135 Gallon Tank with leak

[izzy_real]

So a buddy of mine hooked me up with his 135 gallon perfecto, that was manufactured in 1986, without a center brace! About two weeks ago, it started leaking, so he took it down, and bought himself a 125. And that's how I got this tank.

After consulting with a few people, it's been suggested to me to throw the tank away, or use it for a reptile enclosure. However, I have hope, but I can't find anyone on Reef Central who has resealed a 20 year old tank, without a center brace, of this capacity.

Anyone have any ideas?

I've read the other threads here, in this forum, about removing the old silicone, and installing the new, but again, I'm worried about the center brace, and if it passes the inital fill up test, how long will it last after that?

I have the All Glass and Perfecto Silicone, but I'm still shaky.

izzy

 

[adnup]

I would buy I new center brace. I got one for a 55 from All Glass for under $20. Remove the old and reseal and you should be good.

 

[Alarmguy66]

I second that, reseal, make a center brace and roll with it.

 

[adnup]

Heres some Perfeco info. I tried the homemade center brace and didnt feel safe with them. you can find out what panels are tempered as well as a price for a center brace.
Perfecto Manufacturing, Inc.
20975 Creek Road
Noblesville, IN 46060

Customer Service: 800-241-7485
Fax: 317-773-7875
Email: info@perfectomfg.com

 

[izzy_real]

It's a Go

It's a Go

You guys have convinced me to carry on with sealing this tank. It derserves another shot! Thanks for the info on Perfecto, I'm going to send them an email when I finish with this post.

izzy

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Go for it. I've removed old scilicone from old tanks and replaced with some new stuff to stop leaks and they worked just fine. Good luck.

 

[coralnut99]

Since you'll be taking the whole thing apart, think about eurobracing. Also the panels are darn heavy, so plan on having some help around when you're ready to reassemble it.

I was also given an old 125 with no center brace. Unfortunately, I got greedy and cut the top for external overflows. The corners of the cutout for the overflow created a weak point and it cracked after two days of being filled. A really frighteneing experience! Unfortunately time wasn't on my side and I had to replace it with a standard AGA 125G. I took the tank apart, and saved all the 1/2 inch panels. They'll come back to life as something else.