Today will be a hobby first for me. I'm going to build my first tank. The glass is cleaned and lined up, and today, I silicone. It's going to be a 25 (approx gallon tank), 28.5 inches along the front, 14.75 high and deep. I saw a youtuber who used tempered glass from IKEA to build tanks, and I realized the pieces he was using were the height I wanted for my existing racks. The glass is cut and processed for shelving, which will make this a heavy aquarium, like an older one.
Using precut glass that fits my plans perfectly just seems so easy. I've done enough tank repair that I can see no reason why this won't work very well. I just have to rein in my tendency to work too fast. I can be impatient. I figure with a job that can take under an hour, easily, I'll be good. Craftsmanship. Yup. That's my goal.
I had to buy glass for 2 tanks, which is fine as I want three of these dimensions eventually. There are two panes per pack, but you need a bottom, front and back per tank. In Canadian dollars (weak compared to euros or USD) glass for the two cost $121 taxes in, and silicone was $7, on sale. That seems a fair price compared to retail. Tanks are quite expensive here.
I'll build one today. Then I'll test it this week, and when the work table's clear, do the second. If I'm pleased with my handiwork, I'll mentally thank the youtuber who showed me how to do this, and look at other sizes. I can also get precut shelves for tanks of close to 24 inches as well, and can do 14.75 inch cubes. I would like to gradually replace some of my quite old (25 years plus) tanks as I go along. But we'll cross that bridge after I probably break some stuff and get chased across the river.
I knew an old guy years ago who built all the replacement tanks for his aquarium store, then brought the tanks home when he retired and built a huge fishroom. Like me, he didn't have drilled tanks (so I can used tempered glass) and he got into the craft of tank making working with a local glass shop. I don't need a crystal ball to predict that won't happen here.
Using precut glass that fits my plans perfectly just seems so easy. I've done enough tank repair that I can see no reason why this won't work very well. I just have to rein in my tendency to work too fast. I can be impatient. I figure with a job that can take under an hour, easily, I'll be good. Craftsmanship. Yup. That's my goal.
I had to buy glass for 2 tanks, which is fine as I want three of these dimensions eventually. There are two panes per pack, but you need a bottom, front and back per tank. In Canadian dollars (weak compared to euros or USD) glass for the two cost $121 taxes in, and silicone was $7, on sale. That seems a fair price compared to retail. Tanks are quite expensive here.
I'll build one today. Then I'll test it this week, and when the work table's clear, do the second. If I'm pleased with my handiwork, I'll mentally thank the youtuber who showed me how to do this, and look at other sizes. I can also get precut shelves for tanks of close to 24 inches as well, and can do 14.75 inch cubes. I would like to gradually replace some of my quite old (25 years plus) tanks as I go along. But we'll cross that bridge after I probably break some stuff and get chased across the river.
I knew an old guy years ago who built all the replacement tanks for his aquarium store, then brought the tanks home when he retired and built a huge fishroom. Like me, he didn't have drilled tanks (so I can used tempered glass) and he got into the craft of tank making working with a local glass shop. I don't need a crystal ball to predict that won't happen here.
I don't deserve any credit! Tanner's work with aquaria and animals is something else completely. All you have to do is read comments on his channel to see how many people he's helped in this hobby. He was a big inspiration for me when I got into the tropical/planted part of this hobby.
