Bezzel removal and backwards bulkhead

[Berggy]

2 things please....
How do I remove the plastic bezzles from the 46 bowfront without breaking.
Anyone see a problem with putting in the bulkhead with the nut inside the tank and flange outside...I really need to save the space.

[VWD]

as far as the nut, it can go in or out side so long as the rubber washer is on the flat side and not the nut side.


what do you mean the bezel?

[Fly Guy]

as vinny said, bulkhead can go either direction as long as the nut is oppsite side the gasket

they make low profile bulkheads as well that can solve this problem so it still looks good tankside

whats a bezzle???

[Berggy]

I'm calling the bezzel the plastic frame around the top and bottom of my 46g bowfront aga . everyone says I need to totally remove the glass from the frame, acetone the silicone off the glass and reseal the tank ... I guess it would be called a tank rebuild.

[Fly Guy]

I seriously wouldnt go to the trouble. 46 bowfronts are a dime a dozen...ok..maybe not a dime...but you shoule be able ti pick one up that isnt leaking for $100 TOPS if you look around...maybe even much less.

if you wantt o go to the trouble to essentially build a tank which is what you would be doing........id put the time and effort into something a little bigger.

as far as removing the rim......run a blade up under the rim every place you can reach...then get a block of wood and a hammer and gently tap it up a little bit at a time evenly all the way around....might take a cpouple of trips around the tank to get it off.....

[Berggy]

Sounds like a blast ... must be why my brain insists that the frame is structural and I should just pour silicone into it and move on.

[Fly Guy]

The frame is not keeping the tank from leaking directly per se.......it prevents the glass from bowing very much which prevents the stress from being passed onto the seams.

If you have a leak, the only way to fix it and be able to sleep well at night is to redo it completely, which IMO makes that thin walled 46 gallon tank disposable at this point

I know thats not exactly what you want to hear....just being honest. You dont want to rebuild that thing

[Berggy]

I just noticed the bottom glass is really stuck in to the frame ... glued to the center brace and all... since the side glass sits on top of the bottom glass ... can i leave it stuck down and just redo the sides and top?

[Berggy]

Spent a few hours working on silicone removal between the top frame and glass . got it loose but not off yet. amazing how well the saw from my leatherman works ... push it up between the glass and plastic and the teeth hook the silicone. use just little strokes and i can pull out 3-6" of silicone in one shot.

[Berggy]

Finally got the top off ... then the glass is easy ... cept the bow ... that one is stuck real well!

So I'm guessing that I want to drill the rear panel BEFORE I go and resilicone?

[Berggy]

OK .. rubbing alcohol or acetone for glass cleaning?

Removing the silicone from the plastic frame is done how?

The glass has something on it where it has never been cleaned ... like behind the skimmer box ... VERY tough ... almost looks like the glass is etched ... but it is not ... how to clean that?

[Loverotties]

Try Vinegar (soak it).

[DarthOcellaris]

use vinegar to remove that film...acetone is suggested to clean glass prior to construction but I think rubbing alcohol would work although not as well.

use a brand new 3m pad and vinegar to clean the film off .

ps..if it's etched, theres not a whole lot you can do but I think muratic acid could help you a little....not worth it IMO

[Berggy]

I'll give it a try before I toss the tank .... whatever is stuck on the glass is not in a place that I would silicone ...

I found the whole thing to be quite structuraly sound except for the pinhole leak around the glass spacers.