Plastic Trim around Tank

[kattty]

Hey, I just had a quick question regarding the black trim around the bottom and top of a tank.

The tank is a 40 gal tank, and I have to re-seal it and peices of the trim are missing/broken.

I got the tank for free, and I was hoping there was a way to possibly make or somehow reinforce the top as if there was trim without purchasing trim.
I've already removed the trim, as the silicone holding it on wasn't really holding anymore, and I plan on re-sealing the entire aquarium.

As purchasing trim online, by the time I factored in all the additional costs , it'd be less of a headache to just go buy a new aquarium.


Anyone who's done anything different instead of purchasing trim, please let me know!

Thanks,
Kat

 

[kattty]

1This corner right here scares me..the silicone between the glass is gone..and I can move the glass back and forth a little on the one side. I haven't taken off the silicione around the inside yet, as I'm not sure it's worth it in thsi condition. Has anyone delt with this before?would siliconing the inside be enough??

The 40 gal outside that has water in it. That is where it holds water up to. I filled it up and with that one corner it slowly leaked out. The water that is in there has been sitting there for a week now, so I'm pretty sure the one corner is the main issue. However, if someone says that it's fixiable, I'd re-seal the entire thing regardless.

These are the two tanks I got for free..The trim for both that was around the top I've taken off.
I've never seen a tank with white/cream trim before..I was planning on spray painting it black..(On the otuside parts that didn't come ni contact with water).

The one on the tool box inside the garage is the one I've sliced off the silicone around the inside. I just have to vacume out and clean it up and then apply the new silicone. It came holding water, and was full of 50 mollies, all of which ahve been given to good homes. I just wanted to re-seal it anyway.

Please let me know!!!!

 

[Jon M]

. http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=43 Most expensive trim on glasscages is only 16$. I would consider just ordering the trim if you want to do it right and make it look nice.

 

[kattty]

I've been in contact with them.. For each peice of trim for one tank would be around 8 dollars. The gentlemen I spoke to said that shipping would be between 25-30 dollars as I'm in Canada.

Just seems like I could pick up a new tank of similiar size for the price it's going to cost me in re-sealing and the trim alone.

I was hoping I could just use fiberglass and attach the missing peices..grind it smooth and re-attach with silicone.

These tanks are for breeding purposes. To house small fry ect away from the main tanks...I got them for free, so I was just planning on re-sealing...haha

 

[Jon M]

25-30$ s/h and 8$ for each trim piece. So 16$+25$=41$ for a nice 40g tank. I seriously doubt you'll find a retail store selling a 40g tank for 40$. Seems worth it to me if you need the tank.

If you just want something make shift to put fry in for cheap you could just go buy some totes for 5-10$ at dollar store.

 

[kevinfleming21]

make it a rimless

 

[kattty]

thanks for doing some basic math for me haha..
I'll e-mail them about the trim tomrrow, so long as it seems do-able with that one corner being literally seperated at the very top.

The other smaller tank..20-30 gallons I wasn't TOO worried about..

Can you go rimless if it was previously a rim tank?Structurally I mean..I know these tanks are small but..do you just need to put a brace in?

Thanks bunch again!!

 

[smitty03281964]

Unless you just want something to do I would just buy another tank.

 

[Ziidan]

Rimless tanks look stunning.

if you sealed it proper you'll be fine on such a small tank

 

[CHOMPERS]

People pay extra for rimless tanks... And I mean EXTRA!!! The plastic trim doesn't really have much strength to it. Its purpose is to look good and to assist in the assembly of the tank at the factory. The strength of the tank comes from the glass itself.

(The plastic trim also holds up lids and lights if you go with the cheapies.) (They make lights for rimless tanks too.)


For the one that has the loose panel, take the tank apart and clean all of the silicone off the panels. Then when you put it back together, use Loctite Stick-N-Seal to glue the panels back together. Use some masking tape or electrical tape to hold them together while the glue dries. Let it sit overnight and then you can seal the seams with silicone. Black silicone in a rimless tank looks good but I prefer clear. For a professional look, tape the seams before sealing them.