DIY Aquarium Prices

[zennzzo]

Where's the midwest quotes?

It depends which mid you are located at ...or which way the wind blows...I do believe that eastcoast originating freight is cheaper to the mid west...

 

[Jag1980]

I honestly feel that building your own only makes sense under two conditions:

You either have a great hookup on materials and you trust your own building skills and don't nessessarily put too much value on your own time..

Or you're wanting something bigger than your run of the mill mass produced tank... like 1000gallons on up where cost suddenly goes into the stratosphere.

Like a 2000 gallon setup runs around $20,000-30,000 installed by a contractor... but you could do yourself around 5-8 grand...

 

[Pharaoh]

It depends which mid you are located at ...or which way the wind blows...I do believe that eastcoast originating freight is cheaper to the mid west...

How about midwest delivered to the midwest. LOL

 

[Burko]

'My hobby and stress relief is working on DIY projects around the house including aquarium projects. "

Yep. Having somthing to do is pleasurable, and at the speed I work for my self i could only charge $1.00 hour...

Nail one, beer one, pat the dog, beer one, nail one, listen to the radio, nail one, beer one...

 

[Kerbchek]

I value my time quite highly thank you. Some people spend time watching TV, fishing, etc. Personally I like DIY projects. Seems a common thread on these boards is often not worth DIY because of the time it takes. Maybe that is true if you see it as "work" or you dread doing it. My "work" is 10 hours a day at a computer. My hobby and stress relief is working on DIY projects around the house including aquarium projects.

This about sums it up for me... I've never built a monster tank, but I want to just to see if I can do it... and I know I can... My plan is for a smaller DIY, 290 gallons, but I enjoy projects... and learning new things.

I wondered about cost too... I figured I can build a plywood tank this size for under $500... but I had a glass "connection" so shaved a big dollar item there...

 

[Pharaoh]

This about sums it up for me... I've never built a monster tank, but I want to just to see if I can do it... and I know I can... My plan is for a smaller DIY, 290 gallons, but I enjoy projects... and learning new things.

I wondered about cost too... I figured I can build a plywood tank this size for under $500... but I had a glass "connection" so shaved a big dollar item there...

Going to be tough to get it under the $500 mark. If you do,let me know so I can copy your cheaper design.

 

[Kerbchek]

Going to be tough to get it under the $500 mark. If you do,let me know so I can copy your cheaper design.

You're probably right, I tend to underestimate expenses... I usually try not to think about how much hobbies cost me...

 

[spiff]

I value my time quite highly thank you. Some people spend time watching TV, fishing, etc. Personally I like DIY projects. Seems a common thread on these boards is often not worth DIY because of the time it takes. Maybe that is true if you see it as "work" or you dread doing it. My "work" is 10 hours a day at a computer. My hobby and stress relief is working on DIY projects around the house including aquarium projects.

Yeah, I like crafting stuff too. It depends on how you build it of course, but most of the work involved with making a tank is miserable work.

If its indoors, working with concrete is a real chore. It took me several weeks just to prepare a concrete floor and wall by grinding and acid washing. Not fun at all with drainage and ventilation factors. If you're pouring it from scratch, you'll be doing all that plus hauling lots of bags of concrete or, if having poured through a window or door, you'll at the very least have concrete dust all over the place.

Then for sealing, the two most popular options are epoxy or fiberglass or a combo of both. The epoxy alone isn't too bad,(at least the one I used-Pondarmor) but I hear messing with the fiberglass process is a hassle.

If you're going to say that this stuff sounds like fun to you, well, you're an alien. It took me a good 7 months to make what amounts to two wooden frames anchored into my basement wall and floor.

 

[Yanbbrox]

After being here a few years now and reading various threads on the subject, my overall 'feel' for DIY tanks is if your going large then it can pay off, small tanks then it's a waste of time and money as mass manufactured tanks are cheap enough.

I can only really read it from prices over here, there are lots of custom(not from big manufacturer) well built tanks around, even up to 150-200g that can be found for at least the same cost as building your own.

Check out the stickys and good luck

 

[mdb_talon]

Yeah, I like crafting stuff too. It depends on how you build it of course, but most of the work involved with making a tank is miserable work.

If its indoors, working with concrete is a real chore. It took me several weeks just to prepare a concrete floor and wall by grinding and acid washing. Not fun at all with drainage and ventilation factors. If you're pouring it from scratch, you'll be doing all that plus hauling lots of bags of concrete or, if having poured through a window or door, you'll at the very least have concrete dust all over the place.

Then for sealing, the two most popular options are epoxy or fiberglass or a combo of both. The epoxy alone isn't too bad,(at least the one I used-Pondarmor) but I hear messing with the fiberglass process is a hassle.

If you're going to say that this stuff sounds like fun to you, well, you're an alien. It took me a good 7 months to make what amounts to two wooden frames anchored into my basement wall and floor.

Well I admit to not enjoying working with concrete. If for some odd reason I ever decide to build a concrete tank though I will pay someone. As for epoxy and fiberglass I enjoy doing the work, but I am 80% sure I am not an alien...

To be honest the only part I dont enjoy doing of DIY aquariums is carrying the components to the basement, sanding, and setting the glass.