Removing the Rim off of a regular tank

[Hamtastic]

Silicone holds those tanks extremely well, and the rims are mostly cosmetic, unless you are using narrow tall tanks and fill them with water. Without water, if you just house your hamsters in one, the rims make no difference in the structural integrity of the tanks.

Problem with the rims is that they are held by silicone. As biscotti described, you will need a razor blade to separate the rims from the glass, and you can definitely crack the glass in the process, when trying to wiggle the rims off. I'd done some research on it in the past, as I own large aquariums, but I decided it wasn't worth the trouble. My tanks are painted instead (regular good quality drywall paint):

Red



Beige



I matched mine to my rooms, and I love the looks. Use a small paint roller. I'm not sure where you live, but if in the U.S., Home Depot sells Behr Ultra paint at $3 per sample can in any color you choose, so it's a good way to paint aquarium trim very cheaply. Since it's not oil-based paint, it will chip and scratch if you are not careful about scuffing it, but I almost never need to touch mine up.

[Vectis Hamstery]

What a great idea, and so attractive. I spied a wooden ledge in the beige tank - did you make and attach and, if so how? I'm looking for ideas for my bin cages!

[Queen Of The High Teas]

I've gotten a glass tank with those black plastic rims on the top, but their not stuck in any way. They just slide on over the edge of the glass to protect it. I *think* its a clearaseal tank.

[Hamtastic]

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

What a great idea, and so attractive. I spied a wooden ledge in the beige tank - did you make and attach and, if so how? I'm looking for ideas for my bin cages!

Are you referring to my photos? And if so, do you mean the large house/platform in the "beige" aquarium? If so, that's a large guinea-pig house that came with a F.O.P. cage (Gabia Tamburino from the Linea Natura series)--I just added the "steps" to the slanted side to make it climbable.

[sully]

Originally Posted by Hamtastic

My tanks are painted instead (regular good quality drywall paint):
I matched mine to my rooms, and I love the looks. Use a small paint roller. I'm not sure where you live, but if in the U.S., Home Depot sells Behr Ultra paint at $3 per sample can in any color you choose, so it's a good way to paint aquarium trim very cheaply. Since it's not oil-based paint, it will chip and scratch if you are not careful about scuffing it, but I almost never need to touch mine up.

Vey nicely done!