PENEJANE Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 I am having troubles getting the sort of tank that I would like for a planted tank. Do you guys have any tips or ideas on how to assemble your own tanks? like what sort of sealent to use and how to brace it till its set and blah blah blah. I am wanting to create a different style tank for the plants. Long but narrow to allow easy photo shots and to keep them into their own areas. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slappers Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 if you are unsure leave it to to experts its not just your sealent its the glass thickness too, lots :roll: of water and mess been there done that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucid Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Making a tank is easy, the glass is the most important part to get right, you need to make sure the thickness is right. I spent $25 and bought a couple of corner clamps from placemakers and also bought the holdfast 202 clear silicone from there as well. Then it is just a case of getting the glass cut to size and applying silicone to the edges, I put two ice block sticks together and placed them between the two sheets of glass, which allowed me to get a thicker bead of silicone between them. Hope this helps. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 I guess from Ballistics post it is best to eat the ice Blocks first, then put together your glass :roll: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted September 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 ok I am now considering a basic 3ft tank or a 3ft with a bay front kinda thing. So holdfast 202 clear for the seal and if I was to do a bay front how would I go about bracing them? Would 8-10mm glass be fine? If I had my own glass how much would it cost to get someone like smith & smith to cut it to shape? Would like to give this a try cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 PEEJANE - Having built my own tanks in the past, I would agree its not hard. However the reality is its probably just as cheap to have one made by a 'professional'. Bow-front tanks are expensive (bowed glass is expensive) and the bracing etc is a little tricky. I wouldn't attempt it myself. Too much to go wront. Building 'normal' tanks is easy, but again i'd get it done by someone else. Its an awkward and frustrating job. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Yeah, but she didn't say bowed, she said bay type which is sections. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Ahhh I thought Bay was a typo, we call the 'bay' fronted ones 'bevelled'. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Be good if PJ gave us some idea of what she means. I'd consider a BAY as one with three or more faces on the front. Creating weakpoints How high are you thinking PJ?? Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted September 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 Alan you have it right. I was thinking bay front as in 3 sections of glass to make up the front (viewing) area. But I have decided against that now lol. I was looking at about 250-300mm high as thats the glass that is cut down at the local dump. I will just need to get an extra piece of glass cut down to suit for the two end pieces. Its just a small tank to either house my pregnant females so they can have bubbas in peace or to seperate my orange/reds from my black/blues. The legenth (after looking at the glass they have which is 6-8mm thick, I think lol forgot tape measure) is about 2ft long if not a bit shorter so I won't be going 3ft like origionaly thought My husband and I are going to give it a go and I shall look into taking step by step photos as to how I do it (that is only if its successful or you will all be able to see where I went wrong! hahaha) So I shall keep you posted. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 No NO NO Show us the mistakes. People remember those better and wont do the same thing. I remember the very first tank I made I put the glue on all the wrong touch areas. Then in an effort to save the glue from wasting I tried shifting it while it was wet, BIG mistake, glue everywhere. Another is not to penny-pinch and try the smallest possible bead, you'll get leaks, and they really suck. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monaro1 Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 for the price of the silicone$15,glass$?time$?and if you make the slighest bobo it will leak or worse fall apart when full. the size you are looking for is on trade me for $15 to $30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted September 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 monaro one big problem for me on trademe is that I don't live in that area to pick the tanks up and there are none in my area apart from one that I know off which is $150. And all the others say that they won't ship so I am stuck there. My husband is a plumber and works with sealent all the time and knows the importance to get a good seal or it will leak so I have that advantage on my side (lets just hope he does a good job!!) and with him being a plumber he is able to get the silicon cheaper and time for me is no big worry as I have nothing better to do with it apart from look at my fishies all day hehe. I have rung a couple of places now and its going to cost on average $50-$60 for a 2ft tank and $85 for a 3ft tank. I am sure I can make my own tank (2ft or there abouts) for less than $50 I would love to get tanks off trademe as I have seen heaps there that I could of had for less than $60 but problem is that they are all up in auckland, hamilton or wellington so once again I am out of luck in that area. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 If your mate is a plumber, I bet the sealant he uses is the wrong stuff It must be an acidic cure. If you use the other, you will end up with a permanent toxic tank Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted September 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 going to use the holdfast 202 clear stuff. I have seen it mentioned earlier on in this forum for what people used. I have already had a look at some silicon and it does say not suitable for fish tanks so I will keep looking untill I find one that is suitable But with my husband being mates with guys at plumbing world I can get it with a discount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted September 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 ok have found a place that will do a 3ft tank for me. I won't be getting it just yet as we are looking into moving house if my husband likes the one that I have picked! lol. I would like to divide it into 3 x 1ft tanks using the clip on dividers so I can seperate snakeskins, orange/reds and black blues easier. With this set up could I get away with one heater (middle) with a filter that is at one end with a long tube (outlet) at the other end of the tank so its creating one large cycle? Would this work? I currently have this sort of divider in my 2ft tank but to really get more black/blues I need to remove the reds from there. This divider has little holes in it which allow water flow through with out fish getting through. Comments much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werner Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Hi PJ I think ?Shui or ?Shae put a site of their multiple tank setup on this site somewhere. Worth having a look. But building the tanks will be fun if you take your time.Alan i will have to practice soon to house all those killies; not to mention the guppy and sword babies and a few bbs! :lol: Werner killie convert 264 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshie Posted November 4, 2005 Report Share Posted November 4, 2005 Any brand of silicone will be ok SO LONG as it's for glass, is CLEAR (i.e no colourant's added), has NO anti-mould agents, has to be acidic cure (meaning it will smell like vinegar while setting and cannot be cleaned up in water). Basically no frills and extras. Most of these will mention in the fine print suitible for aquariums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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