Buy of Building Smaller Aquariums

Good Evening Fishy Friends,

I was checking on the net today, looking for about 8 x 60cm aquariums.

Found pricing around R250 per tank for tank only.

Would anyone advise trying to build some of my own aquariums? Has anyone done the math on this to try and determine if its worth the efforts?

All answers and comments appreciated.

Thanking everyone in advance.

WindPomp

 

Buy glass per sheet and ask them to cut. Its easy making small tanks

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Thanks for the feedback Discusnut.

Checked with hardware stores, but most tanks of 60cm recommend 6mm glass. Builders etc only sells 5mm max.

Anyone have suggestions on where i can buy glass in Cape Town?

 

60mm is way too thick for that size
my tank I bought that size is only 2/3 mm
I build a one foot with offcuts from a friends glass shop, I used 2 mm and tank is still running by my friend for quite some time

 

To buy glass sheetsand build works out way cheaper
a sheet may cost around R350
and if I'm not mistaken, you can get about 3 tanks out from it
will just check pricing an size of sheet for you and let you know.
My friends glass shop supplies guys who builds tanks , he showed me cost of glass, an ordinary 4 foot tank glass costs under R 700
but guys sell tanks for one R2000

 

Yes 4mm should be fine for a 60cm tank.
If you have it cut just make sure they know it should be very precise as they normally cut for Windows that don't really matter if you are 2-3 mm out.

 

Yes i build my own tanks and i can build 3× 60cm tanks for +/- R250. Glass is 4mm thick. Buy from glass suppliers like glassfit or alike. 6mm is overkill for a 2ft tank.

As @Vis stated tell them its for a tank and that dimensions needs to be correct otherwise they will stuff it up by mm's.

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Agree all my 1,1.6 to 2 foot run 3 to 4mm my 3foots are 5mm

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Thanks Gents. I will enquire about pricing today and get started

 

I rarely find a place that can cut it properly so I buy a few cm bigger then what I need and cut it more precise at home.

 

Glass sizes for standard tanks are as follows.
1-1.5ft 3mm
2ft 4mm
3ft 5mm
4ft 6mm

You can pick up a new standard 2ft tank for about R170- in Cape Town (4mm)
Don't think you can built it for cheaper.

Recently I got myself a stack-up rack with 8 tanks 2ft, glass thickness 6mm.
It may be more than required but I like them, very sturdy, won't be needing to brace those tanks.
Standard 2ft with 4mm glass I brace at least at the top (serves double purpose with sliders)

In CT you can buy glass from Glassmen everywhere, but depending where you live there are some independent outfits which may be cheaper.

A budy of mine is shutting down his entire breeding setups, he is the one I bought my 8tanks from, if you are interested in going to have a look (you want 8 tanks as per your first post), send me a pm and I put you in touch with him.

 

Thanks very much for everyones feedback.

Much Appreciated.

I dont mind paying for tanks as well, but as other members have stated, some people go nuts with pricing and i usually see 60cmx30.5cmx30.5cm for R250 which seems a bit much.

But anyhow, let the building begin.