Cutting down the hieght of my aquarium

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
john C

john C

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jan 4, 2007
958
29
61
ohio
Im sure something like this has been posted before so here it is again lol. it is a old 125 3/8" plate glass.
it is for a sump and need to get my arm in for maintenance and the stand is not high enough for that.
there are 7 1/4" diamond blades that can fit circular saw for like $15. I have experience with a hole saw and did not find difficult, but for this job I question my self a little. I don't want to disassemble ether I figure I have a rip guide on the saw and have help keeping blade wet.
penny for your thoughts
 
never heard that done before.. odds of successfully cutting all sides without disaster probably very low. sucks, but probably better to disassemble and do normal scoring/break method on all pieces.
 
There is not a chance you will pull that off. Even if you manage to cut all the class without cracking any, which would be very impressive, chances are the vibrations from the saw will have killed at least one of the seams. Way too much can go wrong with this.
 
^+1^
I think you would especially run into trouble approaching the corners. You might consider non glass sumo options, even if it means a series of smaller plastic totes in a daisy chain. It would be a shame to trash a 125, unless it is already trashed... I would like to see a video, if you decide to cut it against these recommendations! Good luck.
 
You can rip the sides down with a saw and a diamond blade as for leaving it assembled you will crack it. Pull it apart, trying to do it the quick way usually ends up in disaster or taking longer anyways. Get a garden hose and flood the blade and have a steady hand it will be fine to do
 
not something I would do try, and there aint much I would not, Good luck if you go for it.
 
My biggest concern is corners. I would hate to disassemble tank very time consuming in my opinion. I have cut tile with little experience but I know slow and steady is best. I could modify the stand but not sure that will work well ether it is in a basement so it is not a standard 8' ceiling and tank is 4' wide. tank is not worth much maybe $100 at best im still tempted .... millerkid what is your biggest concern leaving assembled?
thanks everyone
 
I wouldn't say it was impossible.. but it would probably take many hours to do it at the rate needed to work. Not sure how anyone can stay steady for that long, you would have to have some sort of jig. I have made crazy glass cutting projects using a dremel tool on glass thinner than a lightbulb.. if you're super patient and can go that slow and steady.. its doable. Slow enough, there should be no vibration either. The odds would be against you though. So I guess you have to weigh the risk of losing your aquarium to breakage vs the extra work required to break it down and do it that way. Even broken down though you might still make a mistake with the score method.. but at least that way you can easily get a replacement pane to work.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom