If you have no friends that have the capability to make a tank, find a sheetmetal fabrication shop with a pressbrake. Have them fold up a channel (like a raingutter) about 36" long (or whatever you think you need) out of any weldable 300 series stainless steel from about 16 gauge or thicker (mine is about 14 ga). Have them cut two endpieces to cap the ends. Take the parts to a welder that has a TIG machine and get him to weld it together. Now if you've saved $50 bucks in this whole mess, you'll surprise me.
