Fishy Friends,

Anyone interested in building their own tanks and stands can find plans to do so at GARF. Tank plans include those for all glass, or all acrylic, or plywood with either a glass or acrylic front. Both tank and stand plans can be adjusted to any build size. This is where I got my plans to build my already existing stand and future 180gal tank (tank not to be built until we move into our new home). Don't just think about it, GO BUILD SOMETHING!

We built most of our stands ourselves, since I didnt see why I should pay an arm and a leg for a stand, and we are a very handy family. There is a stand for a 75, a 55, a 30 gl, and even a 160 gl tank. We have them for about 5 years now, and they are as sturdy as can be.

Wich glass to buy for a 55 gallon aquarium and how much it cost per feet?? do you know? Other thing Do you use any borders to hold the aquarium?

Luiyo,

You can use either glass or acrylic. GARF will tell you how thick and what size to get. I don't know the cost though. If building a plywood tank borders are required. I hope this helps.

I'm thinking about building a 125 gallon tank. I did visit the GARF site but does anyone know how you can make the plastic trim on the top and bottom of the tank? I want mine recessed just like a store bought tank so I can add the plastic hooded lights to it.

locally, a piece of glass, 1/4 inch thick, and 2 feet by 8 feet, cost me 25 dollars. i made a top ring(like trim, except supportive) from 1x2 inch wood, and built a box-shaped hood, which supports my lighting(4 six foot flourescent tubes) and protects the filters. all the wood is stained, as is the stand. it looks pretty good. except its out in my shed, with no fish, and lots of algea..... until i can build the fish room this spring, i have no room for an eight foot tank.

also, tank, stand, lights and stain cost less than 100 dollars, and its 180 gallons.

An empty tank?? Mike, you frighten me!! Where, oh, where are the fish?

I dont get this wood tank thing. It's just glass on the front. What keeps the wood from leaking. Do you coat the wood with something

you can use various things. some people fill it in with fibreglass resin then coat it with either pool paint or liquid fiberglass resin. You can add color to the resin, or just use the pool paint. Oh and there's marine paint too.

Tim

Hi Ranchugirl,
Do you have any pictures of the stands you have built?

cool sight.

I want to build my own tank but the glass alone will cost me more than buying a ready-made tank. For a 120 gallon the glass will cost around $440. Where do you get cheaper glass? I really wanna build a bigger tank for my comets.

ye, i found that out too!!

The best way i have found is to get a solid square piece of fiberlass (more durable and fairly cheap) And rout out the center with a router table using a straight bit. It leaves a square flat bottom groove. Thats Ideal for the bottom.Then using an epoxy for joining corners. For the top Get a wider solid fiberglass rout out the center with the straight bit for the fitting over tank. Then use a rabbit bit to cut out the edge for the hood. Again join corners with a good epoxy as well as adding in the brace(s). Finding a router may not be easy though.

darn it double posted sorry.

What would be the lenth width and hiegt for a 100 galleon??I might be able to make a nice one using fiberglass

Well there can be many combos to make an aquarium. Goto http://www.garf.org/tank/buildtank.asp to figure out LXWXH.