DIY fish tank?
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Lindsey&Dan
- Minnow Member
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- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:11 am
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- Location: Newburgh, NY
DIY fish tank?
Anyone ever Made there own fish tank? Ive read an article on it? Curious if there is an experience out there actually doing it?
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Doug
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 11:26 am
- My SetUp: 1984: 90 gal. saltwater, O'Dell tank, Oceanic Systems cabinet stand, (2) Perfecto 48" strip lights with Vita-Lite Power Twists, Aqualogy Bio-Grade Plus Undergravel filter, (2) Hagen Aquaclear 800 power heads, Eheim 2217 canister filter with Chemi-Pure, Hawaiian Marine Angstrom 2537 UV sterilizer
Re: DIY fish tank?
It's do-able, but there are several considerations:
Correct thickness of glass for the volume and height, as well as sufficient bottom thickness for heavy decorations.
Your glass cutting skill.
Amount of silicone construction sealant in the seams-- too much is weak, as is too thin. Oceanic Systems many years ago realized how critical this is. To minimize failures, they had small silicone disks of a specific thickness made that would be stuck on the joining edge of the glass panes of larger tanks. Tank fabricators could then run a bead of silicone along the edge of the adjoining piece, and then press the two together as hard as they could. The pre-cured disks left the exact gap necessary for a strong bond, and disappeared once the wet sealant cured.
Suitable material for frames-- tank manufacturers would often rather use their stock for a tank they can make and sell themselves, rather than sell it for hobby projects.
Warranty-- you build it, it leaks or breaks, it's your problem.
Correct thickness of glass for the volume and height, as well as sufficient bottom thickness for heavy decorations.
Your glass cutting skill.
Amount of silicone construction sealant in the seams-- too much is weak, as is too thin. Oceanic Systems many years ago realized how critical this is. To minimize failures, they had small silicone disks of a specific thickness made that would be stuck on the joining edge of the glass panes of larger tanks. Tank fabricators could then run a bead of silicone along the edge of the adjoining piece, and then press the two together as hard as they could. The pre-cured disks left the exact gap necessary for a strong bond, and disappeared once the wet sealant cured.
Suitable material for frames-- tank manufacturers would often rather use their stock for a tank they can make and sell themselves, rather than sell it for hobby projects.
Warranty-- you build it, it leaks or breaks, it's your problem.