Best Tank Manufucturers for Large Tanks

[Anonymous]

I see Glasscages.com has some really inexpensive glass tanks. I have read good threads about then as well as some bad. My LFS tells me that they used to make crappy tanks and there were alot of bad threads, but for the last few years they have had mostly good theads.

Their standard 300G (96X30X25) is only $800 plus the cost over overflows and add ons like low iron glass.

I had my LFS give me a price for the same size tank by Oceanic and that price was $5700 8O . Apparently the 25" depth is not a standard depth for them. Their 31" deep tank would be a scant $4500. 8O 8O

Jesus Christ! What a price difference between the cadilac vs. the budget brand.

What other tank manufacturers are their out there they could build my tank for a reasonable price?

Do you all agree that Glasscages has gotten better over the years?

My tank will be recessed in a wall, so it primary functions is to hold water and have a clear front and back glass panel.

The main difference between paying $5000 for a tank vs. $1500 is the difference between doing it now or having a wait another year or so.

Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Louey

 

[Juck]

I've heard good and bad about glasscages as well,,, mostly it seems to be glass thickness and untidy silicone.

How thick is the glass they use on the 300g compared to oceanic?

 

[ChrisRD]

For that price difference I'd have to seriously consider going with the glasscages tank unless you find out the glass is unreasonably thin. I'd fill it up with freshwater and let it sit in the garage for a week before I put it in my house though... :wink:

Is Inter-American still around? I seem to recall a few customer service horror stories, but their tanks appear to be well built...

 

[Anonymous]

Juck wrote:

How thick is the glass they use on the 300g compared to oceanic?

Glasscages site doesn't show glass thickness. They just say "extra thick glass".

Oceanic's site doesn't say anything about glass thickness.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

ChrisRD wrote:

For that price difference I'd have to seriously consider going with the glasscages tank unless you find out the glass is unreasonably thin. I'd fill it up with freshwater and let it sit in the garage for a week before I put it in my house though...

Good idea. Except I hate having to ask my 8 buddies to come back over a second time to help move the tank into the house. I better stock up on the beer.

Is Inter-American still around? I seem to recall a few customer service horror stories, but their tanks appear to be well built...

I found there website last night. You have to call for pricing. I'll do that in the next day or say. Seems that I recall that they made a large tank for someone in Chicago. Milz I believe it was. He spoke highly of them.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Have you checked oveanview out of mississippi? I could not find their website.

 

[Anonymous]

Wazzel said:

Have you checked oveanview out of mississippi? I could not find their website.

Nope, never heard of them.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

I had an oceanview 110 for a few years and was happy with it. It is not a custom size, but I know they do custom work.

 

[ChrisRD]

I found there website last night. You have to call for pricing. I'll do that in the next day or say. Seems that I recall that they made a large tank for someone in Chicago. Milz I believe it was. He spoke highly of them.

You also might want to PM Nathan Paden (npaden) - I think his tank and sump were both built by Inter-American IIRC...

 

[Anonymous]

On reefcentral their is a guy gregt. He got a custom glass tank built in Miami. If you PM him I'm sure he will tell you the contact info.

 

[Anonymous]

FWIW, Many of us in the Fairfax area have Glasscages' tanks. For the money, I'd say they're pretty good, and pretty easy to work with on custom jobs, and deliver on time when they say they will.

Their construction is 1/2" glass, and they use a generous amount of silicone on the seams. They also use extra glass along the bottoms to reinforce the seams.

Overall, not a bad build, especially for custom jobs.

 

[DRIVEN]

Check out Tenecor. I just got my 110"x24"x36" acrylic tank built from them. It is 1" thick and has twin 15"x5" trapezoidal overflow boxes on the back. The tank was also drilled for a closed loop system for the flow on the bottom. I have never posted a picture, but I will try now.
I am waiting for the cabinets to be hung to hang the real lights so I can start putting in the soft coral. Be prepared to pay because they are not cheap.

 

[Anonymous]

Just got off the phone with Tom at glasscages. Total quote for my tank with low-iron glass in the front and back, end overflows with acrylic covers, delivered to Orlando on 7-7-05 is $1,270.00.

I asked about a stand too and he can provide that for $500. He recommended that I just use cinder blocks since the tank is built in. He said cinder blocks are the best aquarium stands when looks don't count.

I'm beginning to love this guy.

I need to decide within the next week if I am to make the July delivery schedule.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Wazzel wrote:

On reefcentral their is a guy gregt. He got a custom glass tank built in Miami. If you PM him I'm sure he will tell you the contact info.

I PM'd him and he already relpied. I'll be call his manufucturer later today.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

woot!

My tank is ordered!

The deal at glasscages was just to good to pass up.

I went ahead and ordered a 150G tall tank that they are customizing into a sump for me. The sump will have baffles and plenty of bulkheads for return lines, skimmers, chillers, etc. I had both ends drilled so that I can enter it from either side. I am probably going to place the sump in the center of the stand so that the holes on each end are accessible. I'd rather pay extra for holes now and blank then off if I don't need them than to realize I need one more hole later.

Then tank and sump will be picked up in Orlando on 7-9 or 7-10. Woot!

My dream tank is finally becoming a reality. Boy do I have a lot of work to do to get ready. Time to knock down a wall. :lol:

Yehaw!

Louey

 

[ChrisRD]

That's awesome Louey - congratulations. Make sure to start a thread and keep us updated as you go!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Chris!

I can't wait to start my "300G Reef tank in the making" thread.

Louey

 

[Ben1]

http://www.oceanimage.net/

We just got a local tank builder in my area. He made a nice tank for one of the reef club members. It was a 4' long 150 with external glass overflow and glass bracing, beveled edges, starfire glass. It was very nice.

I am sure your tank is going to be awesome Louey! Can't wait for the pictures!

 

[Anonymous]

Sweet. I envy you dude. I am still trying to convience my wife I need that 280 I have been planning.

 

[Anonymous]

ChrisRD wrote:

For that price difference I'd have to seriously consider going with the glasscages tank unless you find out the glass is unreasonably thin. I'd fill it up with freshwater and let it sit in the garage for a week before I put it in my house though...

Good idea. Except I hate having to ask my 8 buddies to come back over a second time to help move the tank into the house. I better stock up on the beer.

Is Inter-American still around? I seem to recall a few customer service horror stories, but their tanks appear to be well built...

I found there website last night. You have to call for pricing. I'll do that in the next day or say. Seems that I recall that they made a large tank for someone in Chicago. Milz I believe it was. He spoke highly of them.

Louey

Yea, they have made two big tanks for me. The first was a 78"x32"x38" tank made with 1" laminated Starphire glass. The second was a 8'x27"x30" non-Starphire tank. They have also built me 2 large glass sumps and 2 steel stands. They tend to do business with a handshake and work from sketches on the back of an envelope - but they do nice work and are very competitively priced.

As for Glass Cages, I got discouraged when I told them I wanted an off-size tank - I didn't have the room for a 30" front-to-back tank, but I needed at least 26" to fit the skimmer and pumps that I wanted to use - and they said sorry. They also said that they would not use thicker glass even though I told them that I would pay for the difference.