How-To Build A 200g Glass Aquarium

turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
well a while back I bought that 160 that was cracked (remember before your vaca) anyway I got it apart and want to use what I have. So thats 1/2" the usable glass is only gonna get me around 100gal and thats all I can do right now with currant equipment. So its really not the structure of it, its that this is what I have. I figuire that I'll replace the front and bottom. Sides, back, euro brace and overflow will be the old stuff.
Best price so far $350.00 for 1/2"x53x17 tempered, 1/2"x54x26 this should include cutting of the old glass and 7 holes for bulkheads. total dims of the tank are 54x18x26. I may go a little wider if I can squeak out the glass not sure yet.
The other option is to use 1/2" plate on the bottom and not buy a new tempered bottom. Someone had said earlier that they thought 1/2" plate would be fine in that size of a tank. what do you think?
thanks for the help
Tim
 
psusocr1

psusocr1

Active Member
ya i think you can def. use plate, especially if you want to drill the bottom you will have to use plate, but i would also use plate for everythign else if its cheaper. Thats alot of wasted money on 1/2" glass for only 100 gallon tank. I mean dont get me wrong its gunna be STRONG! but i didnt evan use 1/2" on my 205, now when i build the 500 ill be using 1/2" ill calla round tomm. for those prices for you and we can compare deals!!
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
Well I only paid $30.00 for this 160! So i figuired the glass was worth more than that. I know its way overkill but this one is just practice before I go to one your size. Now what you said brings up an interesting idea. Could I just use maybe 3/8" on the front and the rest 1/2"? I mean the only reason I'm getting a new front is b/c the other pcs are scratched, so maybe just go with 3/8" and use 1/2" on the bottom and get the rest cut up?
What do you think any reason I can't do that?
I want to get this stuff cut next week and get to start building. If the cost is to much I'll prooly drill the holes myself. I'm gonna go through the back with a Weir overflow.
Tim
 
sleasia

sleasia

Active Member
psu... check out the home made wet/drys under equipment wet/dry plans (luke g) two of us posted pics of our homemade filters. I swear mine works better than an amiracle...0 nitrites 0 nitrates... by the way your tank is the most awesome. Congratulations on your enormous achievement....and thanks for all the effort you have put into sharing this with all of us.
 
psusocr1

psusocr1

Active Member
Congratulations on your enormous achievement....and thanks for all the effort you have put into sharing this with all of us.
thanks, that means alot to me, i hope i can help everyone out in their DIY journeys, as i said if you need any help with acrylic or glass just let me know and i can point you in the right direction!!
 
psusocr1

psusocr1

Active Member
what page is the lnik on?? i cant use the search function cause it wont let me and i can scroll through 100 pages!!
 
sleasia

sleasia

Active Member
You mean you can't search the thread through swf's thread search menu pull down? If you can get into the" equipment " thread and pull down the search thread window and just type in "wet/dry plans" or type in" luke g " and it will take you to the thread. I don't know what page its on, when I search it doesn't give the page. I'm at work now , when I get home I will try to repost the pics and instructions if you are unable to find them. If you are really interested I will send a bunch of pictures to your email.
 
sleasia

sleasia

Active Member
psusocr....I discovered a trick. if you post on a thread it moves it to the first page. so now the "wet/dry plans" by luke g are on the first page of the equipment threads....the pictures are in there when you scroll through the thread. if you want more info or specifics email me and I will send better photos and a better step by step description. Its easy...no precision involved at all. Actually a cake project for someone with your proven expertise. the point is it works great...and gives you plenty of space to overload the sump when you go away on a long weekend to avoid having the pump run dry, etc.
 
pfitz44

pfitz44

Active Member
PSU,
How did u calculate the thickness needed???
I really want to get a 340-400 gall tank... but the problem is that they are $2000 for tank alone!!!
Whats easier to work with?? Should i build smaller ones to begin with, and work my way up???
~Fitzy
 
psusocr1

psusocr1

Active Member
the thickness is calculated by a simple formula, but i also cheat and have two glass thickness calculators that give me the miunimum glass you can use and the maximum glass for comfort, also everythign in between weith a scale on how safe the glass would be at each thickness.. so i can tell you what thickness you would need if you let me know your dimensions. but from what your sayin i wouldnt go any less than 3/8" and no higher than 1/2" (im using 1/2" on my 500 gallon)
also you dont want to just jump right in and build a 400 gallon tank thats a bad idea,, start small, you also need a decent amount of tools, depending on how easy you want to make a tank build and how fancy as well. also you have to decide if you want a 400 gallon of all glass, acrylic , plwood and glass, or plywood and acrylic!
any questions let me know im more than willing to help ya out!!
 
pfitz44

pfitz44

Active Member
Any idea on how small to start??? Maybe ill rebuild a fuge.... whats the easiest material to work with???
 
psusocr1

psusocr1

Active Member
i like glass and acrylic. i guess i woudl say acrylic is easier to work with only because you can do it by yourself, glass is heavy. But acrylic is more expensive. I would read my post and others about building then i can help ya out with materials sizes, exact cutlist joinign materials etc. you let me know what size you want to build and ill help ya out!!
 
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