Thinking of setting up a Business building Custom Aquariums and Stands

WIZE

H iAll

This has been on my mind for Quite a while now and just looking for Advice

I looking to set up a business building Aquariums and Stands for people
I dont really go onto other Fish Forums so im wondering do you all think there is a still a market for this theses days

My brother in law is a carpenter so he will be building the Stands for the Aquariums

Any Advice will be good

fungun

It would be a fairly small market Id have thought. Id like a custom made one but typically they are just too expensive to justify. Could work as a half hobby-half business, but would be surprised if you could make a living out of just this if thats what you were thinking. I guess one of the main problems would be minimal return business.

I guess a couple of thoughts are whether there would be any other markets for the same type of product other than aquaria; also how small, how large could you go. A large piece of furniture with an inbuilt aquarium that looks nice would be fantastic.

Good luck if you try it

WIZE

fungun wrote: »

It would be a fairly small market Id have thought. Id like a custom made one but typically they are just too expensive to justify. Could work as a half hobby-half business, but would be surprised if you could make a living out of just this if thats what you were thinking. I guess one of the main problems would be minimal return business.

I guess a couple of thoughts are whether there would be any other markets for the same type of product other than aquaria; also how small, how large could you go. A large piece of furniture with an inbuilt aquarium that looks nice would be fantastic.

Good luck if you try it

This is what I have thinking too

I think to Start off I could order the Glass tanks in first and Build around them

Labour cost will be very low to start off with as its my brother in Law who could build the Cabinets and stands .

fungun

for yourself its grand - just wonder how many you could sell. At the right price I would be interested, but that mightn't be the right price for the seller :P

Im prob tanked out for now, 640l of tank is prob enough, esp until I figure out how much that will cost in water charges

I do look at some of those 'inbuilt' aquaria though and wonder how the hell they ever manage to clean out the back/bottom of the tank

WIZE

Thanks for your Input . I would like input on people Ideas of Tanks as I would like to Start off Custom and would like to build a Sample which I would probably sell at cost price as a Portfolio project

godtabh

Haveyou built tanks before?

kylith

You'd probably do better if you were doing general cabinetry, but advertising as specialists in custom aquaria and stands.

WIZE

I built 2 about 8 years ago when I lived in Germany .

Only the Glass tank and Clip on lights

Never leaked

I also built a glass tank for my Snakes with was fine too

But I think I will Start off by ordering the Glass Tank and will start building Glass Tanks later

WIZE

kylith wrote: »

You'd probably do better if you were doing general cabinetry, but advertising as specialists in custom aquaria and stands.

Yeah my B.I.L is a cabinet maker and Gerernal Carpenter so I have that covered

Sleepy

I think the first thing you'd have to worry about is Seahorse Aquariums tbh. They're getting a national reputation as being the place to go for custom tanks since they've appeared on RTE a few times now (most recently in that Diarmuid Gavin Garden for Temple Street thing).

Would you be able to under-cut them and still turn a profit?

WIZE

I will be meeting the B.I.L this weekend to Cost price the Material and for the Cabinets . At the moment Im looking for peoples Ideas on Cabinets they like , Even post up a picture if you want

As Said I think the first few will be sold at cost price and sold on Adverts and Done deal and so . I know it wont expand over night but looking for a start

Sleepy

My "win the lotto" tank wouldn't actually involve much in the way of cabinetry, it'd be built into a wall of the house.

Judging from the mark-downs and stickers claiming "cost price" on so many tanks I see in pet stores at the moment you could be on a hiding to nothing here... That said, with so many reasonable priced tanks out there second-hand, I can definitely see a market for affordable stands though or even second hand tanks refurbished into beautiful pieces of furniture (coffee / end tables etc.)

I'd guess a lot of the market for custom tanks would be commercial e.g. the tank Seahorse did for Sharkeys Cuts and would involve a services side to the business where you'd stock and maintain the tank for them as well...

WIZE

Sleepy wrote: »

My "win the lotto" tank wouldn't actually involve much in the way of cabinetry, it'd be built into a wall of the house.

Judging from the mark-downs and stickers claiming "cost price" on so many tanks I see in pet stores at the moment you could be on a hiding to nothing here... That said, with so many reasonable priced tanks out there second-hand, I can definitely see a market for affordable stands though or even second hand tanks refurbished into beautiful pieces of furniture (coffee / end tables etc.)

I'd guess a lot of the market for custom tanks would be commercial e.g. the tank Seahorse did for Sharkeys Cuts and would involve a services side to the business where you'd stock and maintain the tank for them as well...

I could do that

WIZE

I think the Aquarium sample will involve a second hand Glass tank

paddy147

Sleepy wrote: »

I think the first thing you'd have to worry about is Seahorse Aquariums tbh. They're getting a national reputation as being the place to go for custom tanks since they've appeared on RTE a few times now (most recently in that Diarmuid Gavin Garden for Temple Street thing).

And thats exactly why I am currently having Seahorse build me a custom made marine tank,custom sump and custom cabinet.

No better company or people for the job.:)

paddy147

WIZE wrote: »

I could do that

Do you have the vast experience of all types of tanks,pump/filtration setups,fish stocks and water types that Seahorse have??

That would be a vital and critical part with regards servicing and maintaining customers tanks.

WIZE

paddy147 wrote: »

Do you have the vast experience of all types of tanks,pump/filtration setups,fish stocks and water types that Seahorse have??

That would be a vital and critical part with regards servicing and maintaining customers tanks.

Paddy . i dont plan to set up a shop yet

I going to build some tanks and sell them on Adverts and Donedeal first and see how it goes , Then I will see what the future holds

Im now actually looking for opinions on what people like in a Aquarium etc , in a cabinet , on a Stand , in a table and so on

fred funk }{

Good idea and I hope it works out for you. One thing to consider is the insurance. It can be very expensive if you consider the implications if the tank burst.

paddy147

fred funk }{ wrote: »

Good idea and I hope it works out for you. One thing to consider is the insurance. It can be very expensive if you consider the implications if the tank burst.

Very good point,another reason whay I went with Seahorse for the marine tank build/setup.

Its also down the glass thickness and strength based on the size and volume of tank that is to be built.

I will have lots of pics of my custom marine build soon,as Seahorse will be emailing me various build stsge pics.:)

paddy147

WIZE wrote: »

Paddy . i dont plan to set up a shop yet

I going to build some tanks and sell them on Adverts and Donedeal first and see how it goes , Then I will see what the future holds

Im now actually looking for opinions on what people like in a Aquarium etc , in a cabinet , on a Stand , in a table and so on

Any Warrenty???




Good luck with it though.



P.S_Look at what the various aquariam manufacturers sell and design,like Juwel,Fluvial,Clearseal and so on.

Take your inspiration from them.

Alkers

http://www.irishfishforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=13450
This may be of interest to you, you could build a stand for it and do whatever work needs doing with the tank.