Removing a plastic frame from around a tank?

[borillion_star]

I wanted to put a tank to use again after moving and was wondering if it would be possible and safe to remove the plastic frame from around it?

 

[sleepydoc]

Hard to say for sure from your pics, but in general, no. For most rimmed tanks, the plastic frame provides structural stability and helps hold the tank together.

 

[nematode]

The commercial tanks with rims have less thick glass then the custom builds without.
I think your playing with fire removing the rim

 

[Deton8it]

Is the juice worth the squeeze? Is taking the plastic off worth losing everything because the tank split?


John

 

[john08007]

I'm with the others, I wouldn't risk it. I would expect a tank designed without a rim would be made out of thicker glass to compensate for the load it is now being forced to handle without the support of the rim

 

[Spiffy]

Not smart. I avoid tampering with the rims and plastics on the tank itself because it could cause a tank failure.

 

[ca1ore]

As a general rule, absent a cross brace, the plastic rim plays essentially no structural role. However, in your efforts to remove it you may damage the tank. Frankly, I'd just leave to the way it is.

 

[borillion_star]

I really just need the top upper 1/3 section off so that I can get a hob acrylic refugium / filter box over the back edge, and am concerned about returned water over the spillway making it back into the tank.

I was just going to run a razor blade under and around that section and slice through the silicon that appears to be only applied around the outside edge.

 

[uncleof6]

This is not something you want to do, unless you have very good flood insurance, and one heck of a heavy duty wet dry vacuum. The tank is engineeered to have the rims on it. Taking them off, (trimming is the same as taking them off/rendering them useless) means the tank is no longer engineered to stay together. Physics is going to win.