My 75 gallon derimming project.

[Gatekeeper]

Originally Posted by redfishsc

There are a bunch of people in this thread that didn't bother to read the text. He says specifically that he's cutting 3 pieces of glass to use for bracing to keep it from bowing.

Just mounting glass for bracing doesn't just make it "structurally sound".

Thus my first comment in the first reply:

Did you do some homework on this before you did it? Never heard of anyone derimming a tank this size before.

Good luck, I hope its a successful project.

The short term is not the real problem, I think its the long term survival that may be the issue. Interesting to see someone experiment.

[scapegoat]

i think a clear acrylic rim to replace these solid colored plastic rims would be a suitable idea. with the right glue you can melt the ends of the acrylic together to create a solid piece that would surely do as well, if not a better, job than the default rims and look better.

[mcubed45]

Originally Posted by scapegoat

i think a clear acrylic rim to replace these solid colored plastic rims would be a suitable idea. with the right glue you can melt the ends of the acrylic together to create a solid piece that would surely do as well, if not a better, job than the default rims and look better.

that's actually a really neat idea. i wonder if there's any reason manufacturers haven't considered this?

[OverStocked]

Originally Posted by mcubed45

that's actually a really neat idea. i wonder if there's any reason manufacturers haven't considered this?

Because injection molded plastic is easier, cheaper, and much easier to execute properly.

[nalu86]

I did a little bit of homework on this over the last year.
I read people doing it on 5, 10 and 20. But I always read that no one ever tried to derimm bigger sizes. Everyone is scared to start at a project like this.
So why don't I try it as fist and show you guys what can go wrong or can't go wrong. I think when this works, there will be a lot other people that will follow or still be skeptic (but yeah, I still have to finish ans prove lol).
This is just for the science, if it works, good for me, I guess... If it don't, I wasted some time, some money and probably spilled a lot of water over the floor "wife yelling " and some cleanwork.

I will keep all the comments in mined and thank you for them all, I appreciate it!

I will probably go with the 4 corner triangles and one brace in the middle.
What brand silicone from Home depot or Lowes was aqua and fish proof again ? Or should I go with a better brand?

Thx

[scapegoat]

Originally Posted by nalu86

I did a little bit of homework on this over the last year.
I read people doing it on 5, 10 and 20. But I always read that no one ever tried to derimm bigger sizes. Everyone is scared to start at a project like this.
So why don't I try it as fist and show you guys what can go wrong or can't go wrong. I think when this works, there will be a lot other people that will follow or still be skeptic (but yeah, I still have to finish ans prove lol).
This is just for the science, if it works, good for me, I guess... If it don't, I wasted some time, some money and probably spilled a lot of water over the floor "wife yelling " and some cleanwork.

I will keep all the comments in mined and thank you for them all, I appreciate it!

I will probably go with the 4 corner triangles and one brace in the middle.
What brand silicone from Home depot or Lowes was aqua and fish proof again ? Or should I go with a better brand?

Thx

my only concern with derimming a tank this size and it working for you is there are a lot of other things to consider. a brand new tank derimmed will probably do better than a 10 year old tank.

i think you're going to want to set up a containment zone, to at least capture any glass. 75 gallons of water in a garage is not a huge deal (especially if it is detached) but 75gallons and shattered glass being moved where ever the water decides to move it is.

something as simple as a parameter of wood studs (2x4) would probably work just fine.

i think people have derimmed larger than 20gs, it just seems they use those as rips

[JamesHockey]

I'm pretty sure the older tanks have thicker glass though


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[orchidman]

I'm Interested to see the results although I'm skeptical


You can call me Bob

[hbosman]

That glass looks awful thin in comparison to my Oceanic Rimless 57 gallon. And, my tank still has a frame on the bottom which is handy for klutzes like me when moving it around and setting it down. I think bottom frames are good for hiding roots and mulm.

[Hoppy]

I predict that this will work very well. The center cross brace may be overkill, but better safe than sorry.

Disclaimer: I am not volunteering to help clean it up if I am wrong.

[VaultBoy]

+1 hoppy

I think this will be fine I would install corner braces and build a removable timber centre brace. If you cut a piece of timber a little wider than the tank with a groove at either end to slip over the glass. Then when you fill it with water if the sides flex you won't be able remove the timber brace and it won't smash the tank

[kevmo911]

Originally Posted by VaultBoy

+1 hoppy

I think this will be fine I would install corner braces and build a removable timber centre brace. If you cut a piece of timber a little wider than the tank with a groove at either end to slip over the glass. Then when you fill it with water if the sides flex you won't be able remove the timber brace and it won't smash the tank

I've been thinking about that. But wood flexes, and I'm picturing the wood either cracking or literally popping off. A bonus would be that wood also compresses some, so it wouldn't create hard points against the glass like a more rigid material would, if there were any inconsistencies along either surface (there probably would be).

[kevmo911]

By the way, as intrigued by this project as I am, and as many times as I read through all the posts, i keep going back to this:

Originally Posted by ridewake210

Eeeek

Nevertheless, good luck! I'm actually pretty excited to see the end result.

[nalu86]

It's raining today... and the project is outside.
Maybe tomorrow. And I still have to order my glas trims.

[nalu86]

I removed the bottom trim and filled it with water.
The middleglass of the tank expanded 7 mm.
I think its trustable without the trims.
Here are some pics: