DIY Tank

[James]

When I had started building a tank rack for our hobby room, I downloaded the tank sizes from Marineland and figured the rack for 30 inch tanks. Of course when my wife and I went to buy that tank, no one seemed to have one.

So decided to build one. First step was stopping at the glass shop and having all the glass cut, including glass for the lid. Next, putting all the glass together, turned out much easier than I thought it would.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/0835/tank1.jpg

Next step, being a brave person, I put the tank on the patio and filled it with water for couple of days. Even added a heater to bring temp up to 85 just to be safe.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/0835/tank2.jpg

Since I would be using a glass top, I made up the lips around the tank with plexy also added the plexy along the bottom that is 2 inches high which will be about how deep the Eco Complete will be. Bottom plexy was only for looks. Also, I want to try a foam rock background, in the photo is my trail run on some scrap foam.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/0835/tank4.jpg

Next was adding the glass top, hinge and plastic strip along the back.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/0835/tank5.jpg

Here is the tank, complete with light, lid, some driftwood and the full size foam background that has yet to be worked on.
This tank is 31L X 18D X 14H so just over 30g, complete with 130watt light it cost $340 plus some time, still have to finish the background. Trying different methods to shape the foam right now. Also need to finish up the tank rack so I have a place to set it up.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/0835/tank6.jpg

[blainep]

:thumbup: That looks great James !

[Melody]

I thought you were going to ductape it together for a minute. I'm glad the wife told you that wouldn't work. Looks fantastical!

[thegrandpoohbah]

Nice work! 30G breeder tanks are definitely hard to come by.

[CACAdmin]

Looks fantastic! What thickness glass did you use and where did you get the hinge for the glass top?

[James]

Thanks for the comments, the glass is 1/4 inch, or 6mm for the metric people. The lid is 3/16 glass and hinge is from MOPS.

Bottom of this page shows the hinge and the plastic back strip that I used from MOPS.

http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/ushop/Glass-Canopies.html?L+scstore+ssml3822ffe2c5e2+121267103 2

The light is the Dual Satellite from Current-USA. Now just need to find time to finish the rack.

[PintoHawk]

Oooh, looks awesome! :D Nice work!

[CACAdmin]

Thanks for the info on the hinge. I didn't know you could buy the plastic hinges seperately. I have an aging canopy which I will want to replace at some point with a glass lid... glad to know i can make a hinged one myself.

[RatMan]

Very well done. I have a local glass cutter who does all my custom glass cutting and they charge me a token fee and use scrap green glass. I should think of building a tank

[Jeradatar]

That looks every bit as perfect as a professional made tank, but even better is that it is exactly the size you need.

My husband has a huge piece of thick glass in the garage that he has been hanging on to for 15 years or more, with the intention of building a fish tank in the furnace room and then opening up the wall so it is like big picture. I've been really hesitant to do that since naturally I would be Chief Water Changer and I'm already busier than...

But what you have done is amazing. Also good to know about the availability of a replacement hinge. Can't wait to see your tank with fish. Very Very Nice.

Juanita

[James]

You mean like this Juanita?
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii64/0835/kitchen.jpg

This is the home of Ted and Alice, between our living room and kitchen, gives a new meaning to having morning coffee.

[CACAdmin]

That is so cool... the perfect room divider... and Ted and Alice even get to watch you having breakfast. Be careful though, they might start demanding some of your breakfast. :wink:

[Jeradatar]

James
That is exactly what I meant. Holy Smokes but that's beautiful! You did an awesome job. Ted and Alice sure are lucky. I'm showing this picture thread to the hubby. He will enjoy it.

Juanita

[corrosionjerry]

You did a very nice job.... I am trying to talk myself into building a couple of custom tanks / I once saw a tank that was about 6" high and about 6" wide and about 6 ft long that I would like to duplicate..........

[James]

You did a very nice job.... I am trying to talk myself into building a couple of custom tanks / I once saw a tank that was about 6" high and about 6" wide and about 6 ft long that I would like to duplicate..........

Its not nearly as hard as you might think. The hardest part of putting the glass together was cleaning off the silicone finger prints and tape on the front and side glass. Forget Windex, didn't even touch it, next time I will be careful to not get my fingers in the silicone and not smear it all over the glass.

[CACAdmin]

Good point about keeping silicone covered fingers off the glass. When I do stuff with silicone, I always end up with silicone all over my hands.