Help! New to Tank Buildings

Robert_Popa_918 · Apr 2, 2020

I have been in the reefing hobby for a little over a year now with my all in one aquarium and I’m ready to step it up. I’d love to create my own lagoon style aquarium, anywhere between 30-50 gallons. There’s one problem with that, I have never built my own tank before. I have watched videos on the basics of building rimless glass aquariums and have figured out the basics. One thing I’m nervous about is drilling into the tank for plumbing. I was wondering if it is possible to have the back wall of my aquarium to be fully made of acrylic? I had looked into it on my own and I hadn’t found a single way to bond acrylic to glass safely. The last thing I want is for the seal to break and have leakage. I’m not really a fan of having overflow boxes inside the tank and I’m not sure if I can cut teeth in the glass and put an overflow box on the outside of the aquarium. Anyways I’d appreciate any tips and tricks to help me build a proper tank without it busting open when filled with water. Thanks! -Rob

Albertan22 · Apr 2, 2020

I’m no tank builder but look up external overflows such as the ghost overflow. You can buy prebuilt products where a narrow acrylic overflow box is placed inside aquarium that connects to an external box through a pair of bulkheads. You can also design an external overflow built right into the glass.

Matt Carden · Apr 2, 2020

I've recently built a 150 gallon display and a 100 gallon 9 chamber sump. I would suggest having someone build it for you. There are plenty of economical tank builders out there. Glass cages being one of them. Fishtanksdirect out of Florida give them a call and the will custom build.

Brandon Smith · Apr 2, 2020

I can speak to drilling glass to help you out. It is really simple amd quite easy. You will want to make sure the glass isn't tempered first. When you figure out what size hole you need, make sure you use a diamond coated hole saw and have someone with a garden hose pouring water on the side of the bit as you drill. The only tanks I have a problem with are the 10 gallon tanks. The glass is almost to thin to drill. You will also want the drill do all the work. Don't press down on the drill at all.

Matt Carden · Apr 2, 2020

this is the external overflow I built.

Joe Glass Cages · Apr 5, 2020

Matt Carden said:
I've recently built a 150 gallon display and a 100 gallon 9 chamber sump. I would suggest having someone build it for you. There are plenty of economical tank builders out there. Glass cages being one of them. Fishtanksdirect out of Florida give them a call and the will custom build.

@Matt Carden, Thanks for thinking of Glass Cages. @Robert_Popa_918, I am always open to talking tanks.... Even if you decide to have someone else build it for you. Tanks are my passion! Tanks are our passion! Have a great night.