and am very close friends with a glass worker (but he doesnt have aquarium experience, but could help with the construction of the tgank and cost). I am partial to going with a plywood tank but I would rather have more viewing area. Thanks for any assistance.
Custom tank build help
- Thread starter rybo
- Start date
might not want to make it so tall if your looking to save money... if you are wanting it 4ft tall youll need 1inch thick and for a 8x4 piece of cell cast acrylic at 1inch thick will be around $1300. your best bet is keeping it 30inches tall or less and youll be able to get by with 1/2 thick glass.. as for bracing if your only going 30 inches tall you wont even need and external brace just get thick plywood and glue the seams then put screws every 2 inches. check into my build and really look at as many builds as you can until your head pops or until you have a great idea of what you want to do
Lots of options as wheatgerm said. You definitely want to change the dimensions a 4' tall tank is going to kill you for the acrylic and the glass is going to weight a ton! If you make it 2.5 tall and 4' wide then you'll save a bundle in glass cost. Check out all the builds. The link to my 600 8'x4'x2.5' is in my sig.
The Cell cast I was quted from A&P Plastics is eight foot long by four feet high and two inches thick for $1300 dollar
Yea ive been looking at alot of the builds lately. Its bad when you wake up in the middel of the night and have to write something down lol. I appreciate all the help guys hopefully Ill have a build thread for all to enjoy soon. As much as i wanted to build a 4' tall tank the wifes not agreeing, looks like itll be about a 300. lol