In article ,
() wrote:

Hi,

I've been given a 48" x 15" x 12" glass tank, and I'm wondering about
its construction. It has been in constant use for over ten years I
believe. However, I have read on various websites that tanks should
be constructed with all four walls sitting ON TOP of the base and the
end walls fitting inside the front and back. On my tank, the front
and back are butting up to the edges of the base, not sitting on top.
e.g. (looking at the tank side-on) :-

B F
| A | | R |
| C | | O |
| K |___________________________| N |
| | BASE | T |
|___|___________________________|___|


The sides are fitted correctly, on top of the base and inside the
front & back. The glass is 6mm front, back & base, 4mm sides.

What I would like to know is whether this is a problem ? Is it a
*dangerous* way to build a tank, or is it just OK, but not the
'preferred' way to build it ?

Because, if it is inherently unsafe, then I will have to get the end
panels trimmed in width and move the front & back onto the base.


Shouldn't make any difference, so long as the tank is sited on a flat
surface. The side walls on base (and a stronger base) is necessary when
the tank is only supported at the sides, as was common with steel stands
in the past. Trimming a thin sliver off an end panel is a difficult job.
Cutting old glass is a difficult job. It would be easier to simply put
new end panels in. 15" x 12" 6mm glass should do the job cheaply.

I am not happy about the integrity of the sealing, so I will be
dismantling the whole tank anyway and rebuilding it. At one point,
there is a 2mm gap between one end panel and the base, and only the
silicone bead on the inside of the tank was stopping a major leak -
there is nothing at all between the glass surfaces, bar 2mm of air !

Are you suggesting the tank has been assembled dry then just had a bead of
silicon run in? Not the best way of doing it, although that was the norm
in the early days of silicon. On the other hand, if it isn't leaking now
it is OK, but I bet the person that made it had fun getting it leak free
to start with.

Whilst I'm here - what can I use to completely remove the old siicone,
once I've cut off the bulk of it ??

You must remove all the old silicon. You can get silicon remover for the
job, from Screwfix.com in the UK.

...or am I just wasing time & money and would be better off buying a
new, professionally built tank ?

Probably. If it is just a glass box then they are often cheaper that the
glass.

Roger Sleet
Roger's Aquatic Pages http://www.sleet.plus.com