Recommendation for Glass Tops

[darkdep]

For those of you near the Kanata area, I'd like to give a recommendation for Rossen Glass and Mirror on Hazeldean Road.

They are a small glass shop that I visited yesterday and the woman there was very helpful.  I've recently wanted to become more comfortable working with glass, so I went in with many inquiries about different types of glass, what could be cut, etc etc.  She was VERY helpful and very willing to accommodate.

VERY good prices on glass.  Specifically, I need some more glass tops for some new tanks and the price of these from Hagen/Perfecto has always cheesed me off.  A glass top for a 10gal tank from these nice folks is less than $6.00, compared to something well over $20.00 for a Hagen top.  Good savings if you have many tanks to cover.  They only charge for the Sq. Footage of the glass; no charge to cut or polish edges.

Since you'll ask, yes I did inquire about drilling.  She took me into the back and showed me the drilling machine they have, which is essentially a funky looking drill press.  Based on their setup, they could do holes in the side of a tank but not the back (you'd have to see the setup).  When I asked about that, she didn't quote me a price but said as long as it could physically be done they would be happy to do it.  So, if anyone is interested in that, give them a call and get a quote.

If anyone is looking to get some tops done, I highly recommend them.

[groan]

do they have the hardware for sliding rails and hinges?
I want a top/tops for my 70 gal.
I'd check in Orleans first but that's great info!

[darkdep]

Forgot to ask about rails and hinges.    I have to measure my tank tops and am planning to call them back for exact quotes, so I'll post what I hear.

[Chinaman]

Hi chris,

Useful info to keep in mind.  I used to patronize the one (forgot the
store name) on Preston, close to Somerset across that baseball field.

Sam

[BigDaddy]

I got my glass from M&T in the past and they never even OFFERED to polish the sides after cutting...

Good to know, may be worth the drive

[darkdep]

What?  You mean they gave them to you RAW???

Rossen polishes for free by default, and for extra will make a super-pretty beveled edge (absolutely not necessary for this application but still...)

[BigDaddy]

Yup.. I coulda sliced my fingers multiple times if I wanted to...

[darkdep]

Holy wow. 

When I was taking care of oenology's tanks this past fall, she happened to have one tank that had a broken glass cover on it.  I sliced myself really good on it one day, CSI Ottawa would definitely know I was there. 

[Adam]

I find the marineland/perfecto glass top kits sometimes don't come with the plastic back (the thing you can cut to fit your filters) or the handle...and this was in a few unopened boxes...  But if I were to return it, it would be like I just bought it to get those things and I would be blamed.  Sounds like a good idea to get it custom made.

Adam

[groan]

That reminds me, should make sure you can get handles for them too...any thoughts? And what about the plastic shield for the back?

[darkdep]

Well, I'm not buying any more manufactured tops.  I'll get them custom made because it's no hassle and cheap.  Rossen says just call em up with the dimensions and they're ready for pickup next day.

For small tanks (10gal ish) I'm just going to have a single pane cut, sized to fit the tank grooves and leave some space at the back for filters and cords.  For bigger tanks, you'd probably want two panes but again, not sure if they have track.  If not, lift and slide I guess.  As for handles, well, Hagen just gives you a big stick on big-rubber-button rather than a "handle" per se...I'm sure you could purchase something similar at home depot for next to nothing.

[Adam]

I use a self adhering coat hook for my handles...like $2-3

Adam

[PaleoFishGirl]

That's a GREAT idea....

[groan]

I use a self adhering coat hook for my handles...like $2-3

Adam

Yup, Great idea!

As was said before M&T has the rails so I may check them out or whoever is the glass specialist in the east end and go from there.

[babblefish1960]

The glass shop on Preston near Somerset is called Preston and Lieff Glass, they lost some of their employess to M&T a couple of years ago.

I always get the edge sanded at M&T, preferred customer I suppose, I buy a lot of glass for windows yearly.

[groan]

What type of glass do you ask for for tops? (say for a 48x18 70 gallon?
Tempered?
and I guess doing the 4 panels of sliding would work best?

[darkdep]

Tops don't need to be structural; you just want 3mm plate glass. That's exactly what you ask for, and supply dimensions. Just remember that they are glass experts but don't know anything about aquariums, so make sure you give accurate dimensions.

[PoisonJello]

I bought a 10gal glass top made by hagen not knowing the make of my 10gal and wouldn't you know doesn't fit and not worth it to me to return it (bought at BA in point clarie for just under $10 boxing week, gas cost me more to get there)
to get the proper size glass cut here in Cornwall at Cornwall Glass only cost $5.86
I used the plastic part from the one i bought so i didn't need the sliders but found out most glass places do carry the slider but never have seen the other plastic parts (hinge and back peice)
If you tell them what you need the glass for and the size you need they will usually recomend the thickness and type of glass to get (does save to get your own cut, they cut and polished for me there also)