Building your own aquarium

[nanik]

Hi all,

I'm planning to build my own aquarium, can anyone share their experience where to buy good but not too expensive glass from in Sydney ?

Thanks for your help

[AHC]

If you want quality - try the forums sponsors! :wink:

[BigDaddyAdo]

Excel Glass on Victoria Rd, West Ryde. I have known them for 20+ years. Top guys that will be happy to help you out.

[AHC]

Sorry nanik, I mis-read your question. :oops: 'Building' your own yourself. Sounds like a fun project. Good luck with it. :

[BigDaddyAdo]

Sounds like a pain the arse to me....;)

A photo journal would be great !!!! What size tank?

[Hollowman]

The size of your tank now is completely in your hands, depends on what you want it for and where it is going.

Last weekend I had to remake an 5ft x 2ft x 2ft tank. It was an old one I bought from a friend, and it had been in his garden for a fair while. As it was a bit ropey, I decided to strip it out and re-seal/glue it up. The most important thing for me is knowing it will be up to the job, and being an engineer, I like to have things right. Once the old sealant was cleaned out of the corners, using a stanley knife, I made a tool for re-applying the sealant. I think we all know what a pain this stuff is to use, so finding a way to get a bubble free bead of sealant was crucial.

Basically, I made a scraper from a 4" wide piece of perspex. It was made as accuratly as I could, and it worked a treat. The photos below show the scraper.
To use it, you sqeeze in a large bead of sealant right into the corner of the tank along the whole length to be sealed, then use the tool to spread the sealer in a uniform width and size. You have to make sure that the tool stays at 90 degrees to the tank sides to stop any unwanted spread, and leter clean up. The angle on the face of the tool is very important as it guides the glue in and leaves the smooth professional finish. Easy. I'll post up a few pics of the finished result as soon as I can. For now, just the spreader tool I made.

Hope this helps a bit, specially if you are going to make a tank youself.

H :)

[Hollowman]

2 more.

Note, the 15mm that I have indicated can be made smaller to suit a smaller tank. But I was after strength as i said before.

[ILLUSN]

you can get a premade plastic device just like steve's from bunnings round $6 for a pack of 4, will save you so much effort when you got to glue your tank together, I'm resealing a 4x2x1.5 on the weekend, will try and get some photos of it up for you.

[Hollowman]

you can get a premade plastic device just like steve's from bunnings round $6 for a pack of 4, will save you so much effort .

:shock: Wish we had Bunnings here :roll: Would have saved me some time. :lol:

[ILLUSN]

Theres not much weight in them mate i can post you a couple if you like, they're no where near as classy as yours they're also ment to be disposable but you can get a few uses out of them.

[Hollowman]

I am sure we must have them here somewhere, but there's nothing like hand made :lol:
Thanks for the offer though ILLUSN, still might take you up on it.

Steve

[rex82]

glazing shop will have them..............they're called a spatchulla( spelling)

[Hollowman]

I found this :roll:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/28167/Sealants-Adhesives/Sealant-Applicators/Fugenboy-Kit-1-BMFG1

[shootmeup_elmo]

Price wise is it any cheaper to make your own tank ??
Say if you wanted to make a standard 4 x 18 x 18 would you come out on top, or if you made 4 of them would it be better money wise ?
Or is it cheaper to buy for a supplier ?

Thanks
Ian

[Hollowman]

I'll tell you a great place to get tanks, Ebay!! There are always people who get disillusioned and are selling tanks off cheap. Even if they are not in the best condition, you can strip apart, clean and re-assemble. I have done this and made a couple of nice tank.

Just a thought :)

[shootmeup_elmo]

Thanks Hollowman

I actually just missed a 4 ft tank which was around the corner. I was short by $1.xx something. oh well. keep looking

Cheers
Ian