Custom built aquariums

i think the best way its doing it your self, but im far from you
 
by the time you buy the plexiglass and what ever you are going to use for framing better off buying 1. plexiglass isnt cheap and you would have to go with 1/4 inch. i would say at least $100 just for the plexiglass for a 48x18x17 tank
 
Glass shops will cut the glass to any size, but making the glass into a sturdy structure takes expertise that they don't have. I don't recommend making one yourself, it's just too risky. Water is VERY heavy, so the tank has to be build correct structurally or it could crack/break. There are people with the expertise to do it, but I don't know how you'd find them.
 
I’ve tried building tanks using plexiglass and they have always ended in disaster. Eventually the silicone seals fail as the plastic bows under the weight of water or substrate. – or at least mine did. You’d need some really thick plastic to gain the same rigidity as glass.

I would contact the manufacturers of glass aquariums in the US. Clearseal, which is a common aquarium manufacturer in the UK, will make you a tank to your own specifications. I’m guessing it would work out cheaper, better quality and less work than building one yourself – you may even get some sort of manufacturers guarantee. Shipping it to you may be tricky….
 
I worked at a glass shop for three years. The problem lies in the framing. The frames used on commercial aquariums are not available to the public making it unaffordable to build your own. Even when we built customs and ley people frame them out with their own materials they would still leak after a couple of years. This would be further compounded if you used plexi as silicone does not adhere to it as well as it does plate glass.
 
Talk to the guys in a decent local fish store, they will arrange custom tanks and delivery.
 
IM mainly trying to find a tread alternative to the ones in stores.
 
What do you not like about the ones in stores?

cost wise, a full glass aquarium (without any frame) is sold at a price you can't beat by doing it yourself.
 
Try looking for used aquariums. My local classifieds are LOADED with people selling aquariums, usually with the fish and accessories with them-most people love to look, but dont appreciate the hard work it takes to maintain a little habitat.
I lucked out and got a 200 galon tank for 100$ Canadian! Another alternative is ebay, they even have coffee table aquariums, (those run about 500$ though)
 
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