Who makes custom glass tanks?
- Thread starter Len
- Start date
I have two tanks from Glass cages. a 240 and 175. They have been up for over a year now. Yeah a little sloppy with some silicone, but I don't spend much time looking at the silicone on my tank, I spend most of it looking at the stuf inside that I was able to buy with what I saved.
I would go glasscages.com.
I got a qoute to replace my existing 210gallon, 84x24x25. I asked for two holes in each coner overflow(2in and 1 1/2in). About five holes in the back pane and low iron glass, front and sides. It came out to about 750$! I think I'll order it soon.
I got a qoute to replace my existing 210gallon, 84x24x25. I asked for two holes in each coner overflow(2in and 1 1/2in). About five holes in the back pane and low iron glass, front and sides. It came out to about 750$! I think I'll order it soon.
Only the Oceanic part of the company does the custom work, at least according my LFS.
Inter-american's "bumps" seem to be getting bigger, according to the on-line reading I have been doing.
Aquarium Obsessed in Toronto supposedly does some nice work:
http://www.aquariumobsessed.com/
Inter-american's "bumps" seem to be getting bigger, according to the on-line reading I have been doing.
Aquarium Obsessed in Toronto supposedly does some nice work:
http://www.aquariumobsessed.com/
Perhaps we need to define what type and size glass tanks we are talking about. It could very well be that some of these manufacturers do great with tanks 180 gallons and smaller, but not so great with big tanks.
FWIW, the Starphire tank Inter-American built for me was around 360 gallons - measuring 78" x 32" x 37" tall, with 1" laminated front and side panels. They also built me a glass sump and a stand manufactured from 2" tubular steel. The piece of mind I get from the steel stand is priceless. I don't think I will ever use a wood stand again (except for smaller tanks).
FWIW, the Starphire tank Inter-American built for me was around 360 gallons - measuring 78" x 32" x 37" tall, with 1" laminated front and side panels. They also built me a glass sump and a stand manufactured from 2" tubular steel. The piece of mind I get from the steel stand is priceless. I don't think I will ever use a wood stand again (except for smaller tanks).
Louey":2d903col said:How much did that set you back, Milz. If you don't mind my asking.
Louey
I don't rightly remember and I can't seem to find the paperwork. Of course, InterAmerican is not big into paperwork - I think I faxed some sketches of what I wanted to Mitch (the main guy, owner??) and he gave me a quote over the phone. I sent him a check and that was pretty much it. It was more or less a hand-shake kind of deal.
In any event, I am guessing that the tank, stand and sump ran me about $3000, including freight cross-country. I could be off $300-$400 (+ or -). The Starphire added a bit to the price, particularly since I also used it for the cross and perimeter bracing. I also had a fair number of holes drilled in the tank and the sump. For example, I had holes drilled for 1" bulkheads every 6" along the rear perimeter brace (to anchor the 8 returns).
In any event, I have an aquarium service guy help me large water changes every once in a while. He does a fair amount of custom installs and he has said that he has never seen a glass tank as nicely built.
As for the "bumps" I eluded to, the orignal tank he built for me was damaged by the freight company during the pick-up. So I asked Mitch to send me the stand and the sump anyways, and that I would wait until he finished building a new tank. But when tank number 2 arrived a month latter, it was the wrong dimension by 3" and would not fit through my door (I was cutting very close with the original dimensions). FWIW, he probably would not have goofed the tank up had he not sent me the stand in advance. Anyways, tank number 3 was delivered another month latter. BTW, somebody from St. Louis bought tank number 2 for a great price - something like $1250. I am sure that I covered this in some old threads.
In any event, Mitch offered to try and square things with me down the road. Now, 2.5 years latter, I am looking at another 300+ tank. And to his credit, Mitch is knocking a grand off the new tank. Do I wish that none of the "bumps" had occurred? Of course, but sh** happens and I can deal with it as long as everybody is reasonable.
Len you can contact Monty Boyd at
email: [email protected]
website: www.boydbiltcabinets.com
phone: 408-629-7929
email: [email protected]
website: www.boydbiltcabinets.com
phone: 408-629-7929
BTW, Chris, is Monty a hobbyist? I'd imagine it was kinda difficult to explain to him how you wanted everything exactly, especially for a hex tank. Mine is simplier, but I'd still want some "features" to help with servicing the tank. Your system looks great (tall canopy, big doors on the canopy and stand, etc.).
Len, your are assumptions are very accurate. Monte is not a hobbyist and explaining what I wanted was definetely challenging, but he has an amazing 3d graphic designer that works for him and made drawing of exactly what the tank would look like before they ever touched the wood. Below are some extracts from the design proposal...
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