Best Place for Custom tanks?

[Magma]

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.

[Aqua Man]

I was reading the posts here, pretty good stuff. I own a very reputable construction company, just south of Calgary, and been itching to get back into making some monster aquariums in peoples houses. We are lisenced, bonded and insured.

I would only consider a few projects per year and the systems must be over 2,000 gallons for me and my crew to take on. I am not really interested in taking your Walmart speacial 25 gal and cuting a hole in your wall... I am talking about good old steel and cement structures that will hold tanks up to 15,000 gallons in you basement. Are you drueling yet? LOL It can be done.

Corey

[kien]

Originally Posted by Aqua Man

I was reading the posts here, pretty good stuff. I own a very reputable construction company, just south of Calgary, and been itching to get back into making some monster aquariums in peoples houses. We are lisenced, bonded and insured.

I would only consider a few projects per year and the systems must be over 2,000 gallons for me and my crew to take on. I am not really interested in taking your Walmart speacial 25 gal and cuting a hole in your wall... I am talking about good old steel and cement structures that will hold tanks up to 15,000 gallons in you basement. Are you drueling yet? LOL It can be done.

Corey

Holy smokes that sounds awesome! Do you have any monster tank references? Pictures?

[rjengen]

Red Coral built my tank last year, and I drove 16 hours round trip to pick it up If I had done a little more research, I might have had it done in Edmonton where it would have been a little closer, but honestly the tank I had built is beautiful...Starphire glass, polished and bevelled edges, eurobraced. The custom work coming out of RC is second to none, and like they say, you get what you pay for...and if paying a little extra means the build is done right the first time, it's worth it...and I don't loose sleep at night thinking about a tank failure, shaddy building techniques, or materials that were designed for something else...say...shower doors?

[RDNanoGuy]

Originally Posted by rjengen

materials that were designed for something else...say...shower doors?

Thats an old myth.... Mitch does use some textured glass but only in terrariums on the back to add visual interest. Also all his glass is new, he just gets a good deal on off-cuts from the glass manufacturing biz.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by RDNanoGuy

Thats an old myth.... Mitch does use some textured glass but only in terrariums on the back to add visual interest. Also all his glass is new, he just gets a good deal on off-cuts from the glass manufacturing biz.

not true......I have personally seen with mine own two eyes a tank from there with frosting on the bottom pane

[Magma]

Originally Posted by fishytime

not true......I have personally seen with mine own two eyes a tank from there with frosting on the bottom pane

the sump I have from bow valley has a textured bottom pain almost like shower door glass...

[Palmer]

Too early to crack open a beer, coke zero will have to do.

[Aqua Man]

Nvm, my question was answered

[chris121277]

IMO if you want a cheap tank and don't care about the finish, then by all means go ahead and use him.

But if you have spent months planning a tank, 3 weeks building a stand and want everything perfect......spend the extra bucks.

Especially if you live out of province and can't even check out the tank before it is delivered to your house....don't do it. I just think that they thought since it was being shipped to B.C. they could just slap it together get caulking smears all over the glass (inside and out) and it didn't matter because I wasn't going to re-crate it and spend another $150 to ship it back.