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I snapped a few pictures while doing this quick job in preparation for my next tank project, a riparium display featuring Synodontis catfish. I started a tank thread for this one over in Tank Journals & Photo Album . (http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/tank-journals-photo-album/96449-catfish-riparium-40-breeder.html).
Here is the tank that I'm using for that setup.
My intention while starting out was to remove the top plastic rim. One might ask: Why would I want to wreck this perfectly good tank? I intend to plant it as a riparium setup with a pendant light fixture and an open top. The plants will grow up above the top of the tank, and the rimless aquarium will create a much more appealing display with unobstructed views of the emersed foliage and the water's surface. The tank will be filled to only about 3/4 of total depth and there will be several inches of seam on each corner above the water line. I hope that the tank thus filled will be strong enough to resist very much glass deflection and failure of the silicone seams.
I was going to chalk this up as a success if I could avoid a trip to the hospital emergency room, but I wrapped it up with no trouble at all. On the advice of another member of my local fish club I learned of a smart way to remove that top plastic rim. Here is the list of the items that I used:
This rusty old plane was out in the barn. It looks like a fine tool for contracting tetanus, and it's a lot bigger than what I probably needed. We have a newer plane around here somewhere, but I couldn't find it. This one has a dull and chipped blade, but it worked fine with the soft rim plastic.
I used the plane to remove the plastic all around the top outside edge of the rim until reaching the silicone sealant occupying the void between the rim and the top edges of the glass panels. I was careful to not plane any deeper than this, as the plane blade would have surely chipped the glass.
Here is the tank that I'm using for that setup.

My intention while starting out was to remove the top plastic rim. One might ask: Why would I want to wreck this perfectly good tank? I intend to plant it as a riparium setup with a pendant light fixture and an open top. The plants will grow up above the top of the tank, and the rimless aquarium will create a much more appealing display with unobstructed views of the emersed foliage and the water's surface. The tank will be filled to only about 3/4 of total depth and there will be several inches of seam on each corner above the water line. I hope that the tank thus filled will be strong enough to resist very much glass deflection and failure of the silicone seams.
I was going to chalk this up as a success if I could avoid a trip to the hospital emergency room, but I wrapped it up with no trouble at all. On the advice of another member of my local fish club I learned of a smart way to remove that top plastic rim. Here is the list of the items that I used:
- 50-gallon Aqueon aquarium
- block plane
- snap-blade cutter
- safety glasses
- [strike]a couple of beers[/strike]

This rusty old plane was out in the barn. It looks like a fine tool for contracting tetanus, and it's a lot bigger than what I probably needed. We have a newer plane around here somewhere, but I couldn't find it. This one has a dull and chipped blade, but it worked fine with the soft rim plastic.

I used the plane to remove the plastic all around the top outside edge of the rim until reaching the silicone sealant occupying the void between the rim and the top edges of the glass panels. I was careful to not plane any deeper than this, as the plane blade would have surely chipped the glass.
