Where to buy glass/

Anybody know a place to purchase cut pieces of glass used to build tanks?

I've had my hands in multiple DIY aquarium projects. Backgrounds,stands,canopies.The next step for me is to build my own tank.

Though I wouldn't be opposed to a plywood tank,I really would love to build my own glass tank. Either way I have had no luck in finding anything online,as far as sources for sheets of glass,other than glasscages,who has emailed me,and said they would not ship them here  
I would love to find a local source for these if possible. as always thank you for any and all responses.

If your interested in doing acrylic, There is a place in tacoma that sells Acrylic. I will have to look up the name but Its super cheap if you buy scraps

i would try getting into contact with a couple glass blowing studios and see where they get their colored plate glass (for kiln / bead / mosiac glasswork) either way they all have a supplier and that supplier may have other glass products available.

master chi wrote:Anybody know a place to purchase cut pieces of glass used to build tanks?

I've had my hands in multiple DIY aquarium projects. Backgrounds,stands,canopies.The next step for me is to build my own tank.

Though I wouldn't be opposed to a plywood tank,I really would love to build my own glass tank. Either way I have had no luck in finding anything online,as far as sources for sheets of glass,other than glasscages,who has emailed me,and said they would not ship them here  
I would love to find a local source for these if possible. as always thank you for any and all responses.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I am sure any of these can get glass pains to your spec thicknesses, tempered/non tempered and cut them to your dimensions.

Hi Chad,

I posted to 'airstone' how happy I was with Perkin's Glass and Mirror on Capital Hill; you will need to provide them dimensions and thickness. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

There is a glass guy in Buckley who can get anything you need, I'll look up his info and post later.

Oh sweet!! Thanks everyone for the replies, I'll be looking into those sources very soon. Acrylic would work, I haven't researched how to work with it at all though. So I'll have to do that too!!

Seattle_Aquarist wrote:Hi Chad,

I posted to 'airstone' how happy I was with Perkin's Glass and Mirror on Capital Hill; you will need to provide them dimensions and thickness. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Forgot about that one, thanks Roy!

Since your in lakewood: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

these guys rock and their prices are on point.

Owning an aquarium with thick glass... (210g) All I will say is NEVER again unless, it is acrylic or low iron glass. When you deal with 1/2 thick glass you totally see the green tint it gives off. Spend the money and get good glass for the front panel and you wont regret it.

Addicted2CAs wrote:Since your in lakewood:  http://bbglassco.com/

these guys rock and their prices are on point.

Holy Cow!! thats right down the street. I have never even seen the place,and I live blocks away.. I will be heading there...Today..

DMD123 wrote:Owning an aquarium with thick glass... (210g) All I will say is NEVER again unless, it is acrylic or low iron glass. When you deal with 1/2 thick glass you totally see the green tint it gives off. Spend the money and get good glass for the front panel and you wont regret it.

Your talking about starphire glass? I will ask if it's available,when doing my search. It has much better clarity. Thanks for reminding me

Taps plastic in Bellevue is a good place to go

master chi wrote:

DMD123 wrote:Owning an aquarium with thick glass... (210g) All I will say is NEVER again unless, it is acrylic or low iron glass. When you deal with 1/2 thick glass you totally see the green tint it gives off. Spend the money and get good glass for the front panel and you wont regret it.

 Your talking about starphire glass? I will ask if it's available,when doing my search. It has much better clarity. Thanks for reminding me

Ask about it, then check the price tag......and get a second job lol

TAP plastics is also on the north side of DT Seattle unless they've moved recently.

Addicted2CAs wrote:

master chi wrote:

DMD123 wrote:Owning an aquarium with thick glass... (210g) All I will say is NEVER again unless, it is acrylic or low iron glass. When you deal with 1/2 thick glass you totally see the green tint it gives off. Spend the money and get good glass for the front panel and you wont regret it.

 Your talking about starphire glass? I will ask if it's available,when doing my search. It has much better clarity. Thanks for reminding me

Ask about it, then check the price tag......and get a second job lol

I already have as second job. LOL!!

I decided against starphire,even tough I would only need the 1 panel for viewing,it's just too pricey. But I have had some luck in resourcing the Glass. But I haven't checked this thread in a while,and the TAP plastic suggestion is a good one. I don't know if I would be up for all the technical wizardry behind making my own acrylic tank. I will most likely stick to glass. Design wise I've got the idea of doing an 8 foot tank,one I can do some large fish in. While my love for africans says to make this a Hap tank,i can't shake the idea of possibly keeping some American Cichlids in there. Anyone who really knows americans,please feel free to provide possible stocklists for a tank measuring about 8'x2',and about 2 feet tall.

Pics when you decide to build?

I have a pretty peaceful mix in my tank, see my signature. The most aggressive cichlid is the bifa who loves to nip at the red hooks to get a little scale snack. The pearsei is big but peaceful with a ton of personality and very interactive. The midas is easy going but has not peeled so still shows juvie colors and not sure if he is mature yet so aggression may increase. The one thing I have found, the larger the tank the easier it seems to get fish to get along. Then again they all have different personalities so you never know until they get put together.

a female festae in breeding dress is really something to take in..... though they can be a bit aggressive.  you should visit madness' house to see his awesome fish at full grown or nearly full grown size.  they are beautiful and that would help with stocking ideas.

Pics,most definitely. Once I get all the materials,I plan on bringing everyone along for the ride.

Did you ever get your glass? I'm in need of around 60 sqft of 1/2 and can only get down to $720. Trying to beat the $1 per gallon price while building my tank.

Awesome information on this thread!

@Candyman206 - What size tank are you building? Is that 60 sq feet for the entire tanks glass?

Yup all the glass I need, it's a 720

Great Info, I will build my tank in few weeks. 

How to build Acrylic [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Kel_Tech Plastics near the Tacoma Mall great place to get acrylic. They lazer cut so the edges are damn near flawless!!! They can explain and sell you everythin you need to build a tank. THough I think 12mm is the thickest they keep.....

Did you say 720gal tank? O.o

If you are still interested in doing a glass tank... I always thought it would be cool to have the rear(maybe the sides too) in stain glass. I mean why pain a backround if you can get the glass in an awesome array of colors. Although I have never seen stain glass thinker then 1/4" so maybe would only work on say a 10gal or something.

I believe stain glass wouldn't actually hold water since it's made of a bunch of broken pieces of glass glued and soldered together. On a side note I have a 36 gallon bowfront that has a mirror for the back panel and it is a strange tank to look at haha.

Nick_87 wrote:I believe stain glass wouldn't actually hold water since it's made of a bunch of broken pieces of glass glued and soldered together. On a side note I have a 36 gallon bowfront that has a mirror for the back panel and it is a strange tank to look at haha.

Stain glass "art" is made of cut peices soldered together. but you can buy whole sheets of stain glass. I use to make stain glass candle holders and what not. Its much more expensive then regular glass but just thought it would be awesome to see someone pull off. I guess the real question is if stain glass is tempered(able to withstand the pressure)