By my calculation, I will need 6.1 cartridges of Dow 795 for this. To make sure I have enough, I'll be ordering 8 cartridges. A contractor that I know is looking into seeing if he can get them wholesale for me. If not, sealant will run about $70 - $85 depending on where I order it from. I could theoretically try to use Dow's Contractors Weatherproofing Sealant instead of the 795 and cut about $25 off the cost, but I'm not sure it would work as well on the slate. Add the $50 for the original purchase of the tank, another $12 for the side panel of glass I broke, and possibly another $128 for a new front pane so I don't have to see scratches every time I look at this tank, and I'm seeing $265 so far without the stand or sump yet. The wife's not going to like me, but I'm looking forward to seeing what this is going to look like finished!
100g Metaframe
- Thread starter Gervahlt
- Start date
I'm really looking forward to how much silicone you end up using.
How to you plan on maintaining the proper gap between the frame and the glass when you reassemble the tank so the four panes are positioned properly?
How to you plan on maintaining the proper gap between the frame and the glass when you reassemble the tank so the four panes are positioned properly?
I was planning on using some rubber washers from Home Depot. As long as they're completely encased in the seal I'm laying down, they should allow spacing without compromising the seal.
I think it's time for a combination of Goof-Off, white vinegar, and a stiff bristle brush to remove the rest of the tar and hit a few patches of rust on the bottom of the frame. All the tar has been scraped out of the frame now and it's beginning to look more like a fish tank than road construction. I estimate that I removed close to 15 lbs of tar from the glass and frame. I haven't cleaned up my workshop yet after this round so I'll try to post a picture or two tomorrow to give an idea of what I'm talking about. I could probably mold it all together and form a soccer ball with some to spare...this is AFTER the amount I removed to get the panes out of the frame in the first place. Crazy.
Sorry, I'll post some pics tomorrow - just not in the mood to get the camera out right now. The sealant (Dow Corning 795) has been ordered. The general contractor I know wasn't able to get it from any of his local suppliers, so I decided to go with Sealant Engineering for the stuff as they had the best price. Hopefully they have good customer service. Price is a bit of an issue on this right now as I just had to pay for an unexpected water line break at my house today...not sure I'll be able to justify the additional $150 it would take to get a whole new front piece of glass at this time. I'm still trying to think of ways to lower cost in other areas (maybe I can skin the stand later or something).
That's the way most of my projects seem to go. There is always another project or repair that comes before the hobby that needs to be taken care of first.
Hello; I have a 30 gallon metaframe survivor (got it used in the early 1970's) with a lot of scratches on the inside of the glass. The previous owner had done some thing to scratch the glass and i did not catch it untill after cleaning up the tank. Lesson learned, do not buy a really dirty tank. Your experience has convinced me that i do not want to try to replace the glass. For a 100 gallon such as yours, maybe. Keep us posted
Okay, well... *grin* Free is good; especially when you're trying to figure out how to afford a new front pane of glass for this beast. Mission accomplished! Today's Craigslist find:
Not a bad looking stand, just needs a bit of cleanup. The sump will come in handy if you use them, otherwise may sell well online or at a fish auction.
My sealant has arrived. Waiting on some cash (another unforeseen expenditure popped up - this time dental-related) to get the glass, then this puppy gets put back together. In the meantime, I've been having to heat gun the frame again to get as much tar out as I can. The frame is too big to go into a soak tank, and even if I had one large enough, the amount I'd have to put in it to get any depth would cost too much. Thinner, smaller stuff wipes right off, but anything that has substance to it pretty much has to be scraped.
