Need help

[HGwaytobe]

Hey guys, I'm currently building a tank ( first one) and I was wonder if any one has any clue on how to build the edging that goes all the way around the top and bottom.

 

[targetfish]

Sheesh, I'd be too scared to build a tank, especially my first. By the edging, do you mean the sealant, rims, or?

 

[Fishfur]

Sheesh, I'd be too scared to build a tank, especially my first. By the edging, do you mean the sealant, rims, or?

If you mean the plastic rim (usually it’s black but not always) you cannot build one at home like the commercial ones. They’re moulded in one piece, usually out of polystyrene but occasionally other durable plastics.

There’s no way to duplicate that at home that I know about.

But they are not structural. They do not hold the tank together and loads of rimless tanks exist without them.

Rimless tanks are constructed from somewhat thicker glass - the rims do allow for using slightly thinner glass, which saves money in manufacturing costs.

The only thing that actually keeps a tank together is the very narrow butt joint between the panes of glass. The thicker the glass, the more surface area for the silicone to hold.

A rimless tank built of thicker glass is stronger than a commercial rimmed one of the same dimensions.

You also need not put a bead of sealant on the inner corners of the tank. Rimless tanks never have them - they detract from the view & again, are not structural in any way. They’re a minor insurance measure used in commercial rimmed tanks.

Incidentally, commercial & custom manufacturers use much better quality silicone than the usual stuff hobbyists tend to use.

You want an RTV 108 type of 100% silicone. (RTV just means room temperature vulcanizing).

Do not use GE I or hardware store brands. The bond they can create is not as strong. The RTV silicones are very much worth their higher price.

Suggested brands -

Clear Aquarium Silicone Sealant - Reliable Bonding for Aquariums

Momentive RTV 108 Silicone Adhesive Sealant, Clear, 10.1 oz cartridge, MIL-A-46106 Type I

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[DaveKS]

You can buy corner molding like this which is wood grain outside but solid pvc in center and use a miter box/saw to cut 45° angles then use PVC solvent to chemically weld corners together. You can can also find black/gray if that’s your preference.

5165 1 in. x 1 in. x 8 ft. PVC Composite Highlands Oak Colonial Outside Corner Molding

Then you would use RTV silicone as listed above to secure it to glass rim. Whatever your glass dimensions are add 1/16” around all 4 sides (.125”) so inside dimensions of the molding leaves a good layer of bonding sealant between it and glass.