Custom tanks

Serioussnaps · 10/18/2006, 06:35 PM

Hey everyone...i am looking to have a tank built for me and dont know all the places i can turn to do this...obviously the things to be considered are craftsmanship, customer service, quality, and cost.

I am in the US...looking to have a cube like tank built. I would want it shallow and almost like a lagoon but not quite a lagoon. Kind of like the japanese style tanks you see so often on RC.

I would like alot of depth in this tank...DEPTH IS KEY

say 4' x 4' x 18-24" with an overflow in the middle of the tank and allow for LOTS OF FLOW

I have thought about glass cages but where else can i have a tank built to my exact specifications

ALSO...i dont want ANY of the tank borders or braces like you see on say an AGA...JUST A GLASS CUBE...to get the look of water just sitting in the middle of the room

I WOULD CONSIDER ACRYLIC BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON COST AND ALL THE OTHER FACTORS

just looking to start a discussion and figure out the best way of starting a new tank

prance1520 · 10/18/2006, 08:13 PM

I got mine from AO, they are sponsors here. Mine isn't exactly cube, but its 48x30x16. I like the shallow height and large front to back depth. My rockwork is low, only 1 to 2 rocks high, but with 2 tunze streams and that short of a tank, I don't have to worry about spots that don't get flow because they are a foot deeper than the tunze is.

He will make them braceless, but expect to pay for a thicker glass to make sure its done correctly. They also use black silicone because it is stronger than the clear. I dunno if your looking for starphire or not, but they can do both.

Here is a link to a couple pictures of the tank when I first got it. I might get to take a couple better ones here soon with the aquascaping.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=945790

Good choice on the idea of your tank. I really love how much area I have. Good luck and keep us posted.

Matt

Waxxiemann · 10/18/2006, 08:34 PM

for glass check out:

Miracles in glass
Aquarium obsessed

For acrylic check out

Tenecor
Socal Creations

Good luck!

Waxxiemann · 10/18/2006, 08:35 PM

I'm looking at a 4'x4'x24" as well.

The best price I got was from SoCal.

dougchambers · 10/18/2006, 09:21 PM

I'll throw another plug for Miracles Aquariums. They built us a totally custom in-wall tank to our exact specifications. Derek was great to work with and like AO, they are a sponsor. I'd suggest calling or emailing them direct.

http://www.miraclesaquariums.com/

We also looked at Lee Mar out of California, but they wouldn't ship the tank to Boise. Glass Cages wanted to "resize" some of the dimensions to their standard pre-cut panels and I got a number of emails from GC owners that were unhappy with the quality.

If we had not gone with Miracles, we would have gone with AO.

-Doug

goda · 10/18/2006, 10:13 PM

stay away from tenecor thats all i can tell ya :P

Waxxiemann · 10/18/2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by goda
stay away from tenecor thats all i can tell ya :P

how come?

phlipper84 · 10/18/2006, 10:50 PM

Tenecor can be a bit expensive. Also they have a tendency to underbuild in terms of acrylic thickness. You can specify thicker but then they get truly expensive. I bought my tank here in Phoenix, AZ. I discovered the guy on Ebay, and his prices are very good. I have a 60 X 30 X 30 and it was under a 1000. He does take a bit of time but his work is topnotch.

Waxxiemann · 10/18/2006, 11:07 PM

is there a website? That sounds good.

phlipper84 · 10/18/2006, 11:12 PM

No website. He only sells on Ebay, although if you contact him he will work with you.http://cgi.ebay.com/SALE-70-GALLON-A...QQcmdZViewItem

lessthanlights · 10/19/2006, 02:07 AM

i just have midwest custom aquariums in mn build me a 36x24x24 in acrylic. great guy reasonable price and good work. not great work but the price was 40% cheaper than elsewhere.

sabodish · 10/19/2006, 05:47 AM

if you want acrylic, i just bought a 36x36x30 cube from andy at myreef. the tank is built from 3/4" acrylic and the quality is awesome. andy stayed in total contact with me throughout design, construction and delivery. i would recommend him to anyone looking for an acrylic tank.
-mike

Serioussnaps · 10/19/2006, 03:10 PM

Sabodish...is andy in NC too? Also, if you dont mind me asking..how much did you pay for yours? He delivered it and everything?

