Old windows to make tanks.

[FishCr8zy]

I know at the Lowes near me they do sell glass sheets and acrylic sheets.

All mine don't. . But I usually get a pre-made tank when it's a dollar a gallon at petco.

 

[lovemyguppies]

All mine don't. . But I usually get a pre-made tank when it's a dollar a gallon at petco.

I always buy pre-made tanks. I'd be too scared that I'd mess something up and get tons of water all over my house if i built my own tank lol.

 

[FishCr8zy]

I always buy pre-made tanks. I'd be too scared that I'd mess something up and get tons of water all over my house if i built my own tank lol.

Same here. I don't trust my own hand work. Especially when it comes to the siliconing.

 

[patrickriley2010]

I know at the Lowes near me they do sell glass sheets and acrylic sheets.

Mine sell small pieces of acrylic but nothing you could really make a big tank with maybe 20 tops

 

[lovemyguppies]

Mine sell small pieces of acrylic but nothing you could really make a big tank with maybe 20 tops

I think the biggest pieces of acrylic mine sells is 48"x24" so if you used that as the bottom you could make a pretty big tank. But i have no idea what size glass they sell since they don't keep that out, you have to ask for it.

 

[Aquaman1978]

Home Depot spent carry glass and the stuff at lowes isn't very thick. 1/8 inch I think is as thick as they sell. You could use glass that thin on a 10 gallon tank. You could build a longer short tank with thinner glass you just have to brace it. The 86 gallon tank in my house I built is only 1/4 inch glass. I just put a lot of bracing around the top. Search euro bracing to get a better idea of what I am talking about.

 

[Aquaman1978]

It's hard to see in the pictures but the bracing on the top is a double layer of 1/4 inch glass. Placed in a way that they all overlapped each other.

 

[FishCr8zy]

Home Depot spent carry glass and the stuff at lowes isn't very thick. 1/8 inch I think is as thick as they sell. You could use glass that thin on a 10 gallon tank. You could build a longer short tank with thinner glass you just have to brace it. The 86 gallon tank in my house I built is only 1/4 inch glass. I just put a lot of bracing around the top. Search euro bracing to get a better idea of what I am talking about.

Man, you must be really good at making these DIY tanks. They look awesome! It looks like one of those expensive tanks that cost over $1000. So instead of a plastic middle brace, you used glass?

 

[Aquaman1978]

Yeah I had glass left over so I figured that would be the easiest and cheapest thing to do. The tank has been up for 3+ months and everything still looks great. I really got into building tanks. I am a carpenter by trade so the construction is familiar. It's a great feeling to build something then watch your fish enjoy what you have built. Hope I can help anyway possible.

 

[FishCr8zy]

Yeah I had glass left over so I figured that would be the easiest and cheapest thing to do. The tank has been up for 3+ months and everything still looks great. I really got into building tanks. I am a carpenter by trade so the construction is familiar. It's a great feeling to build something then watch your fish enjoy what you have built. Hope I can help anyway possible.

Those are just amazing tanks........
I like to buy my own tanks though cause in afraid my handiwork will have flaws and one day, my DIY tank will crack.

 

[54seaweed]

I have about 10 glass doors that I been trying to get rid of over a year
never thought about listing them a a potential tank build
maybe now I can get them out of here

 

[patrickriley2010]

I have about 10 glass doors that I been trying to get rid of over a year
never thought about listing them a a potential tank build
maybe now I can get them out of here

But would it really be getting them out haha

 

[54seaweed]

they would be out of my yard

 

[Aquaman1978]

they would be out of my yard

Where are you located. How old are the doors. Newer doors are almost always tempered. If they are older then there is a chance they are regular glass.

 

[patrickriley2010]

Where are you located. How old are the doors. Newer doors are almost always tempered. If they are older then there is a chance they are regular glass.

Tempered is almost everywhere now its safe than regular glass which is sad less old glass

 

[FishCr8zy]

Tempered is almost everywhere now its safe than regular glass which is sad less old glass

My 55 gal has only a tempered glass bottom so I can still drill through sides. Tempered glass is getting more popular because its stronger.

 

[Aquaman1978]

Tempered is not popular amongst the pro builders that I have takes to. Reason being that with the pressure of the water pushing against tempered glass that if you gave a failure it is a complete failure. Your going to lose everything. Regular glass won't fail that way. I talked to glass cages, an aquarium building shop and that is what they told me. Most big tanks are not tempered. Smaller tanks were the pressure is not a high will use tempered glass to get by with thinner glass. When you get over 55 gallon tanks, rarely will you see tempered glass.

 

[FishCr8zy]

Tempered is not popular amongst the pro builders that I have takes to. Reason being that with the pressure of the water pushing against tempered glass that if you gave a failure it is a complete failure. Your going to lose everything. Regular glass won't fail that way. I talked to glass cages, an aquarium building shop and that is what they told me. Most big tanks are not tempered. Smaller tanks were the pressure is not a high will use tempered glass to get by with thinner glass. When you get over 55 gallon tanks, rarely will you see tempered glass.

I have never had a tank bigger than 55 gal so I don't know. Lol