The Puffer Forum

My subject title says it all, any ideas on how to glue or stick together glass to make your own? .. aquariums are expensive but the cost to make must be way less... any expirience out there to share?

depending on the size, procuring the correct the gauge glass could be a problem.

My local glass-cutter doesn't generally deal with aquarium quality glass. And while he's prepared to do a special order, the cost of the glass is a definate consideration. My local hardware shops deal only in window glass.

I've never tried to buy plexi except for thin sheets for covering tvs and the like.

defool89 wrote:My subject title says it all, any ideas on how to glue or stick together glass to make your own? .. aquariums are expensive but the cost to make must be way less... any expirience out there to share?

what size aquarium?

eieio wrote:

defool89 wrote:My subject title says it all, any ideas on how to glue or stick together glass to make your own? .. aquariums are expensive but the cost to make must be way less... any expirience out there to share?

what size aquarium?

125 gallon aquarium with at least 18" turning room

Check out second hand tanks, for a size like that it should be cheaper and less stressful. It is over here anyway.

I only buy second hand.... a decent 125g is 700 -900 dollars with canopy lighting and stand....that would be 560 pounds for you i think. Doesn't seem stress full for me. More like a good project

defool89 wrote:My subject title says it all, any ideas on how to glue or stick together glass to make your own? .. aquariums are expensive but the cost to make must be way less... any expirience out there to share?

125Gallons or so is still within the range of mass produced aquariums, so I doubt homebuilt full glass / acrylic is cheaper. If you make it out of plywood with a single display side of glass then it might be cheaper but I have no idea about the cost of the right epoxy and fibreglass.

I am currently contemplating building my own aquarium as well but only because I want a nonstandard size, and even then it seems it might end up cheaper having it built for me . I haven't asked yet about the cost of adding a builtin overflow.

I just don't believe that the cost of building 1 is the same price as 1 that you buy at the store all I know is that you need 5 pieces of glass and some adhesive but what I don't know is the kind of adhesive or silicone and the kind of glass as there is many out there I'm sure the local Home Depot can cut your glass. But I don't know if you can buy it there as well at least the correct kind of glass that wouldn't burst under the pressure of 125 gallons of water. I'm only interested in making a freshwater tank and if all goes well in the future potentially sell them as well

I just bought a 220gallon(US) tank with stand, hood, filter and heaters for $200 Cdn. Guess it's a location thing.

defool89 wrote:I just don't believe that the cost of building 1 is the same price as 1 that you buy at the store all I know is that you need 5 pieces of glass and some adhesive but what I don't know is the kind of adhesive or silicone and the kind of glass as there is many out there I'm sure the local Home Depot can cut your glass. But I don't know if you can buy it there as well at least the correct kind of glass that wouldn't burst under the pressure of 125 gallons of water. I'm only interested in making a freshwater tank and if all goes well in the future potentially sell them as well

Buying bulk especially as a manufacturer is very cheap generally, where as we pay premium for the right glass.

In any case for a glass aquarium you need silicon that contains no toxins, it should say "safe for aquariums" or something along those lines. And for acrylic aquariums I think you use WeldOn 4. I suggest you google on "diy glass aquarium" or substitute glass with acrylic if you want to build an acrylic tank. There are a lot of articles out there on this subject.

defool89 wrote:I only buy second hand.... a decent 125g is 700 -900 dollars with canopy lighting and stand....that would be 560 pounds for you i think. Doesn't seem stress full for me. More like a good project

Wow tanks are expensive over there. You can pick up secondhand 4, 5 or 6 foot tanks over here for £50- £100. Recently there was an 8x4x4 tank going with custom hood, stand, 2x fx5s etc for £300. I was tempted to buy it and put it in storage but I got that look from my wife, you know the look that could quite possibly result in divorce if I don't do as I am told lol.

bertie 83 wrote:Recently there was an 8x4x4 tank going with custom hood, stand, 2x fx5s etc for £300. I was tempted to buy it and put it in storage but I got that look from my wife, you know the look that could quite possibly result in divorce if I don't do as I am told lol.

My wife usually gives me the when I drag in more aquarium related things. Though we don't have the space for gigantic aquariums . That's probably saving my hiney.