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 Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build

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Wyomingite
Fish Wrangler
Wyomingite


Male Posts : 1781

Age : 56
Location : Wonderful Windy Wyoming
Humor : "I drank what?" - Socrates
Favorite Fish : I won't choose and ya can't make me!

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Empty
PostSubject: Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build   Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build EmptyFri Oct 26, 2012 2:15 am

A while back I had a 55 gallon sport a leak between the front panel and one of the side panels. Lacking the time and inclination to deal with it, I moved it to the garage and moved another 55 gallon I was goin' to put elsewhere in its place.

So finally decided to tackle this bad boy. A little background on the tank. It's a very old Metaframe tank, my first 55 gallon as a matter of fact, that I purchased used in 1988. It was old then. The plastic frame has always been on the rotten side and the center brace was missin' when I bought it, but it has never bowed. That said, the glass is slightly green but amazingly free of scratches. It is all 3/8" glass, rather than the 1/4" glass used for 55 gallon tanks nowadays.

So 'cuz the frame was so battered, it fell apart when I tried to remove it. Considerin' my experience with the tank, I decided I'd give ita go as a rimless, somethin' I wouldn't do with a newer tank with thinner glass.

First step was removin' the front piece. That was a PITA.

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Back_p10

Nicked the side piece in the process.

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Nick10

Normally, I'd be worried 'bout this, it's more than halfway through the width of the glass. But in this case, not so much. Ya'll will see why later. Smile

Scraped the old silicone offa the glass. This is imperative. Old silicone left on the glass can keep new silicone from adhering and potentially cause a faulty seal and subsequent leak.

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Scrapi10

The best way to ensure yer done scrapin' is to run yer finger over the glass. If it's smooth and yer finger runs without resistance, it's ready for the new silicone. If there is any resistance then there is still silicone residue. Small amounts of residue can easily be removed by vigorously rubbing with a finger as well as scraping.

So now that it's apart and scraped clean, I take a cloth dampened with vinegar and wipe away all loose silicone on the surfaces to be resealed.

Resealin' is fer tomorrow, though.

WYite
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dirtydawg10
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dirtydawg10


Male Posts : 3098

Age : 51
Location : Connecticut
Favorite Fish : Severum

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Empty
PostSubject: Re: Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build   Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build EmptyFri Oct 26, 2012 11:18 am

Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Keep us posted!
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Wyomingite
Fish Wrangler
Wyomingite


Male Posts : 1781

Age : 56
Location : Wonderful Windy Wyoming
Humor : "I drank what?" - Socrates
Favorite Fish : I won't choose and ya can't make me!

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Empty
PostSubject: Re: Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build   Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build EmptySat Oct 27, 2012 12:55 pm

So, busy yesterday. I'm actually several days ahead of what I'm postin', so i ain't gonna run outta content any time soon.

So, to put the panel in place, put a good solid bead of silicone on all the way 'round the edge...

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Silico10

place the removed panel on, bein' careful to align the edges carefully, and apply pressure.

Now, applyin' enough pressure while the silicone is settin' is necessary to ensure no air bubbles fstay/form in the seal. Most people use clamps of some kind. I, however, lacked the foresight to get clamps that would work, and don't have a thing in the garage. Solution?

30 years of TFH and 'bout 50 lbs. of Mrs. WYite's Stephen King books.

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Panel_10

While that dried over night, went and looked for some stuff, rummaging in the miscellaneous box in the garage. The miscellaneous box is one o' those boxes Mrs. Wyite sees as refuse to be disposed of... but I know the truth. It's full of good stuff! Like...

slate...

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Slate_10

and driftwood...

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Driftw10

and cork.

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Cork_g10

Ya can also see some rocks in the picture of the slate, and some miscellaneous stuff in the pic of the cork.

All for now, maybe later.

WYite
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Wyomingite
Fish Wrangler
Wyomingite


Male Posts : 1781

Age : 56
Location : Wonderful Windy Wyoming
Humor : "I drank what?" - Socrates
Favorite Fish : I won't choose and ya can't make me!

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Empty
PostSubject: Re: Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build   Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build EmptyThu Nov 01, 2012 8:26 am

Alright, so the back plate is in place and I trimmed up all the excess silicone that was sandwiched out the side. Normally I'd tape her up and give the inside a good seal. But I have other things in mind...

This tank is gonna be the first thing ya see when ya walk in the fish room, so I want it to make an impression. It also needs to be viewable from both sides and one end.

So here's where it's gonna sit...

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Stand_10

and a quick look down the fish room...

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Down_t10

and finally a coupla shots of the tank in place...

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Tank_i10

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Tank_i11

Don't pay no mind to that bit o' finger on the bottom of the last pic there now...just got offa graveyards, so I'll post a bit more when I get up. But the fact is, now the fun part begins.

WYite
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dirtydawg10
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dirtydawg10


Male Posts : 3098

Age : 51
Location : Connecticut
Favorite Fish : Severum

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Empty
PostSubject: Re: Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build   Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build EmptyFri Nov 02, 2012 10:06 am

It looks awesome Wyite! Thanks for the update!
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Mostlycichlids
Cichlid Specialist
Mostlycichlids


Male Posts : 4566

Age : 44
Location : New Mexico USA
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Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Empty
PostSubject: Re: Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build   Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build EmptyFri Nov 16, 2012 8:47 pm

Wow, looking good bro. Nice updates!
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Wyomingite
Fish Wrangler
Wyomingite


Male Posts : 1781

Age : 56
Location : Wonderful Windy Wyoming
Humor : "I drank what?" - Socrates
Favorite Fish : I won't choose and ya can't make me!

Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Empty
PostSubject: Re: Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build   Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build EmptySat Nov 17, 2012 9:47 pm

More comin'. Been busy the past coupla weeks...

WYite
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PostSubject: Re: Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build   Wyomingite's SE Asian Rimless 55 Gallon Build Empty

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