Neelixx

Good luck with your endeavor. A lot of knowledgeable people around the site if you run in to any snags. Wish i could talk my wife into something like that but I have been condemned to the basement for my projects.

you can actually have a respected tank maker make you a tank of those dimensions. Although I wanted a acrylic tank for many years, I now wish mine was glass and at least 24inches wide. I absolutely hate cleaning the front "glass" because of the scratch risk. Can't use the classic magnet cleaner.

Agreed. I have heard really good reviews on the acrylic magnet cleaner. It's plastic teeth should be safe, as long as you aren't reckless. Of course, this is only what I've heard. My 55g should be glass as it is silicon'd at the joints, but it scratched easily. ((Shrugs)) For that, this worked really well.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewit...content=MF1310

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I am asking for a quote for a custom tank, for reference. If it is not *much* more than it will take to make my own, I would rather go that route, and just build my sump. Thanks for the advice!

Thanks DJ! Yeah, I got lucky with that one. I saw an opportunity, and I took it fast!! ((big grin))

Glasscages has one about those dimensions, its 24" wide though, for $800ish. Granted, it's a Glasscages, but it's cheap.

Have you tried a glass manufacturer? Binswanger is here in Chattanooga and they will custom make any size glass you need cheap. Of course, you would have to build it.

There is a a provider called Indoor Oceans (indooroceans.com) in Nashville that I asked for a quote. I'm pretty sure I can get the materials for about $400. But nothing confirmed yet. Piedmont Plastics has a location in Nashville, also.

Coventry, yeah, I'd rather take my hand at acrylic over plexiglass. I'm not so sure my silicone skills can handle that much water. At least with acrylic, it welds.

Robb, thanks for that! I had no idea Glasscages was in Dickson, TN. Not too far away for a pickup. A bit apprehensive on just a 90-day no leakage warranty, though. Of course, there is NO warranty on building my own.

Sounds like it is going to be awesome. Take lots of pics to post. And Good luck!

plexiglass is acrylic sheet and cast just a name brand

Yeah, I meant to say "glass" but acrylic was still on the brain. Freudian slip??

Just got my custom quote back from indooroceans. $2300. Yikes. It's either glass cages for $800 or $400 for make my own. Hmmmm

I don't mean to burst your bubble but have you considered the cost of lighting, skimmer and all the other equipment you will have to buy. On top of that the cost of electricity to run a tank that size. You will have the cost of rock, sand and the cost of allthe coral to fill the tank If you have a problem paying $2300 for a tank you might want to look at all the other costs

Think Marc did a recent cost per gallon and was around 90$ per gallon to start from scratch http://www.reefaddicts.com/content.p...ater-reef-tank

Mccoy85,

No worries. No bubble bursted. I'm taken care of there. I'm not exactly starting from scratch. I'll be using some of my stuff from my 55g, but getting new in other things.

Again, still in the planning stages. Just because I don't want to spend $2300 on a tank, does not mean I don't want to spend it on other items. Is that common where you are? Not sure of the implication there.

I still think I'm gonna try and build my own. If it fails, it fails, and I will buy. But, I don't want to pass up the possible pride I could have, when it's all said and done.

I figured, I will water test in my garage, while I'm building the stand and sump. That will probably be around 2 weeks, and will know then, whether the build is good.

FWIW, I've never seen a report of a CG tank leaking. Plenty of complaining about sloppy silicone work. All the threads I've read on them suggest they are built like a tank(no pun intended), just not super pretty.

Have you ever done any major acrylic work before?

Robb, CG? Custom Glass? Are you speaking of the $800 glass tank from GlassCages?

Mccoy85, I've done a little. Which is what makes it both exciting and nerve racking at the same time. No where near the size I'm planning to do. But, the minute you don't push yourself, is the minute you become stagnant.

It's not without risk, I know....

PULEASE let someone who does this for a living make the tank at any cost. And also increase the depth from 18" to as deep as you possibly can make it. (You'll thank me later). Do you realize that a failing tank can cost SOOOOO much money? IT can ruin your house, cause fires, kill all your livestock. It never fails at a good time. It's always when you're on vacation.

It's not likely to fail during the water test...its 12 months down the road when the seam gives and you've got $$$ in the livestock already....

I totally agree with jessy

Oops, typo. Yes, Glasscages(GC).