Why are tanks so expensive? Should I go with an L Shaped

moneymm · 08/28/2021, 09:31 AM

Looking online I am amazed and confused by the prices of some tanks, $3,500 for some rectangle pieces of glass held together by silicone. sometimes only 1500 or 2000 for the same size just different brands. whats the difference?

can i just build my own, is there much more to it than it seems?

why are they so much money?

I was also considering an L Shaped for the inside corner of my room, this would mean basically two giant rectangle tanks in one, but im sure to buy one, im looking at thousands of dollars extra just because it will be all custom and very large. any tips?

aaronpentz · 08/28/2021, 10:43 AM

Only tip I can provide is to pay to have one made. Or make sure you have flood insurance. There's a reason good tanks are expensive. Look at glass cages for discount. Also look at the amount of leaks customers have reported. Now look at miracles. And the quality issues they also have.

You pay for experience and not someone to just throw so silicone and glass together.

Nobody's perfect. Some are better than others

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

moneymm · 08/28/2021, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronpentz

Only tip I can provide is to pay to have one made. Or make sure you have flood insurance. There's a reason good tanks are expensive. Look at glass cages for discount. Also look at the amount of leaks customers have reported. Now look at miracles. And the quality issues they also have.

You pay for experience and not someone to just throw so silicone and glass together.

Nobody's perfect. Some are better than others

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

Thanks.

Maybe I’ll rethink the L
Shape idea unless I come across a spare 6k.

zheka757 · 08/28/2021, 03:32 PM

Don't want to steer you off, but did you get your budget right in first place for your build?
if tank is a money problem what about everything else that goes into the tank?
I have 96x30x30 that i payed $1700 (used) i got tank up and running totaled about 10k now! im talking about all the live stock also.
but I do agree with you. some of the prices are ridiculous for tanks and equipment for this hobby. its like drive Ferrari or drive Honda to work, they both will get the job done, and they both will break at one point.

moneymm · 08/28/2021, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zheka757

Don't want to steer you off, but did you get your budget right in first place for your build?
if tank is a money problem what about everything else that goes into the tank?
I have 96x30x30 that i payed $1700 (used) i got tank up and running totaled about 10k now! im talking about all the live stock also.
but I do agree with you. some of the prices are ridiculous for tanks and equipment for this hobby. its like drive Ferrari or drive Honda to work, they both will get the job done, and they both will break at one point.

not even close, i bought my first tank to upgrade the goldfish bowl that died in 2 days from the carnival game the kids won. i thought the tank i spent 700 bucks on was the end of it, prob 5k in.

good point, i am just thinking this time if i do this , i will do it planning out fully so i can get the fish i want and the setup i want to last forever.

Sk8r · 08/28/2021, 08:42 PM

Also check around your state for some fish stores that might have used ones, sometimes some very big used ones.

08/28/2021, 09:31 AM	#1
moneymm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 548	Why are tanks so expensive? Should I go with an L Shaped Looking online I am amazed and confused by the prices of some tanks, $3,500 for some rectangle pieces of glass held together by silicone. sometimes only 1500 or 2000 for the same size just different brands. whats the difference? can i just build my own, is there much more to it than it seems? why are they so much money? I was also considering an L Shaped for the inside corner of my room, this would mean basically two giant rectangle tanks in one, but im sure to buy one, im looking at thousands of dollars extra just because it will be all custom and very large. any tips? __________________ 45 Gallon Bow DT - Lifereef Berlin Sump/Skimmer - 36" ATI Dimmable Sunpower 4 x 39W Phantom Clown, Ocellaris Cown, 10 Snails, 4 Hermit Crabs Last edited by moneymm; 08/28/2021 at 09:52 AM.

08/28/2021, 10:43 AM	#2
aaronpentz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pingree Grove, IL Posts: 952	Only tip I can provide is to pay to have one made. Or make sure you have flood insurance. There's a reason good tanks are expensive. Look at glass cages for discount. Also look at the amount of leaks customers have reported. Now look at miracles. And the quality issues they also have. You pay for experience and not someone to just throw so silicone and glass together. Nobody's perfect. Some are better than others Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk __________________ "Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings" Current Tank Info: 67 Long Last edited by aaronpentz; 08/28/2021 at 11:25 AM.

08/28/2021, 03:32 PM	#4
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 283	Don't want to steer you off, but did you get your budget right in first place for your build? if tank is a money problem what about everything else that goes into the tank? I have 96x30x30 that i payed $1700 (used) i got tank up and running totaled about 10k now! im talking about all the live stock also. but I do agree with you. some of the prices are ridiculous for tanks and equipment for this hobby. its like drive Ferrari or drive Honda to work, they both will get the job done, and they both will break at one point. Last edited by zheka757; 08/28/2021 at 03:38 PM.

08/28/2021, 08:42 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Also check around your state for some fish stores that might have used ones, sometimes some very big used ones. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.