$50 craiglist 225 tank/cabinet/canopy DIY refurbish

What you have done is to devise an impromptu jig. Many aquariums are assembled is a jig to get the uniformity that you are trying to achieve. Keep up the good work!

One of the best things I have ever used for clamping are those nylon ratchet straps. The nylon webbing allows for irregular shapes. Plus they are usually far longer than the distance I need to cover. When I exceed the length of one I just add in a second strap. If I have to use more than 2 I buy the heavier and longer ones. They are invaluable in their simplicity of use.
 
In total 3 of 5 aquarium panels had to be replaced. The bottom becasue it was broken, one end panel because it had a quarter size leaking chip at the bottom and had to be flipped, and the other end panel because it had a high corner pressure point that would have eventually cracked the new capped bottom previously inset or floated. Each panel replaced separately due to their collective weight if attempted all at once without special support forms. The only glass panels not removed were the 2 sides and the center brace LOL.

1 hour ago we just glues in the last end panel and are preparing to install the bottom tomorrow morning using 2 steel saw horses to support the upside-down aquarium which we will slide off the truck under two suspended ropes which will suspend the bottom glass overhead. At each end of the aquarium will be a piece of plywood a little higher then the edges of the aquarium and strapped and clamped in place at each end as a guide stop for the glass bottom which will have one end lowered into place first without touching then untied and then from underneath the open bottom of the aquarium and open saw horses access one person will crawl under and inside the aquarium and support the still raised end of the glass without touching the edges of the clean glass while the other person unties the rope allowing the glass while the person inside the aquarium gently lowered the other end into place. At least that is what we hope as no suction cups could be had.

It will be the most dangerous part and one mistake or oversight could allow either the aquarium to fall off a horse or suspended glass bottom overhead to slip off a rope and come crashing down deicing me to bits inside the aquarium. We are planning a dress rehearsal with a mattress to cover every potential problem from making sure the rope J-hooks are lock wired shut and attached into solid wood studs in the ceiling and taping of all rope knots with duct-tape to prevent loose knots. Even locations to tie off the ropes suspending the glass overhead. Finally dress rehearsing all our movements so that we don't trip or forget a needed task, But I am hopeful and and therefore confident that providence will be with us on this last and most dangerous step.
 
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I must have installed the bottom glass 30 times in my mined going over various configs and scenarios the most concerning how to suspend the glass, this solved by simply placing a mattress on top of the tank as a spacer then tied off the glass and removed spacer.

Crawling inside the tank to lower each end after removing the rope was easy compared to running one continuous 16 foot bead of silicone fast enough to keep it from skinning in 5 minutes.

After final positioning I inspected the seal for any large bubbles which I pushed out by using my fingers to push excess silicone against the seam and a few bubbles would migrate to the other side and disappear. .

Now it just have to wait for the silicone to dry so I can remove all the excess and reseal the inside bottom followed by the sides using GE silicone I (4x10oz pack for $15). By then the PVC angle should arrive for bottom trim.

Below the photos of what occurred.
Bottominplace002.jpg

Bottominplace004.jpg

Bottominplace008.jpg
 
Wow I wish I had a fun project like that!
 
Now that the bottom seal has cured for 48 hours and the sides for almost 96 hours and have cleaned off the excess globs of silicon on the outside of the tank, its time to flip the aquarium back right-side up and clean the excess silicone inside the tank in preparation for an inside one piece seal that spans 27 feet using a caulking gun and spoon.

Cleaning the inside alone is going to take some careful arm stretching work. careful not to cut the seam between the panels while cutting the excess silicone as close to the seams as possible and then removing every bit of residue silicone using razor, fine sand paper and the then vacuum cleaner. Then cleaning all the sealing surfaces first vinegar then denatured alcohol.

I feel a bit apprehensive becasue I have to flip the aquarium right-side up without installing the bottom angle trim which protects the corners and bottom from pressure points or mild hits preventing chips. The reason it has to stay off is for the leak test which will help me find the leak location if not obscured by the bottom trim. Of course the 5 day leak test will be final and most important hurtle.:hypnotized:
 
:headbang2:
 
:clap::clap::y220e:

hang in there
 
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