Good DIY thread on building a tank?

[ahill3780]

Hey everyone, I am doing research on everything I will need to know when I build my next major project. I am wanting to build the stand/canopy/and tank myself but I haven't had much luck finding a DIY thread to explain how to select the proper glass/acrylic thickness' for a particular tank volume, or how to actually bond and silicone the joints, etc. Does anyone know of a good thread or site they could point me to, or could you help me put one together if one doesn't exist?

Basically what I need is what's listed above: A) Once I decide on X/Y/Z dimensions for the tank how do I decide what thickness for the walls and bottom? B) What is best to use for bonding the pieces together? C) What to use as top and bottom bands for the tank, where they can be purchased or made, or if they are even necessary? D) Anything else you can think of that a DIY'er would need to know when building a tank.

Thanks everyone. I am not planning to build this anytime soon, I am just trying to research what I will need to plan for.

 

[psusocr]

i have a DIY thread that i wrote on how to build your own 205 gallon glass tank. it goes from stand to tank to canopy etc.. let me know if you would like a link

 

[ahill3780]

Perfect! I am planning on anywhere between 280.5 gal - 336.6 gal (difference= 6" in height). Not decided on glass or acrylic yet so looking for tips using both. You can either post the link here or feel free to PM me with it. Thanks!

 

[psusocr]

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=192583

there ya go..also if you have any questions on cut lists for your glass just give me your dimensions and i can telly ou your glass thickness, cut list for stand, canopy, glass, etc.

basically any questions feel free to ask, i build alot of large tanks out of both glass and acrylic

 

[johno4]

garf.org also gives you all the info you need, including all materials, the size of everything and directions on how to put it together. They have a diy section just put in the dimentions and what you want the tank made out of and they give you all you need to know.

 

[brandon0350]

check here it helped me out alot w/ my acrylic work

 

[ahill3780]

Thanks psusocr, it looks great! I'll have plenty of questions for you I imagine. The only one I have at the moment is how to apply the silicone. You apply it in between each glass piece, as well as along the inside edges? Thanks for the tips!

johno4, thanks for the link - interesting site. I am not planning on using a plenum in the new setup but a lot of the information on the is helpful. The calculator is rather cool I thought.

brandon0350, I'm not sure I follow you. Do you mean check here as in check RC, or did you mean to post a link or reference?

Thanks again guys!

 

[brandon0350]

god i feel like an idiot heres the link sorry http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_acrylic_aquarium.php

 

[ahill3780]

Nice! Thanks for the link, that's an awesome idea for a tank!

 

[goby1]

search 'acrylic fabrication questions' by acrylicman.
G1

 

[psusocr]

yes every edge gets siliconed..individually with the piece your working on of course!