Returning Reefer - 100gal tank questions

[PotatoPig]

Hello!

Last year I had an international move so had to break down my old 75 gallon tank. I’m now moved back and am working on setting back up.

I’m interested in the 100gallon standard rimmed tank - partly the 5ft length fits nicely on the wall space I have available. Sadly a 6ft tank won’t work on the space…

So.

Question 1: This seems to be a trickier size to acquire. Petco caps out at 75, so I’m curious if anyone here has experience with vendors who do the 100g tanks?

Question 2: has anyone had experience with these directly? How is it lighting one? The 75g was pretty easy to get good coverage, but this looks like it has the same number of cross braces, so naturally limits to two lights. Does the extra 3” each side of each light impact a lot?

Question 3: In terms of fish stocking… Tangs! I had a Tomini in the old tank, but was curious what people’s experiences were with other tangs in a 100g - I’ve seen the 125 / 6ft tanks seem to be the GoTo starting point for many Tangs - what are sensible options for a 5 foot tank?

/in terms of vendors - I’m in the general Northern Virginia/Washington DC area

 

[Ron Reefman]

Have you considered building one yourself?

It's really not that hard. I've built more than a handful of tanks, form 20g to 90g. I get a local company to cut the glass. I get silicone from Granger. I use 4 corner clamps and 4 big clamps (all available from any hardware outlet. If you need it drilled (not an aio tank) you need a decent drill and a good diamond hole saw bit. After that, it just takes the courage to try something new. And on a tank of 100g, you'll want a helper when you do the final assembly.

After it's done, you'll have a great feeling of pride in what you've accomplished. If you want to discuss it more, I'm more than happy to help as much as I can.

 

[kevgib67]

I upgraded to a Waterbox 105 gallon at the beginning of the year and love it. It houses both a Tomini and a yellow tang with no issues.

 

[PotatoPig]

Have you considered building one yourself?

It's really not that hard. I've built more than a handful of tanks, form 20g to 90g. I get a local company to cut the glass. I get silicone from Granger. I use 4 corner clamps and 4 big clamps (all available from any hardware outlet. If you need it drilled (not an aio tank) you need a decent drill and a good diamond hole saw bit. After that, it just takes the courage to try something new. And on a tank of 100g, you'll want a helper when you do the final assembly.

After it's done, you'll have a great feeling of pride in what you've accomplished. If you want to discuss it more, I'm more than happy to help as much as I can.

Oh man, you’re leading me into temptation here

I do a LOT of DIY and have taken on some pretty big projects but none with glass…

From a quick read here - are these things really just held together with Silicone??

These all look rimless? What sort of base do you put them on? Do they go on like a thin yoga mat?

 

[PotatoPig]

Have you considered building one yourself?

It's really not that hard. I've built more than a handful of tanks, form 20g to 90g. I get a local company to cut the glass. I get silicone from Granger. I use 4 corner clamps and 4 big clamps (all available from any hardware outlet. If you need it drilled (not an aio tank) you need a decent drill and a good diamond hole saw bit. After that, it just takes the courage to try something new. And on a tank of 100g, you'll want a helper when you do the final assembly.

After it's done, you'll have a great feeling of pride in what you've accomplished. If you want to discuss it more, I'm more than happy to help as much as I can.

Do you know a good calculator for glass thickness?

 

[Ron Reefman]

If you are a diy guy, building a tank is a good project. Just be prepared to take your time. And although I did all mine by myself, I'd seriously suggest you have a helper to do a 100g tank as the glass gets pretty big and a bit unwieldy when you are trying to be VERY careful in the silicone assembly process.

I've done a number of different designs for how I did the base. I've done the sides sitting on the base glass, attached to the outside edge of the base glass and I even did one with a white acrylic base under the bottom glass and the side glass fit down in grooves routed into the acrylic. We can discuss any of these ideas.

Yes, all tanks are held together with just silicone. I used a white tungsten enhanced adhesive one time when I wanted an all white tank an d it worked just fine as well. BTW, I got it at Granger. They have a MUCH wider variety of products than Home Depot, Lowes or Ace.

I'll have to measure my glass, but I think I always used 3/8" all the way up to my 90g rimless cube. I think any 100g glass tank you check is going to be the same thickness. I did one with low iron glass, but I had to use a different glass supplier and they did a crappy job of finishing the edges. It worked out OK, and the difference between regular glass and low iron glass is kind of dramatic in a side by side comparison. But after a couple of months, you get used to either one.

 

[PotatoPig]

If you are a diy guy, building a tank is a good project. Just be prepared to take your time. And although I did all mine by myself, I'd seriously suggest you have a helper to do a 100g tank as the glass gets pretty big and a bit unwieldy when you are trying to be VERY careful in the silicone assembly process.

I’m looking more into doing a DIY tank. I’m getting an old leaking tank to practice on before procuring materials and attempting the real deal.

A question on method here - I’ve watched a few videos on your tube and most of them they just press the glass together with hand pressure and then tape in place. I’m guessing there is something of an art to this that takes practice, but is this all that needs to be done? No clamping to apply pressure?

I ask as I’d have thought you’d need to clamp to apply pressure to squeeze the panels together?