ordering a tank

[G-man17]

Hi all,

I've been lurking in the forums for a while now but haven't posted much. I've also been pretty busy and haven't had the chance to join CIMA. Now that things are getting a little easier for me, I'd like to start a medium/large SPS/LPS tank.

My question is, where is a good place to order a tank from? I don't know of anyone local to the champaign area that makes them. The LFS in Champaign are also way to expensive to order something from. I have heard good things about inter-american and miracles in glass. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I am looking for something in the 120-150 range peninsula style, maybe starfire.

Thanks in advance,
-Tony

[epon]

I'd go 120 All Glass from that place on the main strip just as you enter Charleston from Matoon. ( they were listed on the cima lfs page but I dont see them now). I forgot the name but they were the cheapest when I bought mine. There's always Sailfin. If you have to have custom starphire you could try your luck with Mitch and gang at Interamerican.

[G-man17]

Thanks epon. Does all glass make a standard peninsula style 120? I was hoping to not have to order a custom tank from an LFS, but I guess I should at least get a quote and compare it to Inter-american.

[epon]

yes they do but IMO you'll be frustrated with it's lack of front to back distance and will have wished for the 120g.

[G-man17]

To be more clear, I would like to get the 4'x2'x2' 120g with an overflow on the side that is 2'. Does AGA make one like this?

[Benny Z]

that is the standard 120g size from aga. i think they put dual megaflows in them on the back wall, a bit in from the sides.

i would just get a non-drilled and non-tempered 120 and put the overflow where you want it.

[epon]

thud, I read that as 125g, my bad

[hcs3]

you want a tempered bottom. AGA will drill the tank anywhere you want per your specs and you can choose between 1 or 2 overflows. after they drill the holes they will then temper it. you can buy it at sailfin, but the place in charleston is considerly less expensive. also sailfin has some pull at AGA to get the job done while the people in charleston were not excited to do custom orders for me. toss in gas and time expense....

[cioutlaw]

Here is my pennisula style 120. Ordered it from Sailfin & got a reasonable price but it took AGA 8 weeks to get it done

http://www.hartdragracing.com/DSC01331.JPG

http://www.hartdragracing.com/DSC01300.JPG

http://www.hartdragracing.com/DSC01332.JPG

[hcs3]

nice looking design.

[cioutlaw]

Thanks, If I were to do it over again I might go with a center overflow doing it on the end like I did takes up a lot of the tank length. Ill have to take some more recent pictures & post. I re routed the returns to get better flow.

[G-man17]

Thanks everyone. I will stop by Sailfin and try to get a quote.

cioutlaw, if you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for the custom order?

I was originally looking for something in the 120 (4'x2'x2') to 150 (5'x2'x2') range, possibly Euro-braced, possibly starfire. This is why I was considering Miracles in Glass or Inter-American. However, if this route proves to be much more expensive than having Sailfin custom order me a tank and take their profit, I might just look to get it locally ordered.

What level of customization does AGA do? Will AGA drill for whatever size bulkheads that I want? I was hoping for a different style overflow than the mega flow. If I give them the specs that I want will they be able to accomodate me?

Thanks everyone for your help.

[cioutlaw]

AGA wouldnt do a center overflow, not sure if they will drill anywhere you want. I really dont remember the price of the tank alone but I bought a sump, lights ect. so i think I got a better price than the tank alone. I would stop & ask at Sailfin.

[hcs3]

a custom tank in that size range will probably cost 3x more from IA than it will from AGA. shipping from canada alone will be more than the aquarium from AGA, plus the tank will be more expensive as well. toss in starfire and its not even close.

generally AGA will drill the tank anywhere you want with any size hole you want for only a couple dollars more. they will not, however, change any dimensions on the glass.

[G-man17]

Thanks everyone for you help. I investigated a little further and decided that it is in my best concerns to order the tank locally.

I was hoping to get it with only one megaflow installed on the 2' end and use both of the bulkheads as drains. Do you think that this will be enough?

Thanks again
-Tony

[cioutlaw]

The Megaflows will handle much more flow (600gpm)than they are rated for. You also dont need that much flow through your sump. If you ran 1 MF & used some power heads for more circulation I would think you would be ok. Another thing to think about is the supply & return for the sump being on 1 end causes a problem...with mine it caused anything floating to get pushed to the opposite end & be stuck there. Here is what my cure was

http://www.hartdragracing.com/DSC01384.JPG
http://www.hartdragracing.com/DSC01388.JPG

[G-man17]

Thanks for everyone's input. My tank that I ordered from sailfin came in today. I ended up getting the 120 with one overflow on the 2' side. I will probably post pics of the build process in another thread as that gets going.

I do have one last question though..... Can anyone recommend a good place to buy lumber? I hope to build the frame of my stand with pine 2 by x and skin it with a dark hardwood. I have been to HD and Lowes but all of their 2 by x seems to be a little warped.

thanks again
-Tony

[cioutlaw]

Congrats on the new tank!!

Decent wood is hard to find...I dug through the stack at Home Depot for straight pieces. then skinned it in Birch. if you need some ideas for your stand your welcome to look at mine. I am in south Champaign off Prospect.

[hcs3]

congrats!

just south of tolono is (i think?) united building supply. that would be close for you.

if you need any help, just holler!

HTH

[brad23]

Well that sucks, when I bought my 180g for PA they told me that AGA doesn't do anything custom with there overflows

But I guess $599 isn't to bad for a duel mega overflow 180g tank.

[cioutlaw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7867667#post7867667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brad23
Well that sucks, when I bought my 180g for PA they told me that AGA doesn't do anything custom with there overflows

But I guess $599 isn't to bad for a duel mega overflow 180g tank.

Like Henry said in an earlier post Sailfin has some pull with AGA. I emailed AGA & asked if they would do custom drilling & they said "no", then John at Sailfin got it done. Although they would not do a center overflow on anything smaller than a 180G which is what I wanted & wish I would have went with a another company other than AGA & had it done.

[brad23]

I called sailfin and they wanted $800, I don't think so.

[cioutlaw]

For a 180G? WOW...That is high

[hcs3]

yeah, expensive, but is it worth an additional $200 to get what you want versus settling on something else?

considering i am trying to finish a 320g, you should know what my answer is :p

[brad23]

Yeap a 180g