F-fish's rambeling: Buidling and repairing tanks

All tanks are holding up ... so it is time to start the real projects .....

AND I got my black den braven today.


Found a hardware store on my back door that ordered me 12 tubes

 

Will be starting again with stripping this 4ft , not sure how long it will take but it should end up as a 4ft rimless with 10mm glass.


Will try and pay more attention to detail and get a neat bead with the black silicon.
Later Ferdie

 

Hi Ferdie.

Brilliant Thread!

What do you mean with "rimless"?

I think the tank will look stunning with black silicone! Good luck, it's a monster!

 

Thanks - I am still learning and need to remember what worked and what did not, this is almost like a notebook.

rimless - i.e. no support just the side glass - so no bracing, not even eurobracing, hence the 10mm glass on a stock 4ft.

I have seen some awesome black silicone rimless tanks at dorry pets (this is nothing that classy ) they had some cube - beveled glass, very neat silicone - brilliant back of flow etc to a sump etc. Bit of an inspiration really, no clue who the builder is (but is a local) has some serious glass skills - it honestly looked better than the commercial stuff we get.

I need to dash to go drop of some plants and find food, almost done removing the panels - the longer side are harder than what I thought they would be, mainly because the glass is flush against base on most places little silicone in between.

Later Ferdie

 

This tank almost got the better of me ... I had to change tools and would probably only use this in future for stripping. Bent long nose pliers seem to work the best when using the guitar string.

99% of silicon removed - will get the last bit when I get in and clean with methylated spirits and steelwool.

Contemplating putting a 6mm glass strip on the base probably do not need it ... hmmm

Later Ferdie

 

Try terpentine for silicone and not steelwool. It seems to penetrate the silicone and after a few minutes just use a scraper to remove all the silicone. As glass is an inert product you can just clean the terpentine with normal solvent and rinse it off.

 

I did try terps, did not get a great result with it.

This is current thinking after only two tanks, and the plan I am aiming to execute on for this the 3'rd.

Blade - cut corner beads out.
Guitar wires - slice panels from each other.
Blade - remove as much silicone mechanically as possible
Meths + steels pot scrubber on any glass end that is very uneven (not the flat side of the panel - this could scratch)
Meths + steel wool any remaining side or end.
Wash
Let it dry
Rubbing alcohol before I tape
Tape it
Rubbing alcohol final wipe down on edges
Silicon
Clamps
Improvise if things do not go according to plan ...

 

A lapse in concentration while taping it up this morning (not sure why but I was thinking of this as a floating base tank) means that the bead is now 10mm bigger than what it should have been - hmm so I had to empty an extra tube and a 1/2 of silicone creating some HUGE seams ... I will have do a big cleanup once it is cured. 3 hours in and it is dry to the touch - but I will let this sit a week or so before adding water, might do some cleaning in the mean time.



Later Ferdie

 

Hi Ferdie, I have been following your project with interest, good job. Do you think it would be possible for me with no experience to replace the front glass panel (bought 2nd hand and very scratched) on my 2 meter tank? Kim

 

Hi Kim .. honestly - I battle with handling anything longer than a 4ft as a solo attempt. It all depends if you are doing this as a labor of love and if you are willing to learn and redo it along the way or not. If you just need it fixed then as a DIY it is a big task, if you can invest in a few clamps, some blades etc have some DIY aptitude and can get a helper to man handle the glass you might be able to do it your self.

I would probably not tackle a 2m tank myself.

Post a pic of the tank then we can see the bracing etc.



I should probably have let this sit a bit longer ... Just done the water test.

Now to find a home for it.

Eish ..

 

Hi Ferdie, Thanks very much for your info. My tank is still running and it is difficult to take pictures. Would you mind if I contact you on the phone? Kim

 

Check your PM

 

Nice chat ...

So if you are keen on building your own tank first as a test tank see Calculate Aquarium Glass Thickness | Aquarium Tools for a glass size calculator. And HOW TO: Build A Glass Aquarium - YouTube for a video on building a tank.

This will give you some idea of your ability to do this as a DIY.

Later Ferdie

 

Hi Ferdie, Thank you again for all your input but after chatting to you I think I'm cured of my notion of restoring or building fish tanks, but will keep the links for when I get the urge again. Kim

 

Hi all.

I an very new to this, reading all the old forums to learn a bit more.
a quick question is there an advantage to the " floating base" . looking to build a new tank it a few months time. still a but inexperienced .

thanks

 

Great thread....think I will try this on a future sump/DSB tank

 

Well well .. was planning on moving catch22's cousin into the fish room as the ultimate convict tank.



Removed that garden clay and the vallis - still found several guppies (bit weird thought that cold would have got them)

Did a quick visual inspection befor starting to do the final cleaning


All good ... but wait




All 4 sides are busy de-laminating ... ah bugger. This means I will probably never have a rimless 600mm cube, oh also means no way I am moving that tank into the fish room - so just like catch22 this one will be in need of a re-re-silicone soon. agrrr now I need to go a research the best bracing for a high cube. What a waist of clear class.

Later Ferdie

 

The original catch22 has done me well - but it is time to redo all the silicone ...



I suppose one can only hope a cargo strap will keep a tank together for so long - this must be around 2 + years now - in the sun every day etc.

Later Ferdie

 

Just read this thread. Nice work. I use the old style razor blades they are super sharp and also can fit between the glass if necessary.

 

very cool - might have to get me some of those this stripping is going to be a challenge I think.

this tank has some serious bracing on the 10 mm base - but even here I see signs of inferior quality silicone.





above you can see the sheering in the silicone ..

Later Ferdie