Dixon1990 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 How hard is this? If i have the correct glass cut. WHat would i need to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 You need to flip the tank upside down and use a glass cutter to make diagonal lines out from the corners like this >< and then give it some good whacks to start it breaking. Then carefully pushe the glass down and pry the pieces away from the silicone. You then need to scrape the silicone, clean off the glass with methylated spirits and then put the new glass on and use popsicle sticks to keep a gap between it and the old glass. Then go around the aquarium carefully and squeeze the silicone in the gaps. Once this is mostly hardened (about an hour) you can remove the sticks and fill the gaps with silicone. When all that hardens flip the tank over and seal from the inside. A lot easier to do than explain!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 What would be a good price for 4ft x 18" 10mm glass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 when putting the new piece on i wouldn't jack it up with sticks then squeeze the silicone in like blue said, id put a generous bead around the top of all the panes, then get someone to help you and sit the new base on top of the silicon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 when i replace a base i cut glue through with a craft knife all the way around the base glass, then cut diagonals and tap inside of cuts with end of glass cutter to crack the base then lever out cut pieces with the blade, being careful to not put too much pressure on the good panes left then clean all old glue off and follow what evil said try glass repair places for a replacement sheet, local guy has been giving me 10mm for a good price so i have been using that for replacing bases shop around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Would $105 be alright for 4ft x 18" 10mm glass? THats the first reply ive had from a glazier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I'd say that is steep for glass, I paid $150 for 2 pieces of 10mm 5ft by 2ft. As its for a bottom ask him for second hand or whatever as a few minor scratches wont matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 gannet got quoted 115$ for a 3 foot piece at one place bought same piece at another place for $50 so try a few places Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 He knows what its for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I got a piece that exact size and a tube of silicone just last week for $30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 My 4 foot tank cost 250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 The method I described is for a single person building or rebuilding an aquarium without assistance as taught to me by the local professional aquarium maker with 30+ years experience with glass. If you have someone that can help, by all means bead with silicone and place the glass afterwards carefully. Same local glass maker would charge $240 for a 120 x 45 x 45 aquarium with lots of bracing. The replacement glass would probably cost $30 to 50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 The cost depends on if they have second hand glass As a glass merchant spending about $300,000 per year on glass, that piece would cost me more than what some people are quoting. If your buying new glass, anything in the $70 to $90 would be a great price with the retail cost being somewhere $130 plus GST I dont stock or sell second hand glass as storage is not worth it and it takes up valuable space that new glass could use. Afterall, if you have some nice new doors installed and want glass in them, the last thing you would want is scratched second hand glass in them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 How bad is the crack in the base? You could possibly leave the old base in there and put the new piece of glass on top of it, would be stronger and easier (and heavier). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 There is a place in ChCh that should sell you an offcut piece of 10mm glass for about $50/sq metre. I got brand new offcut glass for a 1200 x 450 x 400mm tank plus euro bracing top and bottom for $250. They are cut from offcuts of new glass and kept for fishtank makers. If you want to break the bottom to remove it more easily make the diagonal scours on the bottom but tap the glass from the inside until it breaks on the line (not the outside). Put the bomb sticks in the freezer with a bomb around it. RTV is an adhesive not a filler and I have built heaps of tanks and never used a bomb stick or seen a tank built that way----it must be a north Island thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 $50 per meter is cost when buying stock sheets so your getting a good deal when buying stock sheets. Most silicones are sealants and need a bit of a gap to work at full strenght but I, like you, dont leave a gap either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I understand that they cure by reacting with the moisture in the air and then form a waterproof seal. If this is the case then too much silicone is likely to be not properly cured in the middle. Most people use way too much when making tanks and I think it is no stronger but just looks ugly. Cut the glass accurately and glue glass to glass is the way to go I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted April 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 The tank is 500mm tall, and has 6mm reinforced glass. Is this thick enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 By reinforced I take it that it is laminated rather than georgian wired glass. I wouldn't build a tank 500 high from 6mm let alone 6mm laminated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 The tank is 500mm tall, and has 6mm reinforced glass. Is this thick enough? would make a good terrarium or turtle tank imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted April 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Ive got 4 metre-cubed pieces of 5mm here.COuld i patch the base with this thickness or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 what do you mean reinforced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted April 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Not sure, thats wah tthe person said in the auction. Can i put links here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Does it look like two sheets of glass with plastic in between when you look at it from the edge or is the glass bottom made from glass with wire netting inside it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Put the link up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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