I think they use special silicone but yeah it looks like thats all there is to it

thats a big tank.. let us know how it go's

 you could do it but i would be looking at using some angle iron framework for extra support , you can also get the stuff in alaminium for a better looking finish. only prob you may have would be to get it welded 

 Carl, pm me your number as my usual deckie is a commercial glazier and built my 1100lt tank.

it's not as simple as that, you dont need a frame but 8'x3' of 12mm glass is very very heavy you will need to bulid a jig to support it during construction, at that size it is also very expensive, your better off buying one as the risk is too great espescialy if it's your first one, but to answer your question yes it is just a matter of siliconing the glass together with extra braces across the top and bottom, you would also need to be sure of your measurements when getting the glass cut cos if your wrong it's a lot of money down the gurgler. you wouldnt be paying someone an awfull lot of money to build it but the risk is all theirs. I've built 6' ones but wouldnt tackle an 8x3 footer.

But yet to fill it up, my measurements are 1500 x 800 by 700 high which works out to just on a thousand litres or 1 ton in weight.

My class is only 10mm thick and for what ive been told it is not thick enough for that amount of water, some sand base in the bottom and the fact it wont get filled to the top

i will see how it goes.

But basically its just silicone in between all the joints inside and out, i think i will fab a small angle frame to sit around the top to help support the class and hold the lights and other items.

But yet to fill it up, my measurements are 1500 x 800 by 700 high which works out to just on a thousand litres or 1 ton in weight.

My class is only 10mm thick and for what ive been told it is not thick enough for that amount of water, some sand base in the bottom and the fact it wont get filled to the top

i will see how it goes.

But basically its just silicone in between all the joints inside and out, i think i will fab a small angle frame to sit around the top to help support the class and hold the lights and other items.

Think you will see how it goes , could be some very wet floors lol

 And its on the things to do list,

 If it fails you wont see any progress pics.

 Are you saying it wont hold mako?

1000L will make almost the whole of ur house wet if she go's... good luck.

but that said iv got a old home made tank made over 10 years ago now.. 2"x2"x4". think like 8mm glass and still running fine, somtimes when im feeding my big oscar and the 8 or so convicts go into a feeding frenzy. i get a lil worryed about the day she gives way and floods my house. Have had a much smaller tank go many years ago and it flooded my bed room the hallway and the 2 other rooms beside mine only thing that saved it a lil was that it ran towards the bathroom drain hole.. good luck.

I was actually talking to a fish tank guy last week about a tank the same size, he told me 12mm glass would be good for a tank up to 700mm high but if you go higher you have to go a bigger size glass.

 A 1000lt's is equivalent to having the hose on inside your house for an hour, [ Ocean Reef water pressure] pays to get it right!! I know I didn't sleep all that well for the first couple of nights!

Staying in the shed / carport,

Like i said with the base material and not filling to anywere near the top i was told it should be allright. So lets say 700 litres

Was planning / would love to run salt water, but was told this is not easy or cheap?

if its 3' high you would need atleast 19mm thick glass, ask any aquarium shop and they will say the same thing, 12mm is standard for 2.5' high, you shouldnt use it for 3', dont risk it, i know people that have taken the risk and the first few weeks it seemed ok, then one day it just gave in

Thanks guys for all the info

Well it looks like 15 to 19mm glass it will be as im very lucky to be given some glass to do this tank.

8x3x3 is a big tank, 19mm glass and double top brace.

You will need to build it where you intend to display it, as it will not be movable without alot of effort.  I have had four 6x2x2s and they were a pain to move, can't imagine  an 8x3x3.

What are you planning to keep in it?  Most of the water in Perth is liquid rock and will stand on it's own without a cup - in fish keeping terms.

Im going to build it into a wall and make it freshwater garden aquarium   dont know what fish yet

You might if you havent already, consider where you are going to put it as it will weigh well over 2000kg.Will your floor take that weight?

Going on my factory floor so should hold ok, now the stand that's another thing

Gday mightymouse

I used to build tanks for a job (a few years back now) and there;s no way I would build 3 ft tall with 12mm.  700, maybe 750 but certainly not 900.  Unfortunately, brock o's theory about a layer of sand making a difference just doesn't add up.  width and length also dont make a huge difference (within reason) but height is the real killer.  If I was building 900 tall I'd definately be looking at 17/19mm, double braced top and bottom.

The other thing to consider is that a tank 900 tall is a major pain in the arse to maintain.  After working in public aquariums for a number of years - the deeper it is the harder it is to reach those far corners for cleaning.  Alternatively - the width of the tank (front to back) is one thing that can really make the difference between a spectacular and an average tank.  Depends of course on what you're intending to keep but if it is a tank you can landscape (anything from a discus/planted tank to an african cichlid rocky landscape) the depth of vision you can achieve in a "wide" tank can really make the difference - and you can still reach the bottom without resorting to goggles and a snorkel.  Maybe keep the 3 foot width but drop the height to 750 or something.

Just a few thoughts

Wal

Holy crap, you mean you want to do this kinda thing??

Here's a tip.  You will need MH pendants, if your tank is 3x3.  Halogen will only punch 18-24 inches and you will loose most of the useful spectrum at that depth. T5 and Tris' will effectively reach 12-18inches only, but again most of the colour will be gone, so even if your substrates 6-8 inches the plants will "reach" and won't look good in the tank.

Thank Wal,

If I make the tank size  8ft x 3ft W and 2.5 H  and use 15mm glass is that ok ??

And as far as putting it together is it as simple as just silicone it with double braced top and bottom. ???

Hi Alfred,

Yes thats the look I know its all in the lighting that is most of the cost.

C02 kit and 3 x 250w Halide =750w will do the job ( I hope )

2 foot spread, so maybe 4 MH pendants, if you want reds and a PC fan across the surface during summer.  For a 8x3 you might need two CO2 cylinders to get effective pearling.

Definately gotta build pretty close too where you intend too keep it

12mm mmmm i guess is safe for an 8footer but the thinker the better

the base should have a 10mm polystyrene or rubber under it to displace the weight evenly

the base should be atlease 2mm thicker or more than the sides as this takes more pressure than the sides

and its not as simple as 4 sides and a base glued together need two straps as they are called approximately 7 1/2 foot buy 100mm on both sides with approximately 50mm below the very top of the sides with 3 more bits of glass connecting the straps together these should be 150mm wide and to fit across the tank pretty snug, messured and evened out with the correct spacing, these are too prevent the tank from bowing, as with big a big amount of volume as you intend to keep will doo this to the tank, glass is super strong in the way of stretching but when you put pressure say as if you were pushing on a window it does bend too much bend "or preesure of the water" will bend the glass and snap crackle n pop youl have a nice pool on the floor...

too get a better idea of how too build just check your local aquarium shop and have a look at some of the bigger tanks they have, i mean if you havent already got the glass get a quote,

ofcourse beveled edges are optianal thats the smooth edged glass

veba's aquarium builds tanks that size perhaps call em n get a quote probly best or what shop is closest and then work out which way youl save your penny's best...?