My 20 gal. tank project

DirtyDawg10 · 04-19-2008, 02:39 PM

Can you guess what I was doing today...Before...

Here's the after pics...

I used vinegar and plenty of razor blades to clean up the glass. Used a brillo pad and some elbow grease to clean up the stainless steel frame.

I just have to silicone the tank and figure out some type of top. There is no flange on the interior to accept a glass top so I may get some stainless steel brackets or something. I can't make up my mind what I want to do with the top. Not too bad for a freecycle pickup.

joephys · 04-19-2008, 03:11 PM

What was the tank used for before? Has it been holding water recently? Its probably an old tank. I would be cautious about filling it up.

It cleaned up really well. What are your plans for it.

DirtyDawg10 · 04-19-2008, 03:15 PM

The tank is definitely old. The person before me said they used it for turtles.

When I got it a few months back I filled it up and it leaked in a few spots. I stripped out the old sealant (that black tar type stuff) and am planning to re-seal the entire tank from the inside.

Trixie · 04-19-2008, 06:32 PM

That's a BEAUTIFUL old tank. Very vintage! Keep us posted with lots of pics! Freecycle is wonderful.

wesleydnunder · 04-20-2008, 04:59 PM

A definite antique! Looks like the ones I had when I was a kid. Congrats on the cool find.

Mark

DirtyDawg10 · 04-20-2008, 05:06 PM

Today I caulked the outside frame with black silicone to mimic the look of the old tank. I caulked the inside with the clear silicone. I'm going to let it cure for a couple of days and then water test it. I'll get some more pictures up when I fill it up with water.

bghill · 04-21-2008, 03:09 PM

Sweet find!! I have a 10 gallon old school just like that and it must be one of my favorites. Now looking for the same only larger.

khombre · 04-21-2008, 11:24 PM

Nice cleaning job. How long did it take you? hehe

DirtyDawg10 · 04-22-2008, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khombre

Nice cleaning job. How long did it take you? hehe

Thanks, it took me about 4-1/2 hours to clean it. It took another hour to seal it and now it will take me probably another hour or two to clean up the excess sealant on the glass.

Trixie · 04-23-2008, 08:25 AM

Awesome! You should do a whole vintage aquarium theme, complete with the bubbling treasure chest and foil background....

DirtyDawg10 · 04-26-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trixie

Awesome! You should do a whole vintage aquarium theme, complete with the bubbling treasure chest and foil background....

We'll the tank is full and holding water. Filled it about 2 hrs ago and no sign of any leaks...*crosses fingers*

I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow. It hasn't changed much except it has water in it...lol...oh and silicone.

Emg · 04-26-2008, 08:24 PM

Wow Dawg, that cleaned up pretty !! Hope it holds for you...it's a beautiful tank !

I have an old antique what I think is a 5 gallon tank....looks just like the before pics you posted...lol

DirtyDawg10 · 04-27-2008, 06:48 PM

Well it's been holding water for over 24 hrs now with no leaks.

Now I just need to get a stand and a way to support a glass top so I can set it up next to the 75. Here's a pic of it full of water...

OrionGirl · 04-27-2008, 07:59 PM

That's AWESOME! I was SO bummed when I found out my mom gave the tank that style she had to a cousin.

mostlycichlids · 04-27-2008, 10:12 PM

That is a cool looking tank. Nice job on the clean up and re seal. I hope it works out for you.

DirtyDawg10 · 04-28-2008, 03:59 PM

Thanks for the compliments. It's a fun little project.

Trixie · 04-28-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyDawg10

Well it's been holding water for over 24 hrs now with no leaks.

Now I just need to get a stand and a way to support a glass top so I can set it up next to the 75. Here's a pic of it full of water...

So, is your sliding glass door working better too?

DirtyDawg10 · 04-28-2008, 07:31 PM

lol...nope my slider is still a pain in the neck.

johnpeezy · 04-28-2008, 11:05 PM

Perfecto Aquarium Hoods | Pet Solutions

have you looked into these?

I dunno what type of tank your doing but it may work and there pretty affordable

DirtyDawg10 · 04-29-2008, 03:52 PM

Thanks for the link, John. I'm trying to make a glass top work but I'll have to come up with something to support it as the tank doesn't have an inner rim for the top to sit on (like the newer tanks do).

