Building Tank
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22327
Printed Date: July 22 2026 at 6:59am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Building Tank
Posted By: kurt
Subject: Building Tank
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 10:56am
| I am considering building a new tank dementions 60x24x30. This is actually a 178g that is built by Oceanic. The price to purchase with corner overflows is about $1,800. That is just more than I want to pay right now. I went to garf.org and it looks like 1/2 inch acrilic would work. does this sound right? Can anyone give me some insight as I have not worked with acrilic before? Has anyone built one this size from glass? Any suggestions on were to purchase glass if I go that way? I have got a quote from Delvie's Plastics for acrilic. Is this the best place? Any ideas would be great. Thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 11:03am
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Try GE plastics and regional as well for prices. I would go with the thickest acrylic you can afford--and it might only be a bit more for thicker (relatively speaking).
------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: Debbles
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 11:04am
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I think Delvies has the best price. The more you buy, the cheaper it is and they don't charge you to cut it. They also have a short turnaround time.
Deb  ------------- Yes Mikey...I still have fins!!! |
Posted By: Marine-Aquatics
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 11:20am
| I wouldnt build that out of 1/2" for long turm use, Build it out of 3/4" |
Posted By: Corey Price
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 1:07pm
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I would build it with glass, personally, if I were to build my own. I hear that you may save some money building your own tank, but is it worth the work, stress and anxiety for the money?. The Oceanic that I've seen was $1400, with starphire glass, which is really about right for the size. I thought that Unixium1 was building or has built a glass tank... |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 1:11pm
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Last I talked to him he hadn't built the new one yet but I believe he has built smaller tanks.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: jpndave
Date Posted: December 09 2007 at 6:20am
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If 30" is your height then it needs to be 3/4". Delvies is great to work with. I built a tank and sump whith their product. The cast acrylic that I got was imported however. I'll probably pay the extra for domestic next time. I was not able to get "perfect" seams and the recommendations I got was that is was probably due to the acrylic as everything else was done correctly. Don't get me wrong, the seams are plenty strong and most wouldn't notice, but even a few micro bubbles really bother me.
I can post a photo if you would like to see.
Dave
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Posted By: rdbrown
Date Posted: December 09 2007 at 12:10pm
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Laird Platics is the cheapest hands down. ------------- Kauai, Hawaii |
Posted By: rdbrown
Date Posted: December 09 2007 at 12:12pm
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It that is 30 tall, you have to use 3/4 inch cell cast acrylic. If you wanted to do it 60"L x 30"W x 24"T you could use 1/2" acrylic. ------------- Kauai, Hawaii |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 09 2007 at 5:25pm
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You do know that acrylic scratches like crazy, don't you? This topic has been covered many times here before and pretty much everyone that has ever had an acrylic tank, decides to go glass next time. The only reason I would do acrylic would be a tank over 500 gallons that was to be maintained by someone I could trust (like me) or it was a sump/refugium where scratches didn't matter or if it was not going to be used for display. Many people here have made their one and only tank, saying that was the last time they would do it. How much are you looking to spend? I might be able to help. Give me a call. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: kurt
Date Posted: December 10 2007 at 12:37pm
| Thanks for all the input. I am still trying to way everything from costs to how easy it would scratch, etc. Does anyone have a suggestion on where to get a quote on glass? |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: December 10 2007 at 1:26pm
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MSM? Marine Aquatics may be building glass tanks now too.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: December 10 2007 at 1:31pm
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I don't completely agree with Mark on this one. I have a 150 acrylic and I drilled 14 holes in it. I wasn't about to drill 14 holes in a glass tank.
It appears that acrylic tanks are really dominating the large tank area... although it also appears that new water flow devices are coming into play.
Adam
ps- but I do agree with Mark, my next tank will probably be glass. ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: kurt
Date Posted: December 10 2007 at 2:08pm
| Drilling the tank is a consideration. I probably wouldn't try that myself with glass. I just got a quote on glass from a local company. The cost came to almost $1,200. I can tell you if I decide to do glass I will just purchase it already made. |
Posted By: dkle
Date Posted: December 10 2007 at 2:40pm
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Did you look at this website http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2 - http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2 The price is very reasonable; even with shipping. The only caveat is there is mixed review on their jobs. There are complaints on reefcentral regarding sloppy silicone job and bad customer service. ------------- If you can't bedazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bs! Dinhkim Le - Procrastinator extra-ordinare |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: December 10 2007 at 4:57pm
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From what I gather the poor silicone jobs is from a few years ago and has gotten better. I don't think the customer service has changed. I think Dave Tea got one of their tanks last summer. You may want to find out what he thinks. KeoDog also put in one of their tanks about a year ago. Mike ------------- |
Posted By: kurt
Date Posted: December 14 2007 at 2:35pm
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Thanks for all the input. I decided to purchase a 150 tall. Dementions are 48x24x30. It is not quite as big as I wanted, but a third of the price. For all that are wondering, I did decide to go glass. Thanks again. |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: December 14 2007 at 2:52pm
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That's great. Post pictures when you can.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: GARFVolunteer
Date Posted: December 14 2007 at 11:00pm
I have that same tank. The only down side is 30" makes it hard to reach the bottom. Especially in the back.
------------- President Idaho Marine Aquarium Society A fair and biased reef hobbyist "How do you make poor people rich by making rich people poor" Rush Limbaugh on Obama taxes |
kurt wrote:Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: December 14 2007 at 11:08pm
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yes tall tanks arent fun to reach. get tongs! there was someone selling a 210 gallon complete tank for 2,100 that would be your live rock live stock everything, and even lighting! in the long run its cheaper than buying everything seperate ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
Posted By: LordMaximo
Date Posted: December 16 2007 at 10:01am
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I just calculated the material cost on a 60 x 30 x 24 Tall, 1/2" acrylic.
Total area mass is 6423.36sqr" @ $0.09 psqr " = $578.1024
That is:
(1) center support @ 12" x 29.056" = 348.672 sqr"
(1) base @ 60" x 30" x 0.472" = 1800 sqr"
(2) long sides @ 60" x 24" x 0.472" = 2880 sqr"
(2) short sides @ 29.056" x 24" x 0.472" = 1394.688 sqr"
And if you want a custome lip for the top, over smooth edges, add another base to be routed when it is placed on top. The short sides figured as being sandwitch by the long sides to give the base foot print.
All in all, price on the custom cut materials is ~1/3 the cost of one all ready built. And it only takes a little patience to weld one of these together. I would prefer to order custom cut material and have it shipped to my house over dishing out some $1600.00 for one already welded together. Just food for thought.
Maximo
------------- Trigger Master |