you can't have too much ambition!

[ReesaPie]

So... has anybody actually built there own tank before? I just love the idea of designing and building my own tank, and could use a summer project. I want to start a nice community saltwater aqurium, and i have drawn out a few designs. These are my favorites:
<br> <image src="http://www.cichlidgallery.com/albums/album43/tank.jpg"> <br> this one i really like, and would fit in my small bedroom rather well.
<br> <image src="http://www.cichlidgallery.com/albums/album43/nice_tank.jpg"> <br> now this one is a real dream! think 2 55 gallons stuck together at a right angle. Hopefully the tank itself will have strighter edges then my drawing :)
<br> just courios of what you all thought, and if anybody has actually tryed building a non-rectangle tank. My 40 long stand project is comming along nicely as well, in case anyone was wondering. i'll post pics when it's done.

[merlyn2221]

ReesaPie, I love that corner tank idea! It looks great.
Can the floor of your room support the weight of the filled tank, though?
Hopefully you're on the ground floor, so there will be no problem.

I once built a 100 gallon tank for a person I worked with, so it could be put in his office. This project goes back to about 1987. It was basically just 5 pieces of 1/8" tempered glass that I had cut locally to the correct dimensions. I put it together with aquarim grade silicone and made a wood frame around the bottom and sides to help support it because it was low and long. It worked well for about 4 years, then it started to leak. I think the materials, like the silicone and glass were not as sturdy as today.

If I had to do it again, I'd use double glass panes and a better grade of silicone. The stuff I used then was "cheap" and dried out too fast. Nowadays, there are better products because of all the technological advancements, so you will have better luck, I'm sure.

[Rudy]

Petsmart in Canada anyway has the exact tank in the first drawing. In fact I owned it at one time and did have salt water in there. It was a 54 I believe. They are cheap. $160 for the tank and the canopy.

As for building them. I hardly trust myself building my stands. I usually jumpe on them for a while until I decide they will hold. A tank.....I don't think I would sleep a wink.

[ReesaPie]

Rudy,
*laughs* the tank i'm building now is probably major overkill. my dad took over the project and now it's a beast! I'm thinking it's safe for a 40 gallon..
yes... i work at petsmart and we have a tank similar to that, though it's a 44 gallon. i have been looking at it for quite some time, and I would buy it but.... 1. i want one slightly bigger 2. it had the ugly fake wood around the top 3. the stand was scary.. and also covered in ugly fake/plastic wood. 4. about $275 for both of them (no canopy) 5. i sorta like the idea of building my own 6. i just got rid of a boyfriend.... so i have alot of spare time and money. :D



Merlyn,
i'm glad you like my designs!
yah.... the whole floor suporting thingy.... i'm not sure... i have a bedroom upstairs, so that might be a problem... but the garage is right below me so maybe we could make some alterations.... *laughs* i'll just redesign and alter my parents entire house to suit mis pezes.... or.... if it doesn't hold then i'll just have to keep it in the living room :wink: (the first step in takeing over the entire house with my tanks)
did you say you used 1/8 inch glass when you built your tank? i was under the immpresion from what the homedepot people were saying that i would be risking disaster with 1/4 inch, and said that 3/8 would be safer... hmmmmm...
I've been looking into building wetdry filter. I'm definetly going to (try) building the filter for this tank, but i might even decide i can't wait and try setting up somthing for my 40-long.

[Rudy]

If you work there then I would assume you are right it was a few years ago. 44 it is. I had it in a wall enclosure so I didn't have the stand. The petsmart here has them for 169 or something like that for the tank and canopy.

Mine was a black trim. It was alright looking I thought.....maybe it was my clown trigger inside that made it look good. (man I miss that fish)

Anyway stands are easy to make and you don't have to worry about the wet particle board collapsing.

Anyway doesn't help with the size so good luck with your project and your single life.

[FishoPhile J]

yah.... the whole floor suporting thingy.... i'm not sure... i have a bedroom upstairs, so that might be a problem... but the garage is right below me so maybe we could make some alterations.... *

***cars are waterproof... what's the problem? :D

[ReesaPie]

*laughs* indeed... though i do think that quite a dent would be made if the tank were to say... fall on top of a car... larger then perhaps a hailstone would make.... i would asssume :)

[CanFish11]

This note is regarding the load on the floor. If you do the calculations in psi the weight of nearly any sized tank is insignificant relative to the weight a large man exerts on the floor when walking. I built a 160 gal estimated weight = 2300 lbs full which is approximately 1.14 psi. A large man standing on one foot on tip toes would exert an estimated force of 15.6 psi. I have not heard of anyone falling through the floor lately.