built in filter

hi all I would like to know if anyone has ever broken out and inbuilt filter on the side of the tank......I don't enjoy them and want to put a cannister filter in? any suggestions thanks guys....

 

possibly have a pic?

 

want to see how it looks as you get quite a few inbuilt filters, some have holes cut others are overflow, ext.

should be an easy quick fix either way

 

sorry no pic......it's the over flow type with 3 cross sections in it...... just scared I crack the main tank while breaking out the glass

 

use a razor and cut them out. much easier and you wouldn't need to break the glass ( that is if its fitted the way I think it is )

is it a main outside frame and they just dropped glass inside and stuck it to the sides? or is it a whole diff unit? that has its own sides ext?

 

it's just glass been dropped in and silicone in place

 

yea use a razor cut out the silicone, as much as you can, and if you give it a hard enough bump or tug sides will come off and just pull to release the bottom ( or hold the glass at an angle and cut the bottom out. )

 

that's what I did to my mates tank anyways. and it worked lol

 

thanks alot bud...appreciate it.......

 

got it right?

 

I cut out an inbuilt side filter.
Using a stanley knife I cut away as much of the silicone as I could, until the panes of glass literally came off in my hands.
With the same blade I scraped away at the silicone, until there was just a light film of silicone left on the glass.
That was removed with fine steelwool and methylated spirits.

The bottom of the tank had been drilled, and a thin pane of glass siliconed over the hole.
I removed the glass using the same technique as described above.
In the attached pic you can see where the silicone was, before being removed with the steel wool and methylated spirits.

Because I wanted to use a canister filter and not a sump, I had to improvise to seal the drainage hole, but at the same time I wanted to be able to use the hole for drainage, should I want to empty the tank someday.
To seal the hole, I used a 40mm bath plug and drain.
The plug pops up when pressed, and fits flush with the bottom of the tank.
To that I used a reducing bush from 50mm to 19mm, with a stop valve.

 

yes pezulu.....I remember reading on another thread..... thanks bud I appreciate the info.....I'm sure I will come right and let you guys know how it went