Metaframe refurb

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

hello fellow keepers!
Let me set the scene-
I’m redoing a 55 gallon metaframe, while also doing a 20 gallon.
Here’s my question. The dumb lady who had this tank before me (no really. Same brain capacity as a minnow) tried to reseal mine with silicone. (And everybody knows how well slate and silicone get along. Everybody but her. Same lady who tried to tell me I “couldn’t handle the tank” and “didn’t know it’s worth”). regardless. She sold me a leaking tank. So, I’m trying to find out if there’s a way to JUST get the slate out without scratching the glass too bad. Also. The back pane of this tank is MIRRORED. Mirrored and glassed. Just, like stuck together. Not sealed separately, so water just gets in between them. So I’m gonna have to separate that too. And if I HAVE to take the glass out to get the slate out, what’s the best way to get literal pounds of silicone off? Whoever redid this tank before me just kinda used the “rub some dirt in it” approach. And guys there’s gotta be at least two full tubes of silicone in this beast. I want to save the glass if at all possible. And I’d really like to just glass over the slate. IF I can clean up the slate so it looks good. I’m thinking I’ll just flip it over? This lady is also the one that housed some kind of small animal in this tank (hamster?) and let it pee all over the slate. (And I’m the one that “doesn’t know it’s worth. Okay, BONNIE. Jeez) I know it’ll be under substrate, but I love it. So basically what I need is , 1)tips on getting slate out or 2) tips on getting glass out without breaking it 3) tips on getting loads of silicone out. 4) tips on getting his slate out (still attracted with that tar stuff.) I don’t think he cares if it’s in one piece. Which makes me VERY sad. But whatever.
Pics attached so everybody can cry with me. Pics of both, his doesn’t have glass. Mine is a train wreck.

 

[deeda]

1st, Congrats on the tank pickups!!!! That 55G is definitely a beast!

The way these tanks were assembled is the glass sides were installed first and the bottom slate last, at least in my experience, so that means you need to remove the bottom first.

You will need to use a razor blade to remove any and all silicone that was used by the previous owner before attempting to remove the glass or slate bottom.

You will need to use a heat gun to soften the existing black 'tar' in order to remove both the slate bottom and then the glass panels.

Check out the following link I found regarding working on these tanks for some general info. http://www.rickwrench.com/index79.htm

I have only disassembled a 10G Metaframe slate bottom tank and it was a lot of work. I still haven't reassembled it as I have not found a product that will bond to both the glass and the slate long term.

Definitely wear heavy duty gloves to avoid burning yourself, take it slow and don't pry too forcefully to remove the glass or slate to avoid breaking them or bending/warping the stainless steel frame.

I used Black Jack Asphalt & Tar Remover to remove any leftover bits of 'tar' sealant and it worked fantastic.

I cannot offer any advice on separating the mirror and glass from each other, you may have to replace that piece of glass with a new one. Try not to break it so you can get a new piece with the same dimensions.

 

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

Who ever redid this tank makes me want to facepalm so hard. Does anybody know how rare it is to find a metaframe this big? I know small ones are relatively easy to find (expensive, I’m learning) but I’ve never seen one this big for sale. Do I just have bad luck? Or are they actually rare?

 

[deeda]

I agree that it is difficult to find the larger ones, especially in good and usable shape. Just a guess that the bigger tanks either failed at one time and were scrapped or converted to small animal or snake use.

I actually also own a 55G slate bottom Metaframe tank I bought 5 years ago from a snake keeper. It's still setting in my garage, unused and needs to be fixed up something seriously. The plan was to clean it up and repair it for aquarium use but after the effort to repair the 10G tank, I sort of lost interest. Plus the tank weighs so much it's difficult to manipulate with 2 old people.

 

[krichardson]

The Metaframe tanks are rare because they are old,obsolete and God only knows how many are left out there.I love them though and come across small ones in flea markets and yard sales.
I had a twenty of thirty gallon years ago and I have a five gallon currently.

 

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

I agree that it is difficult to find the larger ones, especially in good and usable shape. Just a guess that the bigger tanks either failed at one time and were scrapped or converted to small animal or snake use.

I actually also own a 55G slate bottom Metaframe tank I bought 5 years ago from a snake keeper. It's still setting in my garage, unused and needs to be fixed up something seriously. The plan was to clean it up and repair it for aquarium use but after the effort to repair the 10G tank, I sort of lost interest. Plus the tank weighs so much it's difficult to manipulate with 2 old people.

RIGHT?! That thing weighs as much as I do! And Let me tell you, I’m not getting any lighter *takes bite of pizza*

 

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

The Metaframe tanks are rare because they are old,obsolete and God only knows how many are left out there.I love them though and come across small ones in flea markets and yard sales.
I had a twenty of thirty gallon years ago and I have a five gallon currently.

I keep hearing these stories of people finding them at flea markets or garage sales, or just getting them for free and I’m like HOW! It is IMPOSSIBLE to find these things in Jacksonville, Florida. Impossible, I tell you. Lol

 

[skjl47]

Hello; I have a 30 gallon in storage in my basement and the stainless light that went with it. I keep planning to replace at least one panel of glass as the person I got it from back in the 1970's had scratched the glass. last time I set it up it was seeping thru the slate bottom.