Where to find large tanks?

arc200uk · Post by **arc200uk** » 22 May 2006, 19:26

I've decided that my Rio 400 is too small and have been browsing the web for tanks larger than the Rio 400 and its proving really hard!

Does anybody know of a good place to buy large aquariums? or even have them custom made?

The most desirable tank i've found is the Rena Aqualife Classic 200 x 50 (201cm x 51cm x 70.5cm). It costs Â£1,589.90 including the stand!!! I can actually 'afford' that, but it seems way too much for what is effectively a few panels of glass and wood.

Im after something in the region of 7ft or possibly 8ft in length x 60-70cm in height x 51cm in width. Any suggestions?

CFC · Post by **CFC** » 22 May 2006, 19:41

Try here, excellent service and good build quality.

http://www.windsor-aquatics.co.uk/

arc200uk · Post by **arc200uk** » 22 May 2006, 20:30

Thanks CFC, i've asked for a quotation on a 7ft and 8ft. Leaning towards 8ft now.

Does anybody else have other recommendations?

eupterus · Post by **eupterus** » 22 May 2006, 22:16

The rena tank that you are sp[eaking of is currently Â£880 in most maidenhead aquatics and it comes with all lighting and filtration.

Post by **medaka** » 22 May 2006, 23:44

Im after something in the region of 7ft or possibly 8ft in length x 60-70cm in height x 51cm in width. Any suggestions?

Try B.A.S. Bolton,e-mail: -
fish@bas.co.uk

or
Pier Aquatics, Wigan,
Tel: - 01942 236661

Owch · Post by **Owch** » 23 May 2006, 06:06

Look on http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk under 'tanks & equipment' or 'retailers & services'.

Theres quite a few compaines on there advertising custom built tanks.

Tom

Dorad · Post by **Dorad** » 23 May 2006, 07:55

In addition to the other companies mentioned I would thouroughly recommend my good friend Giles Barlow, who has built all of my fish house tanks to my sizes and criteria. Giles can be contacted at his shop on 01254 388815 (tell him that Chris mentioned his name to you)

Best of luck

Dorad

aka Chris Ralph

Post by **medaka** » 23 May 2006, 16:03

theres this listing on e-bay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aquariums-Fish-Ta ... dZViewItem

arc200uk · Post by **arc200uk** » 23 May 2006, 21:59

You've all been really helpful and i've chased up a lot of the options, thankyou very much.

From the look of things, it seems as if the cabinet and hood are going to be the most expensive items to build. I'm quite close to finalising that side of things and i've had some welcome feedback. Tank to follow.

(what am i doing????!)

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 28 May 2006, 12:07

Dorad wrote:In addition to the other companies mentioned I would thouroughly recommend my good friend Giles Barlow, who has built all of my fish house tanks to my sizes and criteria. Giles can be contacted at his shop on 01254 388815

I'll second this, Giles has built aquaria for friends of mine and they've all been satisfied with the product.
Pete

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 30 May 2006, 15:24

arc200uk wrote:You've all been really helpful and i've chased up a lot of the options, thankyou very much.

From the look of things, it seems as if the cabinet and hood are going to be the most expensive items to build. I'm quite close to finalising that side of things and i've had some welcome feedback. Tank to follow. (what am i doing????!)

Yes, it's correct that the cabinet can easily mount up to a fair bit more than the actual tank. The reason that isn't the case with for instance a Rio400 is that the Rio400 "tank price" also includes some of the other expensive bits: Hood, filter and heater, which all adds up to a neat sum.

One idea may of course be to solve the "stand" yourself. The classic method from when I was a kid was to get some nice bricks or breeze-blocks and stack them up to make "the right" height. Then place a piece of plywood on top and tank on that. Jools has some similar concept using 5 stacks of breeze-blocks cememted together, I think. Of course, it doesn't look quite as classy as a solid wood cabinet, but it's a few hundred less expensive too...

I built a stand for my tank in Sweden several years ago from 3"x2" pieces of wood and marine ply, stained and varnished with boat-varnish. Materials would cost much less than a prefessional made one, but it's also a bit plainer...

For a BIG tank like 7-8 foot, you'd probably want some 4"x2" timber, but you should be able to get enough for the project for around 30-50 quid. Add two sheets of ply and perhaps some doors from the kitchen-side of a DIY shop, and you've got most of what you need. Two sheets of ply is probably around 50 quid, doors range from a dozen to MANY quid, depending on style and material. Stain/varnish, some fixings and other odd bits would probably set you back another 20 quid. But around 100-150 quid and a few hours of DIY should be sufficient...

--
Mats

snowball · Post by **snowball** » 31 May 2006, 02:06

I'm after something in the region of 7ft or possibly 8ft in length x 60-70cm in height x 51cm in width.

That holds roughly 840l or water and all up will be close to a tonne with gravel etc. added. If you are making the stand yourself or getting a cabinet maker to do so, be sure to allow for 1.5t total weight.

fwiw I've just started making plans for a 6' x 28" x 3' wide tank (28" being the maximum dimension that will fit though the front door!

and I'll have to make the stand so that it can be assembled on site. The legs will most likely be 4'x4' with 2'x4' battons and rails. I'll post up something in a few months when it starts to take shape.

MIKE · Post by **MIKE** » 02 Jun 2006, 15:59

you could try petsmart

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 02 Jun 2006, 16:20

MIKE wrote:you could try petsmart

Are you referring to the big chain in the US? If so, wouldn't shipping/overweight&oversize luggage costs be somewhat prohibitive, considering the original poster lives in the UK?

By the way, you may want to add where you're from in "Location" on your profile [in the menu at the right top corner of the browser window].

--
Mats

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