Safety of 10 gallon modification

[tcamos]

I didn't want to hijack kloudie's thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2160546 but I noticed he took the rim off of a 10 gallon tank. My question is...just how safe is this? Has anyone done it long term?

Reason I ask is because I want to do it too. I have a 10 I'm going to set up and I would really like it to be rimless without having to pay the crazy price for a 10 gallon ADA 18x18x18 cube but I am worried that it's not the safest thing to do and that it will pull apart at the seems and cause horrible things to happen.

So what are your experiences with this, especially long term? As you know I'm a real worrier.

 

[Weyrman]

I remember seeing that thread a couple months ago and wondering at the time how safe that would be.

I'll be following along here to see what responses you get.

 

[jvdub20]

I saw that when he first posted that thread. I had a 10 gallon laying around and tried to do it. I couldn't figure out how to pull off the trim so resorted to trying to cut pieces off with a box cutter and using a razor to scrape off the left over glue. Long story short, the tank quickly found its way to the trash lol

 

[zrogst]

Like jvdub mentioned, removing the rim is often a lesson in humility. Those suckers are glued on hard. That's why you usually see people leave the bottom bracing (just too much work.)

Honestly, I would just go get a Do!Aqua 30 or something from AquaTouch.

 

[tcamos]

I looked up the prices on AquaTouch's web site (http://shop.aquatouch.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/ada.jpg)...no offence to them but no way I'm paying that much for a 10 gallon cube of glass.

For the ADA it's $299.99 for the 18" cube and for Do Aqua they don't have one. It goes from 8.5 gallons to 17. One is too small and the other too big. I half considered the 17 but it's $139 and the 8.5 is $82.99.

I'm sure those prices are set by ADA Japan so I understand they are what they are but what they are is out of my price range for such a small, but beautiful bit of glass.

That's why I was hoping that the 10 gallon things would work.

But...as I've said many times I'm not a DIY guy so I can tell you now if it's any kind of difficult to get the black rim off I'm skipping it...I would just crack it in the process.

I will see if there's another maker out there besides ADA but I'm guessing that they are going to cost close to as much. I will just keep what I have and enjoy moving the occupants of the 6 gallon to the 10 and the rim will just have to stay...

The tank is going on my desk so it would have been nice to have had a more sleek look but I can live with it.

 

[Dre59]

If you want details send me a PM and I will forward the thread.. Website is blocked here

But this members tank has been up since April with no issue.. He is a good friend of mine from Chicago and a few members are keeping a close eye on this build..

40B tank

 

[zrogst]

That silicone job is brutal. Understand your circumstances OP, hopefully you can find a cheaper option. ADA is low-iron glass (like Starphire) and Do!Aqua is normal glass, so price difference will be reflected in that.

 

[kloudie]

I wish I just took all the trim off and siliconed it like that... but wanted to be quick so I left the bottom trim on in case it had any stability issues. So far the tank is doing well, I think it is fine, I wouldn't try taking that bottom trim off though without reinforcement.

Btw all I did to get trim off was turn it upside down went around and broke the glue edges with a flat metal scraper after i got that it was pretty easy to get off after that I believe just pulled off with a slight amount of effort.

 

[tcamos]

Adding the black silicone certainly seems like it would make it stronger.

Thanks kloudie, that helps. It sounds easy enough to do it that way.

Hmmm...this is a tough one.

 

[bdevillier]

Look into the Mr aqua tanks from marine depot. They make regular and low iron cubes for a very reasonable price. All reviews I have seen about the tanks have been very positive.

 

[tcamos]

Thanks. I'll check them out.