what to do about trim?

[mithesaint]

I have an old school 135 that I'm in the process of resealing. The top and bottom trim frames are both loose, and I'm unsure what to do about it. I started working on taking them off, and despite their looseness, a utility knife, and 30 minutes of work, I can't budge them very far. I don't think I can get them off without destroying them.

I guess I *could* just leave them, but they're old and cracked and painted some hideous yellow color. I don't think I'll be able to find a premade plastic frame, because the glass is 1/2". Glass cages only goes up to 90 gallon frames.

The current trim frame doesn't have a brace, which I'm not thrilled about either. Could I silicone a piece of glass every two feet to get extra support?

I could fabricate a DIY wood frame, but was already planning on a DIY stand and canopy that would hide the trim anyway.

Are frames really necessary? How much weight can thin plastic actually support?

 

[kendog1]

you would be suprised how much the plastic will support especially when they are in the center, you could also silicone a piece of glass in the center of the tank at the top which will act as a center support to prevent bowing

 

[mithesaint]

you would be suprised how much the plastic will support especially when they are in the center,

See, that's the problem. The trim that is on the tank right now doesn't have a center brace. I'm told this is because it's an old tank, and the glass is thicker, which is also the reason that new pieces of trim won't fit.

Maybe I should pull the old trim off, and put some euro style braces and center braces? How thick should the glass be for that?

 

[kendog1]

same thickness as the tank