Habitat - Indoor :: Remove sticking lamp bracket from tank

[talal]

I use the exo terra lamp bracket to hold my deep dome lamp fixture over the tank. Now I want to remove it but it is stuck like it was glued with crazy glue to the tank! it won't come off. It has like a rubber thing that is glued to the tank. I peeled off the sticker and attached it to my tank. Now I don't know how to get it off, any suggestions?

If you don't understand my question here is the bracket that I have:

http://www.petbusinessworld.co.uk/UserF ... nsideL.png

I tried pulling it out, I tried using a knife but im scared to scratch my tank. Any replies would be appreciated! Thanks

[amwassil]

1): IF the tank is glass; 2) IF the bracket is stuck to the outside of the tank; then,

1. buy a carpenter's chisel the same width as the rubber attachments, and a hard rubber mallet;
2. round the corners of the chisel with a file and sandpaper; this will prevent scratching the glass with the corners of the chisel;
3. GENTLY tap the chisel between the rubber and the tank glass with the mallet; do NOT attempt to pry, just keep tapping the chisel gently; it will cut through the glue;
4. use acetone to clean the residue from the glass.

Hope this helps.

[steve]

What about a single edge razor? In most cases, razors won't scratch glass however you will need to replace the adhesive if you want to reuse it. Looks like a $4-5 part... kind of surprised they don't give you extra one.

[VeipaCray]

Apply a little heat. Try a hair dryer or waving a heat gun back and forth. The heat will usually soften the glue then try to work the glue pad off from the tank with a cheap $1 plastic putty knife. Once the big part is off you can heat it again or use a razor as Steve suggested and scrape any remaining residue off. Since this is the outside of the tank, a citrus based solvent like "goo gone" can also help soften and dissolve some of the residual adhesive. Be carful not to get any solvent into the tank and rinse when you're done.

Another thing very effective for dislodging adhesive is steam. If you have a walpaper steamer, clothes steamer, steam cleaner, or even an iron (if you're very careful)... the steam can help soften the adhesive.

[talal]

Thank you all, I ended up using a knife and cut it off not from the glass instead I poured acitone and cut off the plastic from the epoxy or whatever rubber sticking pad thing was and then scraped it off my tank with a razor blade. It wasn't a lot of work I just had to be really careful to not scratch the tank. I got a plank of wood that I screwed to the wall and glued the plastic bracket on it. Never getting anything that sticks on the tank ever again!