Best place to have a custom glass tank made?

[canar]

I was just looking at GlassCages.com

Looks like they have a pretty decent deal. I was looking at a 300 Gal tank with the low lead glass in the front and sides. Drilled w-overflows and the stand and canopy. Looks like they will make it for right around 2k.

Anyone have any dealings with them? Is there a better place out there to have one made?

After my last mishap with All-Glass I am kind of worried. Glass Cages Warantee is only 90 days.

Should I look at someplace else?

Ted

 

[SaraB]

From what I have heard the Glass Cages is a good product, but they are a bit sloppy with the silicone. If you don't mind spending some extra time with a razor blade cleaning the mess, you will save a bundle of cash. The other 2 well known glass manufacturers are Miracles in Glass and Aquarium Obsessed. You will pay a higher price (about 2x) for those tanks as well, but get a bit longer warranty.

What thickness of glass did you have quoted? Did you tell you want to run the wavebox? Just asking as I recently had the other 2 manufacturer's quote a 225 gallon tank and I know the thicknesses they recommended for me.

 

[mbunaman]

I agree with Sara B. My friend ordered a custom size ( 60"x24"x36") from them about two years ago and he had some issues with them. First Tank ended up cracking after water was filled. They blamed it on the shipping company lifting it by a forklift. He had to wait three months to recieve a new tank for the reason they wanted to bring the tank down themselves to Illinois. When the workers brought the tank out of the truck one of the guys dropped his end and cracked the tank. Then he had to wait an additional 4 months until they had another delivery to Illinois. This time everything went great but there were some airbubbles in the silicone and it has really sloppy. My friend waited a total of 9 months to finally get his tank from the initial order until the final product. If you have the extra money I would go with Miracles in Glass. But if your in a budget go with glass cages.

 

[Sullyman]

Ted, tank disaster last week, does this slow you down, no way Ray, back in the saddle looking for a bigger tank, who da man?
Ted is, dat's who!

 

[canar]

Thanks for the info I will check those out.

Sully!

Yea I am thinking of upgrading my 90. Wy wife said the 210 must have heard me and got mad. It wanted to be the biggest tank in the house so it took a pee on the carpet.....

 

[Bryan89]

You could get an acrylic tank for near the same price. Curious why you are set on glass.

 

[Sullyman]

I love a conspiracy theory, especially one that involves an aquarium. Your wife shows keen insight and should be key in your future endeavors.

 

[canar]

Bryan,

I have seen quite a few split acrylic tanks.

I have also heard about the problems people have getting MH lights to shine into the tanks as well without melting them.

The holes on top are usually smaller so they are not as easy to work on.

They scratch and need to be polished regularly.

Other then that.....


Ted

 

[Bryan89]

Ted,

Acrylic can split if made wrong, but is actually much stronger than glass joints when properly made.

Acrylic lights can damage the top of a tank, but only if it is not planned right from the get go. You cannot set MH lights directly on an acrylic tank but you should not do this on any tank.

You can have holes on top as large as you want on acrylic, mine are 24" x 20" (3 of that size). You can have a completely open (e.g. no top) acrylic tank with thick enough material.

Acrylic does scratch, but it can be repaired easily. Glass cannot be repaired and starfire (low iron) is almost as easy to scratch as acrylic.

Like you, I was completely set on a glass tank, until I talked with my tank manufacturer and looked at some of the tanks he has built. Before you make your purchase, you may want to check out some acrylic tank manufacturers.

At the potential tank sizes you are talking about, price could very likely be a wash and you have something that lasts a lifetime vice a decade.

I am not trying to argue with you in your own thread , but trying to offer some of my experience. I used to have only glass tanks, but I will never go back to glass for a display tank. My 2 cents.

Bryan

PS You can come over and see my 400 whenever you want if it would help you in a decision process.

 

[whiirly]

I dont think you can not put a wave box on a acrylic tank though

 

[SaraB]

If the acrylic tank is "over-built" you can. I would not put one on a standard 1/2" acrylic tank ... but that's just me.

 

[Bryan89]

You can put a wavebox on an acrylic tank. Mine is built for it. Acrylic is stronger than glass. When a joint is properly made, the tank becomes effectivly one piece with the joints stronger than the material they are made of.

 

[newnano]

i have heard that acrylic typically gets the green buildup on the glass much quicker than glass. is that true?

 

[SaraB]

I know that acrylic attracts Coraline Algae growth quicker than glass.

I am also putting a wavebox on my acrylic 225, but it also has 3/4" thick sides.

 

[canar]

Ok I will bite. Where is a good place to look for a Good acrylic?

 

[SaraB]

I will shoot you a PM with an email address for James at Evisions Acrylics.