04-19-2008, 02:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
DirtyDawg10 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,283	My 20 gal. tank project Can you guess what I was doing today...Before... Here's the after pics... I used vinegar and plenty of razor blades to clean up the glass. Used a brillo pad and some elbow grease to clean up the stainless steel frame. I just have to silicone the tank and figure out some type of top. There is no flange on the interior to accept a glass top so I may get some stainless steel brackets or something. I can't make up my mind what I want to do with the top. Not too bad for a freecycle pickup. __________________ Derek Self-Proclaimed FUTURE Fish Master IN TRAINING

04-19-2008, 03:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
DirtyDawg10 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,283	The tank is definitely old. The person before me said they used it for turtles. When I got it a few months back I filled it up and it leaked in a few spots. I stripped out the old sealant (that black tar type stuff) and am planning to re-seal the entire tank from the inside. __________________ Derek Self-Proclaimed FUTURE Fish Master IN TRAINING

04-19-2008, 06:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Trixie Meow. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,434	That's a BEAUTIFUL old tank. Very vintage! Keep us posted with lots of pics! Freecycle is wonderful. __________________

04-20-2008, 04:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
wesleydnunder Resident Cannibal Join Date: May 2006 Location: La Marque, Tx. Posts: 2,303	A definite antique! Looks like the ones I had when I was a kid. Congrats on the cool find. Mark __________________ If it can't be fixxed with a hammer, then you've got an electrical problem.

04-20-2008, 05:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
DirtyDawg10 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,283	Today I caulked the outside frame with black silicone to mimic the look of the old tank. I caulked the inside with the clear silicone. I'm going to let it cure for a couple of days and then water test it. I'll get some more pictures up when I fill it up with water. __________________ Derek Self-Proclaimed FUTURE Fish Master IN TRAINING

04-19-2008, 03:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,383	What was the tank used for before? Has it been holding water recently? Its probably an old tank. I would be cautious about filling it up. It cleaned up really well. What are your plans for it.

04-21-2008, 03:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
bghill Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	Sweet find!! I have a 10 gallon old school just like that and it must be one of my favorites. Now looking for the same only larger.

04-21-2008, 11:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
khombre ??!!! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Philippines Posts: 226	Nice cleaning job. How long did it take you? hehe __________________ The early worm gets eaten by the early bird

04-23-2008, 08:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
Trixie Meow. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,434	Awesome! You should do a whole vintage aquarium theme, complete with the bubbling treasure chest and foil background.... __________________

04-26-2008, 08:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
Emg Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northeastern Ct Posts: 3,187	Wow Dawg, that cleaned up pretty !! Hope it holds for you...it's a beautiful tank ! I have an old antique what I think is a 5 gallon tank....looks just like the before pics you posted...lol __________________ Blog of my tanks and critters....come check em out and don't forget the archives ! http://emgstanks.blogspot.com/ Eileen

04-27-2008, 06:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
DirtyDawg10 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,283	Well it's been holding water for over 24 hrs now with no leaks. Now I just need to get a stand and a way to support a glass top so I can set it up next to the 75. Here's a pic of it full of water... __________________ Derek Self-Proclaimed FUTURE Fish Master IN TRAINING

04-27-2008, 07:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,715	That's AWESOME! I was SO bummed when I found out my mom gave the tank that style she had to a cousin. __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

04-27-2008, 10:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
mostlycichlids Mostly Cichlids Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgetown, Colorado Posts: 1,172	That is a cool looking tank. Nice job on the clean up and re seal. I hope it works out for you. __________________ Don't take it personal, Just roll with it! MY FORUM: www.freshwatermadness.darkbb.com

04-28-2008, 03:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
DirtyDawg10 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,283	Thanks for the compliments. It's a fun little project. __________________ Derek Self-Proclaimed FUTURE Fish Master IN TRAINING

04-28-2008, 07:31 PM	#18 (permalink)
DirtyDawg10 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,283	lol...nope my slider is still a pain in the neck. __________________ Derek Self-Proclaimed FUTURE Fish Master IN TRAINING

04-28-2008, 11:05 PM	#19 (permalink)
johnpeezy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 374	Perfecto Aquarium Hoods \| Pet Solutions have you looked into these? I dunno what type of tank your doing but it may work and there pretty affordable

04-29-2008, 03:52 PM	#20 (permalink)
DirtyDawg10 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,283	Thanks for the link, John. I'm trying to make a glass top work but I'll have to come up with something to support it as the tank doesn't have an inner rim for the top to sit on (like the newer tanks do). __________________ Derek Self-Proclaimed FUTURE Fish Master IN TRAINING

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