Removing an end panel?

[Splendid Splendens]

I have a rimless 30 gallon that I would like to turn into an upright vivarium, but I would need to take one of the end/side panels of glass off in order to do so.

If I just "undo" the silicon seams, will that work?
Will this effect the rest of the tank or ruin it's support?

Any input at all would be great. Thanks!

[Hoppy]

Removing one end of a tank will leave the front/back poorly supported. But, if there is no load on those panels, it should still work ok. Oh, and it probably won't hold water very well.

[tzen]

Are you going to permenently seal the current top, or have 2 open faces? I would counsel you to leave the end on, unless you were going to close the current top. But Hoppy is right, except being careful when you move it, there is not much stress on it with a terrarium, so it should be OK.

[Splendid Splendens]

Thanks both you.

Okay, well here's a crappy visualization of my general plan/idea...



Does that make sense?
Do you think it would work?

[tzen]

Those are fine drawings!
It would work, and be structurally sound.
An advantage would be that if you were careful and if the glass was not tempered (which it probably is not-- usually only the front and bottom panals are tempered) you could cut the end panel down for the other pieces you need.

But I am not sure you want the top open like that.
With the front opening, you will not need it for access. If you are going to have terrestrial fauna, you will need a top anyway to prevent escapes.
And lighting through the glass is not a big problem, there is very minimal loss.
Is UV transmission a goal?

[jasonpatterson]

Originally Posted by tzen

But I am not sure you want the top open like that.

This is a good point. You could save yourself a lot of work and probably have the end result looking nicer by buying a piece or two of the same thickness glass cut to size at a glass shop and using those for bracing/water retention. It would also make returning it to aquarium status trivial.

[Splendid Splendens]

Thanks for the input both of you!

I should have gone into more detail, the front door would be glass and the open are of the top would be covered with a screen fitting that would be fastened on. I thought it would be a good idea for ventilation, plus as tzen asked, UV transmission is a goal because I will be keeping lizards in this viv.