Serioussnaps · 10/19/2006, 03:12 PM

Sabodish...is andy in NC too? Also, if you dont mind me asking..how much did you pay for yours? He delivered it and everything?

Oh and reading your interests....did you ever live out in holly springs out behind a guy name Chad's house? The guy with all the pit bulls? I think i know you.

prance1520 · 10/19/2006, 10:22 PM

Just to make your head hurt more, if your looking for glass, there are two more that are gaining momentum on the boards.

Aquariums for you out of NJ.

And the people who build naka's tank:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=839423

Both have great reviews so far. Which are you leaning towards, glass or acrlyic?

sabodish · 10/20/2006, 08:55 AM

snaps..andy is in georgia, so not too far from NC. for my 36x36x30 cube and one of his reef sumps i think i paid about $1800 with shipping.

i just moved to holly springs, i used to live in cary. i guess you could know me, i held a frag meeting at my house with about 50 people and i have had many people over to buy items when i took my 360 gallon down.

JayS · 10/20/2006, 09:03 AM

Aquarium Obsessed is building me a PPG Starphire 36"x26"x24" or 97g. Their displays looked really nice at MACNA last month.

em805 · 10/27/2006, 11:50 PM

I was actually thinking of getting a 36"x36"x24" tank custom built myself. Would you recomend placing overflow in any other area for a square tank like the one I'm thinking about getting? I was originally thinking about (brainstorming stage only) just getting the tank drilled four times int he back and installing bulkhead strainers vs the overflow box--I would place 2 next to the surface of the tank in opossite sides and 2 mid level... Would you mind shooting holes in that or bouncing off some pros and cons of using a box like yours vs just drilling? Thanks, Eli

10/18/2006, 06:35 PM	#1
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	Custom tanks Hey everyone...i am looking to have a tank built for me and dont know all the places i can turn to do this...obviously the things to be considered are craftsmanship, customer service, quality, and cost. I am in the US...looking to have a cube like tank built. I would want it shallow and almost like a lagoon but not quite a lagoon. Kind of like the japanese style tanks you see so often on RC. I would like alot of depth in this tank...DEPTH IS KEY say 4' x 4' x 18-24" with an overflow in the middle of the tank and allow for LOTS OF FLOW I have thought about glass cages but where else can i have a tank built to my exact specifications ALSO...i dont want ANY of the tank borders or braces like you see on say an AGA...JUST A GLASS CUBE...to get the look of water just sitting in the middle of the room I WOULD CONSIDER ACRYLIC BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON COST AND ALL THE OTHER FACTORS just looking to start a discussion and figure out the best way of starting a new tank

10/18/2006, 08:34 PM	#3
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	for glass check out: Miracles in glass Aquarium obsessed For acrylic check out Tenecor Socal Creations Good luck! __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

10/18/2006, 08:35 PM	#4
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	I'm looking at a 4'x4'x24" as well. The best price I got was from SoCal. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

10/18/2006, 11:07 PM	#9
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	is there a website? That sounds good. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

10/27/2006, 11:50 PM	#18
em805 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Santa Maria, CA Posts: 311	I was actually thinking of getting a 36"x36"x24" tank custom built myself. Would you recomend placing overflow in any other area for a square tank like the one I'm thinking about getting? I was originally thinking about (brainstorming stage only) just getting the tank drilled four times int he back and installing bulkhead strainers vs the overflow box--I would place 2 next to the surface of the tank in opossite sides and 2 mid level... Would you mind shooting holes in that or bouncing off some pros and cons of using a box like yours vs just drilling? Thanks, Eli __________________ Temp-78-79F pH-8.2 (seachem) SG-35ppm (hydrometer) Calcium-435 (pinpoint) Ammonia-.0 (AP) Nitrite-0 (AP) Nitrate-<5 (AP) PO4-0 I-.04 Silica-<1 Alk-4 meq/L Mg-1440 Current Tank Info: 112G Shallow REEF CUBE Bare Bottom/60g Corner Reef Tank DSB

