Advice please... Disassemble and cut up large aquarium?

[Dr.DiSilicate]

Has anyone ever disassembled a large aquarium and used the glass to build anything else? I have an older oceanic that I’m thinking of building a sump from.

Do those glass cutters from the hardware store work on half inch glass? What other tools do I need? I’m pretty sure the bottom is tempered so can I still score and break it or dose that not work with tempered glass?

I’ve built a couple tanks and added many baffles to aquariums, both glass and acrylic, but never cut the glass myself.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Haddonisreef]

I’d take it to a glass shooting cut

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

I’d take it to a glass shooting cut

What?

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

I'm assuming the older large tank is too large to just keep as is and have a really large sump?

I'd probably second what Charlie is saying and take it to a glass shop. When I looked into cutting a piece for my 29 biocube back, it looked like the Home Depot stuff was goof for 1/4 inch glass....not sure how thick it would actually go.

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

Chris, yea it’s too big to get into my basement... not to mention how to get it into the equipment room. Lol! Maybe i’ll Take it apart and contact a glass shop. Just manning something somewhat smaller... 70-90 range. Thought it would be cool to reuse this glass. Maybe i’ll Just reseal like planned and..??

 

[jda123]

If you score that soft glass and try and break it, the edges will be nasty and full of chips (some of which might be an inch long back into the good part of the glass). ...even if you try and polish them, it won't likely work. Have a pro do it with a diamond saw, but this will be more than just buying a 75g or 90g and starting fresh - GoodWill sometimes has these for $20-30 if you go enough times... or Craigslist will have some too.

IMO, 75 or 90 is not a great sump size. Go for a 120 if you can fit it in the space - this gives you more room front-to-back for larger skimmers.

 

[Haddonisreef]

What?

You knew what I ment! Lol didn’t hAve my coffee yet hahaha

 

[Irishman]

I’ve tore down some 10’s and a 40 for the glass to use as baffles

 

[jda123]

I guess that we should add that Mike is talking about 84"x24" panels and 5/8" glass. If it is that old tank that you got from me, the bottom is not tempered...I drilled those myself.

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

I guess that we should add that Mike is talking about 84"x24" panels and 5/8" glass. If it is that old tank that you got from me, the bottom is not tempered...I drilled those myself.

It is your old tank. I have al the silicone cleaned off nd he glass clean as well. I removed the trim on the top as well. It’s actually is surprisingly good condition other than the trim being beaten up and needing a good reseal. The wife nixed it before I got further and discovered it wouldn’t make it into the basement.

 

[SynDen]

So the glass cutters that are for doing score and snap, wont work that well on that thick of glass, but a wet tile saw will cut it