Best Place for Custom tanks?
 

I was wondering who anyone recommends for getting custom tanks made?

I would like a 75-100gal tank, sump, stand and now I just need to see who has the best price and the nicest style.

Jay, probably is one of the best.... If you can find him, check him out. Deal with him directly though, not through the store he usually works through (sorry don't want to start anything by mentioning stores I wouldn't recommend). Maybe someone can forward his info to you.

Also Kevin @ Red Coral is getting some nice tanks built, at least they look good, when I see them in the store. Check him out also.

I am mostly looking for the best price, the wife already gives me the evil eye anytime I mention fish lol

Jay wouldn't be the cheapest, but I think he is the best. Mine is from him, and I can say the seams are great, all my edging is polished and bevelled. And all holes, curves and cuts are all C&C'd.

I would then check out Kevin, his tanks are not like described above. But when I see them, they seem well built, well siliconed. And I know Kevin treats me and others well. So he can take care of you also. Worth a chat with him.

Kevin only works weekdays doesnt he? might have to give him a call.

I have caught him in the store sometimes on weekend, but you are correct, I think he tries to stay away. He will be in during the week.

I personally don't know who builds his tanks, but when I see them in the store, I do notice the seams, and build quality, and they do look good.

any other options you would recommend?

you could always look into getting the glass cut and building your own. I personally haven't done it, but many here will say it isn't that hard. Maybe source out the glass and cutting and then get some canreefers to help you.

If price isn't an issue, get jay... If you want you can always come over to my place see the quality he builds. But as I stated don't deal with him through the LFS he works through, deal with him directly.

Otherwise, the only other person I recommend is Kevin.

Maybe others have options for you.

just got off the phone with a guy who can make me a 90gal tank, 30gal sump and overflow and metal stand for 450-500$ is that good or bad? Im not familiar with tank prices :p

IMO, that is really good. May I suggest you ask him for some references, maybe you can see one of his builds.

Don't go with bow valley in Calgary. I have had nothing but problems and they made my overflow 2inchs to low. Had to fix myself and quality isnt that great but they say you get what you pay for so be careful! I would pay more if you can afford it and get a better build. Just my 2 cents.

Please look through old threads to see trends. I can't say enough about Mitch and bow valley aquariums. if you look at those threads you'll notice that too.

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-pets-acce...AdIdZ245167640

this is the ad i saw, anyone seen this before? im gonna give them a call and see whats up if they have sample tanks etc.

I think thats bow valley. I had my tank built through red coral. Really pleased with what I got in the end

lady who contacted me back said call this number and ask for Mitch which seems to be Bow Valley and after reading in the forums for the past hour im not sure i like that idea anymore..

Is there any reason you need to have a standard dimension tank custom made? There are always 90g set ups for sale here all the time and fish stores usually have them at great prices around christmas. I got a brand new 90g tank, stand and sump for under $400.

That is bow valley for sure from the address.

just looking for a cheap deal really, i have a 75gal that has a leak and i tried to reseal it and it didnt work so im frustrated with it and want to get another one with a better stand, sump etc.

Want a 165g eurobraced with internal overflow, plumbing and steel stand for $550? Built by Jay @ Elite, very nice quality tank.

Now that is a great deal, and would be top notch quality tank. You should consider this!!!

i would love it...only problem is i dont know if the floor would support it...

see i live on the top floor and dont have access to the bottom floor because someone lives there so i can really support the floor in the house

I would check how the floor joices are, you may be able to do it.

I myself have my system on my top floor of my house, with not further support. you may be lucky and be able to do the same.

I am no engineer or home builder, so maybe someone can be a better help. But I had a contractor/customer come over, as I wanted to put a support in, but I didn't need it. Again, maybe you will be lucky as well.

