repair dream tank or build new?

[zigg]

i was planning on starting my 380 gallon plwood tank build next weekend but my cousin recently got an awesome 500 gallon tank and stand for free. he will give it to me for a dirtbike ive been trying to get rid of. it needs alot of work but idk if i could do it or if it would be worth it. its split in a few places from moving it. id love to have this tank. the shape is perfect but it weighs so much it will take at least 5 guys to move it and it will split for sure while being moved. it is going in the basement but i will be moving out within the next few years so id have to either leave it or pay to move and fix it again. i might want to hire someone to fix it up just to be safe but i dont know who could do it. heres some pics of the tank and the stand. what do u think, fix it myself, hire someone, or go with my original idea for a plywood build?

 

[zigg]

here is the idea for the build 7'x30"x3'

 

[Muni]

Is that glass? Hard to tell on my iphone.

If it is thats a heavy bastard. Cut the glass apart. move the stand into place and rebuild the glass on the stand. Then you have no broken glass, fresh seals, and a bad ass tank.

 

[zigg]

ya its all glass. but idk if i would feel comfortable sealing that. 500 gallons could proly fill my whole basement with an inch of water. plus the trim needs redone. apparently all that was holding this huge thing together was silicon lol. so i think it needs braced around the top and bottom better. the glass is also like an inch think

 

[john73738]

Dude,

that is a BAD A&$ tank!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Repair it, what a conversation piece. Plus will be much cheaper than a ply build.

 

[zigg]

it needs alot of work and the lighting will be a total pain. something else i didnt mention is im 19 and live with my parents. basically the basement was just concrete and for storage but i spent all my money and time fixing it up so now it has a nice tv surround sound carpet posters tanks pool table and workout area. my parents were so impressed that they will let me do this. and i went to a trade school, graduated and came home and figured id rather be paying my parents a small ammount of rent till i graduate college than pay a ton for an apartment. also this is all money from my pocket so im keeping it cheap

 

[greengiant]

if it was me I would fix the 500G but to me it sounds like you are waiting for somone to say go and build the smaller tank. if you have the confidence to build a plywood tank why not the confidence to repair this one. if you feel like adding support to it to ease your own mind then add it. buy some glass strips from a glass shop or get the scraps off them. this tank is awesome and unique. you will get to say that you assembled it because you will have. rebuilding tanks is not all that hard. it can be fun but just remember to have a spare set of hands there when you go to silicone it all back together. I hope you take it that tank is awesome. either way I will be watching your progress

 

[xboroinc]

bro im 19 as well. n i live at home. thats a sexie gnikcuf tank. keep it and fix it up slowly. if its ya dream dnt like shiat stop u.

 

[iliRandyili]

Looks like a cool tank. Fix it! practice on a small tank first.

 

[zigg]

its not that im waiting for someone to say build the smaller one its just that i have no idea wat i should do hahah. the 500 takes up twice the space as a 380 and isnt at all easy to move. im capable of building a tank or repairing this one. woodworking and construction are two things im great at but theres no room for error in my parents house with something this big. but i can almost guarantee ill never see a tank like this again. cost wise they would come pretty close with all the tank needs.