makeing a tank

[haha]

hi every one,
I want to make my own tank but really not sure what thinkness to get it so any advice would be good the messurements i want it to be are 68inches long 18 inches wide and 21 inches tall

 

[rgaskins]

Hi, I think 38 should be fine for that, but if price isn't an issue I may would use 12...I'm known for over doing things...LoL...Plus 12 is much heavier than 38...Check out www.garf.org, look under diy and there is a tank page that will give you all the info you need, plus it will also give you a cut list...Hope this helps...:happyfish

 

[psusocr]

it all depends if you want glass or acrylic , you will definantly need 1/2" for acrylic and might be able to get away with 3/8 for glass...

 

[haha]

I was planing on useing acrylic...how much will the glass be?witch one is better to use?im only 14 so geting money is kinda hard haha

 

[rgaskins]

Well, I guess it is a matter of choice as to which one to use...The acrylic is easier to drill....I own a glass shop and If I remember correctly we paid $165.00 for the last 4 x 8 sheets of 12 inch acrylic....Hope this helps ya...

 

[haha]

how many sheets of acrylic would i need to make the hole thing?

 

[psusocr]

Material = Acrylic
Tank Height = 21"
Tank Width = 18"
Tank Length = 68 "
Acrylic Thickness = 1/2"
Approximate Gallons = 111
kind of a wierd amount of gallons, but you might be able to find a used tank that size for cheaper than building it, cause i think if my calculations are correct you would be able to squeeze that on 2 sheets of 4x8 according to this cut list
Bottom = 68 " x 18"
Front = 68 " x 20 1/2"
Back = 68 " x 20 1/2"
2 Sides = 20 1/2 " x 17"
Top Front/Back brace = 67 " x 2"
Top Sides brace = 17 " x 2"
rgaskins said he paid 165 for a sheet of 1/2" which is pretty cheap compared to where i live, so i guess it all depends on where you get it from. Glass is DEFINANTLY alot cheaper than acrylic, but IMO harder to work with
hope i helped!!

 

[haha]

ya it helped alot so i guese im just gunna look for a tank...what kind of filtration should i use for that size tank?

 

[rgaskins]

Hi psusocr, I mostly deal in autoglass, but my distributor sells flat glass too, so I'm able to get acrylic and flat glass wholesale

...Just wondering what a sheet of 1/2 acrylic would run in your area....Also, if anyone near me needs flat glass or acrylic, I will sell it to them at my cost to help out...

 

[acrylic51]

I just talked to my acrylics dealer and I'm in the process of ordering my materials for my sump and you wouldn't be able to squeeze all the materials out of 2 4x8 sheets of acrylic....They can order you in larger sheets of acrylic... Will have to go back and check my notes on the size of the sheets

 

[psusocr]

rgaskins,
i wish you had told me that about a month ago when i started buidling my tank!!! thats why i opted for ghass cause it was much cheaper than the acrylic i would have needed, although i usually only work with acrylic on most my cages. a sheet of 4x8 1/2" with being all cut up for you to your sizes is about $239 a sheet, its pretty crazy!!