I knew paying you for advertising would work out :lol:. Haha JK, ya it's a pretty wicked price only condition is you need to bring atleast 2 other strong people with you to get it outa my house. Plumbing includes the return pump.

only place is in our living room and right below that in the basement suit is no support at all...its there living room it has no supports but then again maybe since its an older house its actually built with 2x10's or even 2x12s not those 1.5x9.5 they use now...

edit: wife gave me a look that just screams "dont you dare"

I think the new engineered floors are actually stronger than 2 x whatevers. If I didn't know exactly what was below and how strong it was I'd pass.

yah thats the problem I know the floor will hold a 75gal no problem i would go as far as say 100gal tank but thats not including sump and stand, rock, etc so i want to play it safe untill i actually settle down and get a house for all this.

so 75-90gal tank with sump, black background, overflow, stand is perfect for what i want.

what exactly are you planning for diamentions? Have you considered a shallow tank?

72long x 18 wide x 16 deep is still 90gals

6ft long tank would be a dream and I have enough space for it for sure. I would love a longer tank for sure, but I dont know if i would want a 16 deep for it maybe less? make it closer to a 79gal if its longer not taller.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=57734

Take a look at this tank. Why I suggested 16" is I have found its alot easier to control flow and from blasting your sand around (unless you go bare bottom)

good to know but would 14" compared to 16" really make that much difference?

Just for a reference:

My house is 11 years old, with silent floor system. Basically the engineered floor.

My tank is a 180G, with a steal stand and a 105G sump.

It is in my bonus room, above the garage. No extra supports. Basically I was told that I am on 2 supporting walls, and that the strength of the area I am in is one of the strongest points in the house.

FYI, Tank has never moved. I keep a level with out, and regularily check it.

So, what I am getting at is check out what you have for flooring, which way the joices are running and do you have any supporting walls. You may be good to go for the larger tank!

well I have a 7foot area along an outside wall in the living room which I would love to put the tank along, its right next to our stairs leading into our house and I cant figure out which was the supports run because in the basement suite below us the roof is finished. (I know because I used to live there.)

So 72x18x18 would be awesome to throw into that space just dont know if I would trust it...the house is older as well...

A 72x18 on a proper weight distributing stand will put less than 150 lbs. pressure per square foot on the whole area... You put more pressure than that just standing on the floor. Just put the tank against a load bearing wall and you'll be fine.

For sure I would buy the tank from ZoaElite. However, if you do want a custom tank I wouldnt go with any of the builders suggested in this thread. Having gone through the process of building a large custom tank, I know a fair bit about this aspect of the hobby. If you want my opinion, take a look at my build thread or PM me.

- Brad

Using reason like a tank puts less lbs/sqft than a person or other house hold items isn't good. By the same reasoning you could say a floor can easily support 200lb/sqft since my buddy is 200lbs and can stand on a single tile meaning you could install a swimming pool without problems. However it obviously doesn't work that way and residential buildings are typically rated at a minimum of 40lb/sqft.

Without knowing the exact details of the floor support you can calculate how much weight you can put in a room using the standard residential minimum of 40 lbs/sqft.

For example if your room is 20'x10' that's 200 sqft meaning that room has to be able to support 8000 lbs total. Next apply some reason as the tank won't be distributed over the entire floor. Say for example the tank runs perpendicular to the floor joists and you manage to get the tank to sit on 6 of the 10 joists in the room, therefore using about 60% of the support. So you don't want to exceed 60% of 8000lbs or 4800lbs. That of course is max so you'll want to subtract for other furniture and live weight such as yourself and other people.

If you do know details you can play around with this

Difference between a room full of people at a party (who aren't there 24-7 for years) and a tank as well. Gradual sagging of the joists etc under constant load which can then mess with other things.

Have you tried Concept Aquarium?

I was trying to look them up.....are they in Edmonton?

They are in Calgary. look up ConceptAquarium user

heard mixed price ranges from them, so im on the fence with ordering a tank right now.

Bow valley has given me a range for tank, sump, stand at about $600-$800 (depending on final design of course)
red coral gave me a quote for aprox $1200
Wai's gave me a quote for tank, sump at around $600
Elite told me no way no how until after January his actually line was "Good luck with that but im not doing it" so I dont think im ever going to deal with them after that experience.

So many places and they all do a good job at a different price, its all in how much you wanna pay, and with that I see a problem...its a tank, its glass and silicone maybe its cheaper to build the tank myself? Then again how much time do I want to put into a tank or better yet do I have the free time to be doing that myself?

Lots of questions, lots of prices and even more ways to come to a conclusion so this tank is going to be on hold till after the new year for sure.