I want to make a gigantamongo tank for my turtles. What is the best, most inexpensive kind of plexiglass stuff

Question

I have four turtles in a ten gallon. I reeeaaalllyy want to make a huge aquarium for them (and add fish and cool things), but I dont know what kind of material I should get to suit my budget (which isnt too high). I really want to refrain from glass, cause you know. 'Stuff' happens, as Forrest Gump indirectly said. I want a sort of plexiglass-type material, but it cant be too expensive. Also, you know the support things on tanks? The frames, I guess? Where would I get those, or could I just make them myself for cheap? Maybe pets isnt the best section for this, but its for my turtles. So, please, if youve had experience building aquariums before (or not), and can list materials and the average amount per foot, that would be just dandy. Also, what should I do for a hood? I was thinking that if I really wanted to be cheap, I could stretch a bit of screen across the top and clip one of those desklamps to the side of it.

Thanks for at least reading

Answer 1

From what I remember plexiglass is pretty expensive. The cheapest thing you can buy for a turtle enclosure is a large rubbermaid tub. They do make them pretty big, but still not sure if it would be big enough for four turtles. Although it cost me some money, I got a fountain base for my turltes. (the big black plastic things you normally would dig into your yard and use as a decorative pond/fountain). I've moved around a bunch so I've never burie mine in the ground, but just used it above ground like as a big ole pond. I got I think the largest one I could..maybe you could get something smaller if you decide to go this way....but I currently have five turts in it. It has built in ledges all around it, so I only fill the water up to the ledges, and I got regular red bricks from home depot and I stack them up to the height of the ledges so the turtles can get out and bask. I keep this pond outside, but if you needed to keep yours indoors, you can always get the proper lighting and probably clamp it onto the side, etc. They sell heavy duty pumps for these things also so you'd have a way to keep their water moving/filtered, and could probably decorate it the way you want with the plants and stuff. fish i'm not sure about, unless you don't mind them getting eaten. :) for supports under the ledges I use regular cinder blocks. its not the prettiest thing in the world, but my turtles absolutely love all the space they have, and one day when I am more settled in a permanent place I want to bury it in the ground, and maybe get a couple of smaller connecting ponds and enclose the whole thing so they are safe from other animals, plus can get out and walk around in the grass, etc.
For something large, although maybe costly at first, I recommend going with one of these ponds. they are also sturdy..mine has moved around a lot (even fallen of a moving vehicle once) and it is just fine for the wear. they really make a great turtle pond.

Answer 2

There is a reason big tanks are expensive. You quoted Forrest Gump, but you need to watch Star Trek IV: Voyage Home- the whale one. The scene where Scotty is asking the plastics guy how thick his acrylic sheets (Plexiglass) would have to be to hold back a certain large amount of seawater, and the answer is an inch thick.

Water weighs about 7 pounds per gallon, so a 50 gallon tank (not a humungo size, even) has to support 350 POUNDS of water. A largish tank of 100 gallons has to handle 700 pounds.

That needs very strong materials- not basic, cheapo Plexi. You are talking about stuff that will run you about $5 per square foot of plexi (if you can do this with 1/4" thick, and I don't think you really can), and for 100 gallons, you'll need about 20 square feet, or $100 just for the raw plastic.

You'll have to find a good way the corners- cheap plexi does not weld strongly enough for the average person to hold that water. Top frame is important, but the sides are vital. Also- you'll have to come up with a good base and way to weld to it as well.

Then, of course, you need a base, strong flooring, etc.

Now- if you go a different route, you can do cool things cheaper!

Get a big plastic pre-formed pond liner and set it in the room you want it in. Stack stuff (blocks, bricks, etc.) under the parts that do not touch the ground. Build a simple wall around it (people often use plain panelling bent around the curves).

Fill the pond, add a small fountain and some plants, and a basking site.

For some good ideas, give http://www.austinsturtlepage a try!

Answer 3

If you've never built an aquarium before, you shouldn't start by trying to build a giant one.

Personally, I'd go with something pre-made. I've got a 300-gallon Rubbermaid stock trough in the back yard for my snapping turtle and some minnows. It would probably be large enough for your turtles. Large, pre-formed pond liners are usually pretty inexpensive, but you'd be better off excavating a hole in which to put it than just stacking things around it, because water's pretty heavy and I wouldn't want to risk breaking the liner. You could also design your own pond, dig out some earth, and lay down a flexible pond liner.

The point is, though, there are much better options that glass or plexiglass. Plus, it seems like you're only looking at indoor options, and I can pretty much guarantee that your turtles would be much happier and healthier in a pond outside.

Answer 4

Get a 70 gallon storage tub for about $8.00 buy a roll of hardware cloth, clip to fit and bend edges for a top and place a reflector lamp on top, buy a little giant pond pump and fill a silk stocking foot with pillow fiber and stick the pump in it for a filter. Add rocks to bask on and you have the beginnings of a habitat. Hope that helps.

Answer 5

How big do you want?
This is an aquarium but same diff. And its made of glass though
http://freshaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=freshaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=5&gps=167_8_918_541&f=20&su=p284.8.150.ip_&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.athiel.com/lib6/tank.htm

This one uses plexiglass
http://www.garf.org/news22p2.html

Im sure you can somehow combine the two types into making a plywood plexiglass instead of using real glass....