10/18/2006, 08:13 PM	#2
prance1520 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 488	I got mine from AO, they are sponsors here. Mine isn't exactly cube, but its 48x30x16. I like the shallow height and large front to back depth. My rockwork is low, only 1 to 2 rocks high, but with 2 tunze streams and that short of a tank, I don't have to worry about spots that don't get flow because they are a foot deeper than the tunze is. He will make them braceless, but expect to pay for a thicker glass to make sure its done correctly. They also use black silicone because it is stronger than the clear. I dunno if your looking for starphire or not, but they can do both. Here is a link to a couple pictures of the tank when I first got it. I might get to take a couple better ones here soon with the aquascaping. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=945790 Good choice on the idea of your tank. I really love how much area I have. Good luck and keep us posted. Matt

10/18/2006, 09:21 PM	#5
dougchambers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,882	I'll throw another plug for Miracles Aquariums. They built us a totally custom in-wall tank to our exact specifications. Derek was great to work with and like AO, they are a sponsor. I'd suggest calling or emailing them direct. http://www.miraclesaquariums.com/ We also looked at Lee Mar out of California, but they wouldn't ship the tank to Boise. Glass Cages wanted to "resize" some of the dimensions to their standard pre-cut panels and I got a number of emails from GC owners that were unhappy with the quality. If we had not gone with Miracles, we would have gone with AO. -Doug

10/18/2006, 10:13 PM	#6
goda Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: fortlauderdale florida area Posts: 1,874	stay away from tenecor thats all i can tell ya :P

10/18/2006, 10:50 PM	#8
phlipper84 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,024	Tenecor can be a bit expensive. Also they have a tendency to underbuild in terms of acrylic thickness. You can specify thicker but then they get truly expensive. I bought my tank here in Phoenix, AZ. I discovered the guy on Ebay, and his prices are very good. I have a 60 X 30 X 30 and it was under a 1000. He does take a bit of time but his work is topnotch.

10/18/2006, 11:12 PM	#10
phlipper84 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,024	No website. He only sells on Ebay, although if you contact him he will work with you.http://cgi.ebay.com/SALE-70-GALLON-A...QQcmdZViewItem

10/19/2006, 02:07 AM	#11
lessthanlights Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 606	i just have midwest custom aquariums in mn build me a 36x24x24 in acrylic. great guy reasonable price and good work. not great work but the price was 40% cheaper than elsewhere.

10/19/2006, 05:47 AM	#12
sabodish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Holly Springs, NC Posts: 1,703	if you want acrylic, i just bought a 36x36x30 cube from andy at myreef. the tank is built from 3/4" acrylic and the quality is awesome. andy stayed in total contact with me throughout design, construction and delivery. i would recommend him to anyone looking for an acrylic tank. -mike

10/19/2006, 03:10 PM	#13
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	Sabodish...is andy in NC too? Also, if you dont mind me asking..how much did you pay for yours? He delivered it and everything?

10/19/2006, 03:12 PM	#14
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	Sabodish...is andy in NC too? Also, if you dont mind me asking..how much did you pay for yours? He delivered it and everything? Oh and reading your interests....did you ever live out in holly springs out behind a guy name Chad's house? The guy with all the pit bulls? I think i know you.

10/19/2006, 10:22 PM	#15
prance1520 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 488	Just to make your head hurt more, if your looking for glass, there are two more that are gaining momentum on the boards. Aquariums for you out of NJ. And the people who build naka's tank: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=839423 Both have great reviews so far. Which are you leaning towards, glass or acrlyic?

10/20/2006, 08:55 AM	#16
sabodish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Holly Springs, NC Posts: 1,703	snaps..andy is in georgia, so not too far from NC. for my 36x36x30 cube and one of his reef sumps i think i paid about $1800 with shipping. i just moved to holly springs, i used to live in cary. i guess you could know me, i held a frag meeting at my house with about 50 people and i have had many people over to buy items when i took my 360 gallon down.

10/20/2006, 09:03 AM	#17
JayS Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 234	Aquarium Obsessed is building me a PPG Starphire 36"x26"x24" or 97g. Their displays looked really nice at MACNA last month.