UK custom tank builders - help!

[The Mother Confessor]

Hello all!

I'm doing my first DIY tank - after quotes for over £2500 to get a tank and cabinet made to order and seeing the state of some of the ones going secondhand, I'm going to do a DIY cabinet build, but I don't feel comfortable making the tank as it's going right next to my TV, PC and all my expensive electronics. We have a bit of experience making stands as we did a 9 tank rack for our fish room a few years back and we will be using the same premise, but with a shell rather than a bare frame.

Anyone have any custom tank manufacturers that they can recommend in the UK? I've tried Clearseal, ND Aquatics and a good few others that I found through google, and the quotes vary wildly.

I'm after a 8x3x2 preferably, but it looks like 2.5 will be the more realistic one as the difference is crazy.

Heres my quotes:

8x2x2:
£576 (ND - tank only - 10mm - no optiwhite, sliders or background)

8x2.5x2:
£780 (ND - tank only - 12mm - £1162 with sliders, optiwhite and a background)
£1316.59 (Clearseal - tank and sliders only - 12mm)

8x3x2:
£2376 (ND - tank only - 15mm - no optiwhite, background or sliders)
£1506.04 (Clearseal - tank and sliders only - 12mm)

Anyone able to help? I don't mind going acrylic maybe if the price difference is good. I'd like to keep my build under £1000 with the cabinet preferably.

HELP!!

 

[dan518]

I got mine through prime aquariums, the best build quality I have had, costs about the same as nd aquatics but with free delivery

 

[The Mother Confessor]

Oooh! Thank you!!

They are quoting £1096 for a 8x2.5x2! That is so much more reasonable! That includes Optiwhite front and sides, sliding covers, a black background and black silicone. You are a legend!!

How was the silicone work? Were the lines neat and straight? That's the one thing that really bothers me on tanks, so that's the only thing that worries me.

 

[dan518]

The silicone work on mine was top notch, also how they did the double base on mine impressed me, the bottom pane is the outside dimensions and the top pane is the internal dimensions, so the side panels are stuck on there edges to the bottom and on there sides to the top pane, if that makes sence

 

[The Mother Confessor]

It took me a minute but yes, I'm with you lol. That does sound good, sounds like it's a bit of extra strength!

I like the sound of these guys, I have found cheaper, but the guy wasn't even a proper company and as such, I'd rather have the peace of mind and a warranty.

Thank you again, the guy was ever so helpful on the phone, helping me to work out how to get it in and explaining why I shouldn't go for Clearseals 12mm 8x3x2, and not from a pushy salesman's perspective, more so a concerned aquarists perspective.

 

[Jez1992]

You going 3 ft wide or tall?

I'm got quote for a 7x3x2 ( l x w x h ) from ac aquatics, quote me around £800 delivered, including black background, black weir and cover glasses.

Seems really helpful and useful, I found nd a bit rude and arrogant when speaking to on phone unfortunately.

 

[The Mother Confessor]

Ohh thank you. Just sent them an email so I will see what they come back with. Haven't decided on anyone yet, but I do agree about ND. They are a little too big for their boots. So far, prime seem like a winner but they aren't the cheapest for the larger sizes.

Awesome! Thank you again!

 

[andrewsin]

I have had all my tanks made from ND, tank build and quality are spot on. I went there in person with all the specs I want, they were very helpful to me. Speak to Nick, he is good.

 

[speedo]

I get all my new tanks built at ND aquatics, great quality but not the cheapest