smcoleman Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 hi everyone has anyone got a step by step way how to make tanks wanting to make small tanks 2foot an smaller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Have you Googled? I found this http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diytan ... uarium.htm HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant N Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 CLEAN glass before assembling tank. Much easier than after. I mask glass 10mm from edge ,more where the other glass butts (thickness of glass plus 10mm) this makes for a neat clean edge of silicon. remove tape before silicon sets up. Tricky. Clean up with meths. Assemble back to bottom then ends then front. top braces after first lot of sil. has setup. Works for me. Important to use only Aquarium rated acetic cure silicon.eg, Selley,s Glass Silicon Sealant etc. Masking tape on the outside will keep everything together, a sharp razor blade will clean any smudges off after everything has cured . Remember to leave alone for at least a week after building, to allow full strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 your on to it Ant The only thing is that Aquarium grade means it has been tested for Aquarium. Other silicones are almost definatly OK but have not been tested as it cost big dollars to test. Just as for food grade silicones, The estermated cost of having it food tested is somewhere in excess of $30,000. Now thats a lot of extra silicone you need to sell ti food places inorder to make that pay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 If you are cutting 2nd hand glass yourself make sure it is clean also or you will ruin your cutter (and therefore your cut). I also always take the sharp edge off the glass (with an old oilstone I have been using for about 30 years and is now 3/4 worn away). This will save your fingers. If cutting your own glass you need to be careful that it is all cut acurately and square as the glass has no give and every mistake gets worse as you progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Hi Ant Do you not leave a gap between the panes of glass at the butt joint? the glazier i spoke to told me i needed a 3mm gap between the glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 your on to it Ant The only thing is that Aquarium grade means it has been tested for Aquarium. Other silicones are almost definatly OK but have not been tested as it cost big dollars to test. Just as for food grade silicones, The estermated cost of having it food tested is somewhere in excess of $30,000. Now thats a lot of extra silicone you need to sell ti food places inorder to make that pay a lot of silicones have a mould inhibitor added this will generally be a copper based product so no good 4 fish , basically u should just read the label carefully if it says its safe 4 aquariums it will be selleys have 1 there is also a silaflex 1 which are fine for smaller tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Yes I agree No anti fungels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant N Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 I have not spaced gaps for joins, but the biggest tank I made/rebuilt was only 3 ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcoleman Posted November 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 ok ive had a go at cutting glass an seem to be doing well wots the easyest way to clean up the edges to get rid of the sharp edges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 as alan said old oilstone sandpaper works as well i use carborundum paper to take the edge off when i can't find the oilstone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcoleman Posted November 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 where do u get oilstone from i tryed using a belt sander but i went throw 2 many belts lol i mite have the wrong belt to lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_W Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Ah, Meth will cause silaflex and possible other products like it to degrade. Use sika isopropyl alcohol for cleaning up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 a knife sharpening stone will do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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