270g tank - cracked front panel

[thefishguy7]

I just got this tank and some other supplies for free.
The front panel is completely destroyed(the other pieces don't have a scratch on them), so I plan on removing it and replacing the panel. Any tips? I've resealed tanks and made sumps etc, but never replaced a panel this large.
It's 1" glass all the way around, dims ~6x3x2

 

[thefishguy7]

Edit-
The front panel is 1/2", the other panels are 1", odd

 

[FSM]

1 inch seems excessive.

 

[vaine111]

I don't know anything about that but either way nice pick up.

 

[Deepsouth]

Edit-
The front panel is 1/2", the other panels are 1", odd

Thats because the width of the tank.

 

[dpk2313]

take a coin or spatula to smooth the seems
your really going to have to watch out replacing a panel on a tank of that size
theres an additional adhesive between the glass where the panels meet which keeps the panels together along with the brace the silicon is more of a secondary leak protection but when you replace a panel it becomes the main protection be sure to make decent sized beads to account for bowing and pressure

 

[thefishguy7]

1 inch seems excessive.

It is, thicker glass than my 360g. I'm not complaining though!

I don't know anything about that but either way nice pick up.

Thanks

Thats because the width of the tank.

Why would the width of the tank affect the thickness of the front panel? The back panel is still 1"

take a coin or spatula to smooth the seems
your really going to have to watch out replacing a panel on a tank of that size
theres an additional adhesive between the glass where the panels meet which keeps the panels together along with the brace the silicon is more of a secondary leak protection but when you replace a panel it becomes the main protection be sure to make decent sized beads to account for bowing and pressure

Thanks for the advice!

Do you guys know of gray/black silicone that is aquarium safe?

 

[danz]

GE Makes a black silicone make sure its not 2 with the mildew additive. I finally took my first tank apart and its no easy task but as long as you take your time and have the proper tools your likely to not have any issues. People have commented about using a fine pinano wire or a small guitar string to use to cut the seam between the glass, I didnt have either so I used an old cheap tape measure since it was think metal and was able to cut the silicone to seperate the glass. Get plenty of razor blades and swap them out freequently so they are sharp and you wont need to much pressure to cut the silicone. Clean out all the external silicone then focus on seperating the panes but your hardest challenge depending on how the molding is done will be removing it without distroying it.

Good luck!

 

[armac]

1 inch would be heavy, heavy, heavy take a picture of a a side with one inch glass.

 

[thefishguy7]

GE Makes a black silicone make sure its not 2 with the mildew additive. I finally took my first tank apart and its no easy task but as long as you take your time and have the proper tools your likely to not have any issues. People have commented about using a fine pinano wire or a small guitar string to use to cut the seam between the glass, I didnt have either so I used an old cheap tape measure since it was think metal and was able to cut the silicone to seperate the glass. Get plenty of razor blades and swap them out freequently so they are sharp and you wont need to much pressure to cut the silicone. Clean out all the external silicone then focus on seperating the panes but your hardest challenge depending on how the molding is done will be removing it without distroying it.

Good luck!

Thanks!

1 inch would be heavy, heavy, heavy take a picture of a a side with one inch glass.

It's ridiculously heavy. I don't see why it was built how it was.
Here are some pics, stupid me didn't put anything there for reference. Well, gives you an idea
Excuse the mess-house is being re-modeled
Bottom (1")

Side(1")

Front(1/2")