I got two used tanks, and the old, plastic framing is kind of falling apart. So I am spiffying them up by covering them with some homemade framing, made from moulding from Home Depot.

First, had hubby measure and cut the 4 peices, and I siliconed 3 peices together like this:



Then I put silicone on the old frame surface on all 3 sides, and slid my new framing over that...pushing into place:



Finally, added a couple of weights to hold everything in place while the silicone dries:



Add the 4th peice after you've slid everything into place. If you do this on foil, it won't stick to your working surface, and peels right off in case you had any excess silicone.

I'm doing the top of my 20 gallon as well, since that frame was really trashed. I had to repair a corner peice of glass that broke off while I was removing the old frame, which you can see in the first picture. Once I get the top frame on, only half of that will show. I'll put the filter on the other side to keep weight off of it.

That's funny.
I hadn't realized that Spooky was watching me work.

That's a nice idea! It really dresses up the tank. How about a finished photo?

Great idea, I can't wait to see how it looks when it's finished!

that's really cool! i would have never thought of that!

Can't wait to see the finished product! I may have to do this to my twenty gallon. :]

Lola that's gonna be so pretty when you get it finished! Can't wait to see pics.

that looks fantastic! in the last shot it looks like you've stained/painted the wood? very nice!

that is awesome i think you are very creative to design something like that let alone make it.

Now I see what you were talking about when you commented on my tank, that's a great idea you have and a great accident I had...hmmm?

Wonderful idea, Lola! It'll look like a brand new tank when you're done!
I can't wait to see it finished!



Debbie

I know it looks like wood, but it's faux. It's that polyresin stuff, finished to look like wood. Less work for me than staining.The 10 gallon is done, but hubby is working on the 20g. top frame today. It's a little more tricky.

! that's excellent! and you don't have to worry about it getting water damaged during WCs I like!

Yes, that's what I was hoping.

I've gotten further on the 20 gallon...I'll post pics later on Friday eve.

Nice work Lola! Be careful you don't scratch that pretty countertop with those dumbells!

Top and bottom are done on this one now:





The very top cuts are going on last, they look like this:

Wow it's beautiful! Great job!

and the final framing:





Close up of top:



What's great about using this stryofoam-like product, is that mistakes can be covered up easily with silicone, and it helps make the whole thing even more waterproof. Of course real wood can be used, and putty instead of silicone for mistakes.

I would have used real wood for the top and bottom frames if they were missing on a larger tank, since the support would be needed for the weight of the water. But with these smaller tanks, support frames aren't needed as much.

Wow thats really creative but nice. I haven't thought of that... Great work I might steel ur idea one day lol

wow that is a whole different tank..Congrats it looks good!!

What are you going to put in them?

Nothing in the 10 gallon. Just going to keep it for a hospital tank. The 20 gallon is going to be my QT tank first, and then a 2nd hospital tank. Which, knock on wood, I won't have to use too often.

And here's the 20 gallon, ready for fishies:

wow! that's beautiful! looks like it came right out of the box, LOL cant wait to see it with fish