tank combinations?

[yogurt_21]

well I was on craigslist today and noticed that there is an abundance of 55g aquariums, some for free, some for sub 30$. so I was thinking about grabbing 4 of them and combining them into a larger tank. 4 55g should give me

8- 48"x21" panes
8- 12.5" x21" panes
4- 12.5" x 48" panes.

now at a glance a 48x48x21 appears but I would be a bit short on glass to double up the panes.

what size would you recomend then with those panes?

would a 60.5x21x21 work? and yes I'll be using wood bracing, probabally 2x4's

 

[yogurt_21]

hmmm if I went plywood for the bottoma nd sealed it like in the plywood builds the 48x48x21 reappears. I would definetly like to move my oscars into a bigger tank and a 200g would suit them nicely. plus I'd have the
8- 12.5"x21"
and
4-48"-12.5"

 

[Pharaoh]

I wouldn't trust the thickness of the glass to go much larger than 55 gallons.

 

[yogurt_21]

that's why I using 4 of them this will allow me to double up the glass increasing the thickness.

ie what was 48" x 21" x 1/4" wil be 48" x21" x 1/2" when the two panes combine. then place the 4 sides on 3/4" plywood.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

No way I'd go to the trouble of making a DIY tank out of 4 used tanks. I'd save the trouble and headache and just buy a new tank or look for a used one of the size you want.

 

[yogurt_21]

new 200 gallon tank is 700 dollars. I'm glad you've got that kind of money to throw around. but I don't.

used 200 gallon is 500-700 dollars. again if I had that kind of money I'd go new.

http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2


buying new glass seems out of the question as well cheapest I've found is that site and it would cost me 576$ glass alone.

been checking craislist for tanks that need repair but no luck. so it leaves me with placing my oscars in an outdoor pond that has nowhere near their ideal water parameters, leaving them in a 55g that's way too small, building anew tank from supplies I cna find, or getting rid of them.

fyi the last one is not an option.

 

[chemicall]

Just "doubling" up the glass won't give any extra real strength either. The $ you spend on those tanks you could pick up some wood and start a plywood tank build.

Maybe use an old tank for the viewing window on a ply build?

Or take 2 55's and a build a L shaped corner tank....I seen someone build one on here before, was very cool!

 

[yogurt_21]

Just "doubling" up the glass won't give any extra real strength either. The $ you spend on those tanks you could pick up some wood and start a plywood tank build.

Maybe use an old tank for the viewing window on a ply build?

Or take 2 55's and a build a L shaped corner tank....I seen someone build one on here before, was very cool!

wouldn't 2 55's together for a corner tank run into a gallonage perthickness of glass issue?

so what 90-100 gallons in glass same thickness you put 55 gallons?

edit: also pro's design their tanks with a doble thick bottom for extra strength so I do think doubling the panes will increase strength just don't know how much.

and I do appreciate advice here and don't mean to sound liek a jerk in replies. I just really really hate posts like "it won't work" without anything constructive on how to make it work.

 

[yogurt_21]

hmmmmm 48x48 isn't going to work, regarless of the glass issue lol.

so back to old drawing board.

3 55g could get me to a 60x21x21 but I'm starting to think I'm splitting hairs here.

I might be able to pickup a 125g for 100-120$ off of craigslist plus a free 55g for a sump. that's probablly the way to go.

thanks for listening to my random thoughts

 

[chemicall]

hmmmmm 48x48 isn't going to work, regarless of the glass issue lol.

so back to old drawing board.

3 55g could get me to a 60x21x21 but I'm starting to think I'm splitting hairs here.

I might be able to pickup a 125g for 100-120$ off of craigslist plus a free 55g for a sump. that's probablly the way to go.

thanks for listening to my random thoughts

125 for 100-120 gallon is a good deal in my eyes. 55g for the sump is a good idea, sounds like a good plan to me....