I ended up with a 55 gallon aquarium with a pinhole leak in the bottom. Decided to see if I could turn it into a front opening enclosure with sliding doors.
I started looking for glass doors and ended up with 11.25" x 13.5" tempered glass panels that are 1/4" thick. They are panels from an exterior door and only cost $1.50 each. Took four panels to cover the opening.
For tracks I wanted to get double u channels intended for the purpose but couldn't find any locally. I went with 1/2" J channel used for vinyl siding. It wasn't quite tall enough on the front edge to hold the doors in place so I bought some vinyl moulding to place under the bottom piece of J channel. Here's the moulding and channel I used:
Proceeded to cut the moulding to length and use GE silicone I to adhere it to the aquarium. Cut and attached J channel using the silicone as well.
Let everything dry overnight and then put the glass in place. Used some clear plastic wall hangers for door handles. Thick felt furniture feet to raise the tank a hair so I could add heat tape. And that's pretty much it. All it needs is a thermostat and a pair of sliding glass door locks.
It isn't anything special, minimal ventilation and inability to add much in the way of overhead heat sources does limit the species it can house. (All panels tempered glass so no drilling.) But still, I think that it is pretty decent lemonade to squeeze out of a lemon tank.
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