1200 gallon cost

[Colek1991]

Hey I may want to try to build a 1200 gallon aquarium in my basement eventually. Freshwater with a huge sump tank and an automaton water changer. One that is constantly putting water into the tank and have an overflow on the tank. I would like it to be 8’x 6’x 3’. I was thinking about making the walls higher though like maybe 42” to 48” and go without a top on the tank although I’m thinking that may be an issue with humidity. I will probably also put a carbon filter in my house for the chlorine in the water. I can do a lot of the filtration stuff myself but I don’t want to risk building the tank myself. I was thinking acrylic for the tank but I want to price out acrylic and glass.

 

[M1A1]

Glass $10k, acrylic $30k+ easily. If you ask for a 4 foot tall aquarium then it will be built to hold 4 feet of water.

Filtration is not the expensive or difficult part of a monster tank if you don't build the tank yourself.

 

[Colek1991]

Glass $10k, acrylic $30k+ easily. If you ask for a 4 foot tall aquarium then it will be built to hold 4 feet of water.

Filtration is not the expensive or difficult part of a monster tank if you don't build the tank yourself.

I know the tank itself would be the largest cost. Would it need a top or could it be open?

 

[fishdance]

Don't know where you are but imports from China are possible to almost anywhere for great prices.

They make beautiful glass and acrylic tanks. Standard size panels are up to 8m long and you can get bigger if you place custom orders.

 

[h2so4hurts]

Why $30k for acrylic? That seems really high. You can get an 8'x4' sheet of 1.5" cast acrylic for $1200. Depending on OP's needs, a plywood and acrylic tank could be done at that size for far less than $10K. I guess if you want it out of 100% acrylic, need it to be 4 side viewable, and want someone else to build it for you it could run that much, but there are way cheaper options to get to this size if you are willing to throw in some elbow grease.

 

[Gpdriftwood]

My 1000gal tank built out of 2x4s, plywood, and fiberglass w a 1.5" 4'x8' acrylic viewing panel cost me less than $4000. Built everything myself though.

 

[dr exum]

Glass $10k, acrylic $30k+ easily. If you ask for a 4 foot tall aquarium then it will be built to hold 4 feet of water.

Filtration is not the expensive or difficult part of a monster tank if you don't build the tank yourself.

Not to derail but $10k for a glass tank of that stature sounds like a great deal! Get it!

I can’t imagine how heavy... how are you getting it in? Or building it inside?

 

[M1A1]

Why $30k for acrylic? That seems really high. You can get an 8'x4' sheet of 1.5" cast acrylic for $1200. Depending on OP's needs, a plywood and acrylic tank could be done at that size for far less than $10K. I guess if you want it out of 100% acrylic, need it to be 4 side viewable, and want someone else to build it for you it could run that much, but there are way cheaper options to get to this size if you are willing to throw in some elbow grease.

OP asked for an 8 foot by 6 foot by 3 or 4 foot tank and said he didn't want to risk building the tank himself. 1.5" cast acrylic is only sufficient for a 3 foot tank, you'd need to bump that to 2" for 4 foot tall which is more like $2400 per sheet. Then you need to figure out how to get an 8'x6' sheet of acrylic - either special order a single sheet that size (guessing around $5000) or join two sheets (call it $3600 to be generous). And you have to do that twice since this tank definitely needs top bracing. Maaaybe get away with using offcuts for eurobracing and not need a full panel.

For the 3 foot tall tank with 1.5" cast acrylic:
$4800 (sides)
+ $2200 (bottom, top)
+ $8000 (labor, overhead, etc.)
= $15000 before freight and moving it into the basement

For the 4 foot tall tank with 2" cast acrylic:
$9600 (sides)
+ $3600 (bottom, top)
+ $13200 (labor, overhead, etc.)
= $26400 before freight and moving it into the basement

So I stand by my $30k estimate.

Yeah, of course you can do it cheaper if you don't do every panel in acrylic (or glass) but that's not what he asked for. I wouldn't be surprised if he could get someone to build a fiberglass tank in-situ for less than $10k...

 

[jcarson]

I would definitely do plywood here as my budget does not qualify me an acrylic tank of this size.

 

[Charney]

Don't know where you are but imports from China are possible to almost anywhere for great prices.

They make beautiful glass and acrylic tanks. Standard size panels are up to 8m long and you can get bigger if you place custom orders.

Any places you recommend?