Where Can I Buy Aquarium Trim?

by Lava Thu Jun 04, 2015 10:11 pm

I am preparing to replace a piece of missing trim that surrounds the base of my 50 gallon tank but do not know where I can buy replacement trim. The tank has 3/8" thick glass. Existing trim (plastic extrusion) is ⅝" wide, mitred at the corners. Any leads, especially to Canadian retailers or online retailers would be appreciated.

by **CAAIndie** Thu Jun 04, 2015 10:28 pm

Hello Lava,

Welcome to Canadaquaria!

I'm not certain about where to find the trim you are after, you may find some members may have some ideas. Consider stopping by the intro section and saying hi. You may find some local people that may have what you need.

by Lava Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:08 am

Thank you CAAIndie.
The trim I am looking for is sometimes called "extrusion" or "framing" and it is the black "L-shaped" trim that is often used to frame the bottom of the aquarium. It's probably just some kind of standard trim used for glass but I thought it would be wise to check in here with some of the more experienced "aquaria-afficionados".
Thanks again. I will try the intro section.

by fish lady Fri Jun 05, 2015 9:02 am

why buy when you can DIY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E2eo-dx-qk
very easy to do this is the one i used

by Lava Sat Jun 06, 2015 2:07 am

thanks for the DIY link FL. I am looking to buy if I can find a piece of standard stock that matches what's already there. I've seen this video and it's a great idea if you are replacing all of the trim (which I may have to do).

by Lava Sat Jun 06, 2015 2:28 am

I am preparing to replace a piece of missing trim that surrounds the base of my 50 gallon tank but do not know where I can buy replacement trim. The tank has 3/8" thick glass. Existing trim (plastic extrusion) is ⅝" wide, mitred at the corners. Any leads, especially to Canadian retailers or online retailers would be appreciated.

by alexmtl Sat Jun 06, 2015 9:16 am

Lava wrote:Thanks for that ideas. I like the routed out particle board idea a lot. I am setting up my new workshop this summer and will make one of these. You've given me ideas to trim the edges for a nice profile. Does it absorb moisture or do you paint the whole thing for prevention?
Regarding the trim making idea, it's a last resort for me if I can't match what's there. One entire side is missing and I thought it would be easy to replace it with some standard stock. It's cosmetic rather than structural but keeps the kids from cutting their hands on the sharp edges.

Great idea ! I agree that it is also for safety to avoid cuts. I do not use particle board : I use solid wood under all my aquariums. For the larger tanks, I use 12x1 (or larger) in parallel to cover the entire bottom. I have one aquarium without plastic trim that sits entirely on the wood without trim. My thinking is that the trim keeps the weight pressure along the seam to maintain integrity. Without the trim, the pressure point is lost on the seam. In my thinking it is probably a weaker seam. My preference is to have the plastic trim. In lieu of plastic trim, I distribute the weight across the entire bottom of the tank. My thinking only. Not sure if the wood across the entire bottom idea is engineeringly sound, just my theory.