Anyone with DIY AGA design plans/ experience?

[dekstr]

I've been looking back at a lot of the old threads about DIY AGA.

The only really useful and informative thread about DIY AGA was Scolley's Big Kahuna tank.

I'm thinking of building my own AGA, except it won't be nearly as massive an undertaking. It'll be a nano-AGA, so it'll save on the cost, labour. I know that if I keep the depth shallow, then bowing shouldn't be a massive concern. As well, the materials should be easy and cheap to buy at any local hardware store. The glass can be thin. Most important, that if it leaks, not too much water will come out.

Scolley mentions that commercial grade silicon bonding is not strong enough. Where can I acquire industrial strength silicon?

Maybe even DIY All Acrylic Aquarium? What do you think?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Jens]

Be carefull with thin glass!

To give you an idea, a 15 inch cube needs 5-6mm thick glass all around.

Thickness guide from Germany; ADA tanks are build in Germany and based on this specs.

I used store display shelf glass for a couple of custom tanks I build. Found it in the trash. Quality glass and thick enough to get not bowing.

I used following silicon which has the correct strength and is save for fish&plants: http://www.dtpetsupplies.com/catalog...m-fabrication/
One tube did last for 3 14Gal tanks.

Nuflex 333 should work too, and should be easier to locate. http://www.nucoinc.com/silicone.html


Watch out for comments from "wendle" in scolley´s sticky. Those are importent to get a good final build.

And use a neoprene matte (aka ADA Garden Matte) under the tank. neoprene has the correct charateristics to relieve stress point. styrofoam does not.
In the end it will not be cheap to do it right.

I can not comment on acrylic.