OK without rim (24 x 18 x 16)?
 

I picked up a used 30g tank (24 L x 18 W x 16 H), all the glass panels are 1/4" thick. It used to be part of a store system apparently, and will be used as my sump.

I'm going to strip it and re-silicone it. My question is can I leave the trims off it? The top trim is two pieces of black trim that were easily removed, and I don't think they really provide structural support. So when I put it bact together, can I leave it off? (Again, glass is 1/4" thick, tank size is 24 L x 18 W x 16H).

Thanks :)

Yes, you can leave the top trim off, as long as the glass isn't sharp enough to cut you.

If the glass is sharp use some fine sand paper to take the edge off quickly, doesn't even need to be very fine paper. I had some old wood fine sandpaper that worked out great. I imagine a granite paper would work best though.

Thanks! Next question...
 

Thanks Brad. Threw away the crusty old trim.

The glass looks to be scored/beveled so it's not sharp.


Next question: How do I get the panes apart? I stripped all the silicone I could from the seams, but there isn't enough space between the panes to get a razor in there to cut the panes apart.

What should I do?

It's incredible how tough those little tanks are to take apart. My old (months old) 400 gallon was a nightmare but somehow the small tanks are too. I've always been able to find at least one spot I could wedge the blade in and I go from there. Once one pane is off the others get easier. I think some have used guitar string which can be really thin...

piano wire the very small stuff or heavy fishing line. You can heat it a bit with hair dryer and that will make it cut a bit easer. be carfull to not break the panes of glass they crack easy do not use anything metal to get your saw started ( fishing line) just start at the top and go down. the bottom should be the easy part I have found that they leave a bit more room down there and just silicone it more you should be able to use a raser blade there.

Bill

I've got some fishing line, but I think it's only 25lb test, but I'll give it a shot before going out to get some piano wire.

Hmm, I guess maybe I'll try from the bottom if there's a bigger gap - sewing needle and fishing line?

Ok, I definitely can't get between any of the seams with a razor or fishing line - the panes are literally right up against each other.

Could I use acetone to dissolve or soften the bond in each corner?

Bought acetone, and started at the bottom corner of one of the seams to get the razor in - it worked!!

Took 40 minutes, but I got the tank apart with minimal damage to the edges of the panes.

Thanks for the tip that the gap is bigger in the bottom!