Where to get a custom built aquarium

A

afm32607

Member
I am looking into buying a 72x30x24 aquarium for my home.

No one sells pre-drilled aquariums of this size, Marineland does make a 30h version but my arms have trouble reaching the bottom of my current 24h tanks. I would like it rimless with a center overflow or maybe a coast to coast overflow. Was also thinking getting a reef savvy ghost overflow installed by whoever does the manufacturing.

I live in Western New York and want to get the tank delivered. My LFS gave me a suggestion on a Canadian manufacturer that they like but I wanted to see what everyone's suggestions here are. So, any thoughts on who to go with (if I am missing a standard tank with the above specs let me know)?

I have looked at and gotten a quote from glasscages.com, but reviews are spotty, I don't want to save a few hundred dollars at the risk of my home.
 
Only ones I would suggest is miracles in Canada. ..I hear very good but expressive things about reef savy too...I have seen some very nice glass cages tanks too
 
I looked at glasscages when I was buying a tank. I will say this, they do have a lot of negative press. However, they seek more tanks than anyone else, so per capita they seen to be fine. Issuance is sloppy seem work that get the complaints. But they over build their tanks a ton. FWIW, I didn't chose them, I ended up with a custom acrylic tank local to me.

Corey

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
 
As mentioned, Miracles in Orangeville, Ontario, will make you a very high quality aquarium of any dimension / feature set... not inexpensively of course.
 
I just posted in Lolgranny's thread, give concept aquariums Calgary a email. I ordered a 240 gallon with external overflow. I went 54 W X 30 H x 30 D. They had no issues and shipping should be cheaper for you since you are closer. I also went with their steel stand since it was about the same price has a properly built wood and I feel somewhat safer knowing they did it in steel.
 
I personally have used Miracles and they do a good job. I have personally SEEN Reef Saavys work and it's unmatched. However I know RS is not only higher priced but I've also heard their lead time is long although I can't personally verify that. I have seen GC work in person and IMO would be at the bottom of my list. I think it depends on your application and attention to detail. If it was an in the wall instillation I personally would go Miracles. If it was a high end build that say was rimless and in an open room I would lean towards RS if the funds and patience was there.
 
Thanks for all the responses. I will look at LolGrannys post

I will look into Miracles. I got a quote from Reef Savvy Already. Just over $5k for the tank with the above specs, same price for a stand, shipping not included.
 
When I was looking into getting a custom 72"x48"x24", I called Reef Savvy and Miracle and got a quote. It was more expensive than Miracle but not that out of reach. However, the lead time was something like 6 months out. I thought I couldn't wait that long so I went with Miracle because it was only 8 weeks out. I got the tank from Miracle and it sat in the garage for a year.:headwally:
Maybe it will see some water next week.
 
this is me said:
When I was looking into getting a custom 72"x48"x24", I called Reef Savvy and Miracle and got a quote. It was more expensive than Miracle but not that out of reach. However, the lead time was something like 6 months out. I thought I couldn't wait that long so I went with Miracle because it was only 8 weeks out. I got the tank from Miracle and it sat in the garage for a year.:headwally:
Maybe it will see some water next week.
Click to expand...

Have to love us being impatient! Im the same exact way!
 
So I have quotes from both Miracles and Reef Savvy and the cost for Reef savvy are about double, unless I'm missing something, and will only ship to a depot, it's a long trip from depot to my house where it becomes my responsibility for breakage.

I did find a tsunami brand name tank of the same dimensions out of acrylic but I have never heard of them before.
 
I just got my large AGE aquarium on 11/1. Best tank ever. I got a glass and stainless steel hybrid. Amazing aquarium. It has a 1" PVC bottom that can be drilled anywhere. I have 5x 1.5" drains in the coast to coast overflow. There is a 20" section for closed loop intakes in the coast to coast that has 2x 2" bulkheads. Then there is 4x 1.25" for the closed loop in the main tank. Built with 3/4" glass and the stainless steel top/bottom. My tank is 475g 84x 48 and 29" tall. Very happy I went with AGE. I would recommend them hands down.
 
I went with Miracles. I have a 120" x 36" 30" on order and will hopefully have it delivered soon (if I ever get my renovations done). They come highly recommended and they are local to me. So it was no brainer.

Because they sell in Canadian dollars, I excpect the exchange rate to also help for south of the border.

Dennis
 
If you haven't already made a decision, you might want to check out customaquariums.com. They had much better prices than any of the other places I checked.

- Ivan
 
FYI, here is what I recently did with the Eurobracing from the $6K, 250-gallon tank I bought from Coast to Coast Aquariums, in New Jersey:

http://vid224.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/Kengar/good%20riddance.mp4

You can enter my photobucket album, e.g, here http://s224.photobucket.com/user/Kengar/library/?sort=3&page=1 to take a look at the other images demonstrating the craftsmanship of their product, which led me to do that and replace the bracing myself (still in process). I posted about my experience with them previously, in far greater, gory detail, but in deference to my wife I took it down when their lawyer threatened to sue me over it. Ironic in light of this email I received from them when they were telling me the tank was ready: "Ps. Hope you enjoy experience with CTC Custom Aquariums & you will talk about us!" As for those squiggly things in the middle of the bracing, they are fissures throughout the silicone between the two panels of glass used to construct the bracing. Here is what they told me before the purchase: "regarding your silicone question in the previous email, the anomalies in the seams are not covered in the warranty...they just happen. Although they are not usually a 'bubble' as much as a sort of ripple, they are just an unfortunate aesthetic result of the silicone doing what it does, shrinking and grabbing the glass from both sides." In my view, they are not "sort of a ripple." Rather, they are aesthetic defects that I wouldn't have expected on a tank I spent $6K for.
 
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Wow Ken. That is nuts. I have been following your displeasure with them and I don't blame you one bit. I am shocked they threatened to sue you, if hey are worried about their name sake, they should make the product the way they customer orders it. I hope many ppl read your story before purchasing a tank from them.

Corey
 
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