Combining two 150g tanks

Lucky Lefty · 10/12/2015, 09:05 AM

Just spit balling here. I want to build a custom tank that stretches from wall to wall. I have a 150 now with about 3 feet of space on either side.
I came across another 150g tank and it had me start thinking, could I break down two 150g tanks and glue all of the panes together to make a 12' long, 18" wide, 27" deep tank?
Obviously there would have to be a center brace going around the middle where they connect, but in theory, does this seem logical/possible?
Thanks

Bogue Chitto · 10/12/2015, 12:59 PM

I think it would hold up better if you just had a large bulkhead connecting the two tanks together, don't know how big they make them, but you would be able to sleep at night knowing the tanks still had enough support.

squarebob · 10/12/2015, 06:39 PM

Years ago I had two 55 gallon tanks connected together end to end with two 4" diameter acrylic tubes about 9 inches long. The fish would go from tank to tank. It was fun to watch the fish go "tubing". The setup was almost 9 feet long!

Lucky Lefty · 10/12/2015, 07:27 PM

Hmmmm. Both pretty good ideas. Let me see what kind of designs I could come up with. Would be pretty cool if I could find a 10"+ bulkhead.
I'd have to cut the brace off the top and bottom of each side so they could be flush together. Wonder if I could make/find a custom brace.
The acrylic tube idea is cool. You just silicone the heck out of the tube? I've always been leary of attaching unlike materials together, especially glass and acrylic.

Lucky Lefty · 10/12/2015, 07:50 PM

So after about 20 minutes of research, i found a couple 6" bulkhead for around $300/each and I found one schedule 80 8" bulkhead for $880.
I'm also thinking sandwiching 2 panes together may cause flex if they aren't perfectly flat against each other. The tube idea might work, just make the tube really short... and I'd have to find a 10" tube still.
Seems like a lot of expensive work for 300 gallons.

squarebob · 10/12/2015, 08:08 PM

McMaster Carr has 6" -3/8" wall 1' long acrylic tube for $140.00. 12" tube for about $180.00 Cut it in half and have two tubes. My tanks never leaked as there was no movement between them to cause the silicone seal to fail.

10/12/2015, 09:05 AM	#1
Lucky Lefty Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 790	Combining two 150g tanks Just spit balling here. I want to build a custom tank that stretches from wall to wall. I have a 150 now with about 3 feet of space on either side. I came across another 150g tank and it had me start thinking, could I break down two 150g tanks and glue all of the panes together to make a 12' long, 18" wide, 27" deep tank? Obviously there would have to be a center brace going around the middle where they connect, but in theory, does this seem logical/possible? Thanks __________________ 150g NJ Current Tank Info: est.5/9/14

10/12/2015, 07:27 PM	#4
Lucky Lefty Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 790	Hmmmm. Both pretty good ideas. Let me see what kind of designs I could come up with. Would be pretty cool if I could find a 10"+ bulkhead. I'd have to cut the brace off the top and bottom of each side so they could be flush together. Wonder if I could make/find a custom brace. The acrylic tube idea is cool. You just silicone the heck out of the tube? I've always been leary of attaching unlike materials together, especially glass and acrylic. __________________ 150g NJ Current Tank Info: est.5/9/14

10/12/2015, 07:50 PM	#5
Lucky Lefty Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 790	So after about 20 minutes of research, i found a couple 6" bulkhead for around $300/each and I found one schedule 80 8" bulkhead for $880. I'm also thinking sandwiching 2 panes together may cause flex if they aren't perfectly flat against each other. The tube idea might work, just make the tube really short... and I'd have to find a 10" tube still. Seems like a lot of expensive work for 300 gallons. __________________ 150g NJ Current Tank Info: est.5/9/14

10/12/2015, 08:08 PM	#6
squarebob Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Georgia Posts: 10	McMaster Carr has 6" -3/8" wall 1' long acrylic tube for $140.00. 12" tube for about $180.00 Cut it in half and have two tubes. My tanks never leaked as there was no movement between them to cause the silicone seal to fail. Last edited by squarebob; 10/12/2015 at 08:12 PM. Reason: error

10/12/2015, 12:59 PM	#2
Bogue Chitto Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 960	I think it would hold up better if you just had a large bulkhead connecting the two tanks together, don't know how big they make them, but you would be able to sleep at night knowing the tanks still had enough support.

10/12/2015, 06:39 PM	#3
squarebob Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Georgia Posts: 10	Years ago I had two 55 gallon tanks connected together end to end with two 4" diameter acrylic tubes about 9 inches long. The fish would go from tank to tank. It was fun to watch the fish go "tubing". The setup was almost 9 feet long!