New used tank!

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Backfromthedead

Backfromthedead

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Jul 12, 2017
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Fredericksburg va
Picked up a 150 tall (72x18x29) off craigslist today. 3/4" front and back and 1/2" sides. Looked to be in decent shape but there are a couple minor chips in one end. I dont think they amount to much but wanted to run them past you good mfkers.
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The chips do not appear to be more than 1/16" into the glass. Another thing thats bugging me is that theres no brace on this tank. Im gonna do a halfway fill test and fill it up the rest of the way tomorrow if all looks good.
 
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Nothing leaking so far after filling it to 25 inches for a night. If there is any bow, its very minimal, but then again i havent filled it up all the way yet.

Anyone have any ideas for this bracing situation? I think i wanna handle that before putting the tank into action. The current frame looks like it was diy'd. Messy silicone whereas the rest of the tank has more or less perfect seams. Im thinking about stripping it off and eurobracing.
 
Decided to do an overhaul minus new seams and bottom frame which appear to be in good shape and better looking than i could hope to accomplish. Gonna patch the small chips with epoxy and maybe order a new top frame and glass canopy. It was gonna be a garage fish room tank but with a little sprucing up it will be display material.

One thing i need help with is how to get this paint off the back of it. I was just gonna sand it off but dont want to scratch up the glass.

Any good ideas for stripping paint off glass or a good place to order a 72x18 top frame would be appreciated. Thanks guys!
 
I wouldn't worry at all about those chips, I've seen/had much worse and never had a problem so those wouldn't concern me much. Getting paint off glass tanks is pretty easy. Just buy a 10 pack of double sided razors and sit down for a few hours and start scraping. I've never found a need to use an chemical stripper to get paint off of glass, just a sharp razor will do the job.

Nice tank.
 
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I tried the razor blade method but it was a pain in the ass and taking way to long.. especially since it was a 7 x 2 ft glass I was trying to clean .

I sprayed it and had the whole glass clean in about 10 minutes, used a couple razor blades . start 2 finish about an hour with clean up and a few spot that needed extra spray.
 
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Steve_C said:
I wouldn't worry at all about those chips, I've seen/had much worse and never had a problem so those wouldn't concern me much. Getting paint off glass tanks is pretty easy. Just buy a 10 pack of double sided razors and sit down for a few hours and start scraping. I've never found a need to use an chemical stripper to get paint off of glass, just a sharp razor will do the job.

Nice tank.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Ive followed a couple of your tank builds and welcome your expertise. What do you make of the brace situation? I think this must be an older model tank given the thicker than standard glass and probably ran like this for years, but am wondering if its worth the effort just to get a new plastic brace or diy a wooden one.
 
Since it's 3/4" front & back and 1/2" side I'd guess it probably never had a brace to being with. Some of them older tank with thicker glass came without. You can usually find new plastic trim with the brace for that size tank for about $40 online so as OCD as I am about my tanks I think if it were me I'd probably look into just replacing it with a new one. Just make sure it fits over your thicker glass when/if you do get a new one.
 
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