esacjack Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Planning out my new frag tank expenditure.. Pricing the difference between building my own, and purchasing one. But I keep coming back to one question, does a shallow tank really need bracing? tentative dimensions are 36x24x12. But that may change to somethign like 24x24x12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I'm just going anecdotal here, but I can't recall seeing a 12" tank with bracing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I've never seen one with a center brace. It's so easy and rewarding to build your own. It's not cheaper though. Actually double or triple the cost of new. But still fun. Acrylic or glass. Both fun. Once material is cut (by a professional) all you do is glue together. It's just about that simple. Your measurements aren't that far off from a 40 breeder. The larger measurement that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 mine is 36" by 18" by 16" and has no center brace. actually, no bracing of any kind. it does have close to 3/8" thick glass, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 Yeah I'm going for a 36x24x12 1/2" glass. Quote came back for the glass at 370, which is about 300 cheaper than the other tank I was eyeballing, but it wont be drilled and wont come with an overflow.... and Chris/Bio3 leaves today... Guess I'll be taking a roadtrip to ole' alabammy to get my tank drilled So the quotes so far are : Glass (Binswanger) - Annealed 1/2" - $370.00 Acrylic (APS) - Cell Cast 1/2" - $216.00 Pros/Cons: Glass: Pro: Sturdy Heavier Nicer Cons: Heavy. Drilling requires glass hole saw Acrylic: Pro: Cheap Light Can be drilled with standard wood hole saw Cons: Easy to crack Assembly process is two part and irreversible. Finish becomes tarnished over time scratches easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Binswanger will drill it. Usually for free. I just ask to talk to the glass guys in the back. I go to the back and tell them what I need. Drill, smoother edges. Anything I've asked. I've even seen them cut an entire section out to accommodate a beanimal over flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizardx322 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 You can do a small euro brace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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