[DiverDude]

I consider myself to be a DIY 'Pro' (is that even possible !?). I have a full wood and metal shop; I can cut, heat-bend and weld acrylics -you name it, I love to tinker with it.

I don't build my own tanks. I don't even weld my own tank stands because I don't have a large, perfectly flat surface to weld on and the stand MUST be square.

It's difficult for me to pass up on these fun 'jobs' but when you consider the consequences of 100+ gallons of salt water all over your floor; not to mention the loss of livestock...well, it's just not worth it. I Promise you the loss of livestock, ruined carpets, wrecked hardwood flooring, etc. would FAR outweigh the few hundred bucks you'll save.

It can be done, there is no magic to building a tank but the devil is in the details and given your admitted lack of DIY prowess, I think it'd be foolish to attempt it as a first project

I don't know how the material/labour equation works out on tanks but I suspect that labour is the bigger part. Regardless, you could always get the glass from your friend and hire a tank builder to build the tank on-site for you.