Question on 55gal Breeder Build

[ManotheSea]

I am in the very beginning of building a 55gal breeder tank and have run into a problem at the start. I have done this several times successfuly and never ran into this.

I was given a normal 55 gal tank from a friend. The plan is to lay the tank on its side so the front glass is now the bottom glass. Then I use a razor and a thin fillet knife to cut the silicone to remove the back glass which is now on top. After removing that pane I cut it to fit the new side panel that used to be the open top. I re-apply silicone to the new side and I have a 55 gal breeder tank 48"Lx24"W bottom and 12"H ready to go.

Usually the biggest hurdle is removing the plastic frame without damaging the glass. I often resort to cutting and breaking the frame apart. Thats not a big deal when I am altering the tank into a breeder, but it stinks when I am only replacing a broken pane and have to sacrifice the frame to do it. This time the frames came off easily. I thought I was home free.

My problem is that I can not cut the silicone that is sealing the two panes of glass together where they meet. Its so tight I cant get my fillet knife between the pane to cut. The razor barely fits and doesnt make any progress in cutting more than a millimeter deep. I cant cut off and remove this dang pane.

Is something else used besides silicone to seal some tanks? It seems like it might be glued but I never heard of that.

Does anyone have advice for removing this pane from the tank? Can I heat it to break the seal or use a chemical like acitone? I need help from the inventive minds of RC.

 

[BLKTANG]

Maybe a hacksaw blade?

And we need pics you know the drill.

 

[ManotheSea]

Nice Ride in your avatar change BLKTANG. Pictures on the way.

 

[TKByrnes]

I would be worried about doing that. the ( Now bottom ) isnt tempered like the bottom is on the real bottom. and that very wide and alot of weight. Im not sure I would trust it.

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11925822#post11925822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TKByrnes
I would be worried about doing that. the ( Now bottom ) isnt tempered like the bottom is on the real bottom. and that very wide and alot of weight. Im not sure I would trust it.

There is nothing to worry about.

The 30 and 40g breeder tanks do not have a tempered bottom.

It's only 12" tall.

 

[TKByrnes]

Ok didnt think about the breeders not being tempered.

 

[ManotheSea]

A shot of the tank on its side as it will sit when complete. There is another piece of glass laying on top. When I remove what is now the top glass pane then I can cut it down and place it on the side facing us.

The seam is so hard and tight I can hardly get a razor into it. A hacksaw blade will never work by being too thick.

The glass is a mess from removing the silicone on the edges. It must be a glued seam.

This shot of the inside of the seam would have been better if I wiped away the dust, but it is what it is.

Does anyone have any ideas? Has anyone ever heard of a tank with glued seams? Tomorrow I am going to heat it with a torch. If its glued I am hoping the glue will melt or burn before the glass cracks. I just dont want to mess up the other seams. I was hoping to get away easy and not have to take the entire tank apart and then rebuild it. At this point anything will be progress so I think I will torch it. Any other good ideas out there?

Please dont withold your better suggestions just for the chance to see pictures of a tank getting torched.

.

 

[crabbejoe]

Did you try flipping it around to take the other side off? Or is that side just as tight? I'm thinking if someone did a home repair to it, it might just be the one side that's "glued."

 

[ManotheSea]

Does any one think there are any drawbacks to using a blow torch on a fish tank?

(question of the month?)

Seroiusly I dont want to have the glass shatter or pop in my face. I guess goggles would be wise. Would a propane torch get hot enough to actually cause damage to the glass? I think the heat would only be high enough to burn the glue. Then the heat of the burning glue is anyones best guess. I also dont want to haze the glass. I suppose this is largely uncharted territory.

 

[ManotheSea]

Crabbejoe, thats not a bad idea. I will check that out first thing.

 

[Paddlefoot]

For what it is worth, my 40 breeder perfecto has a tempered bottom.

 

[ManotheSea]

Does the concern over the tempered bottom apply mainly for use on a standard tank stand where the bottom is unsupported? I will have this tank set up on a tabe top with a foam board under it to equalize any imperfections in the table surface. The bottom of the tank will be fuly supported. Does that negate the need for a tempered bottom or is there another reason for it?

 

[Dubbin1]

See if you can get some piano wire to stick though it and then just start sawing.

 

[ManotheSea]

Dubbin1 - I like that idea. Thats the way to think outside the box.

I didnt take the torch to it today. I got into setting up a 5 gal nano instead. Never did one of those before. Its a cool little tank. So I am still open to suggestions like this one. Thanks again Dubbin1.