My newly built 300 gallon by my 20 yr experienced tank builder...silicone question
- Thread starter Burundi
- Start date
It's not great. I've seen tanks like that never fail, but they also weren't 300 gallons. What is your builder saying?
Hes just built a store 12x4x4 for rays and built my 8x2x2.5 5 yrs ago that was similar just no bubbles on the bottom seem. He said its absolutely fine and wont ever fail...he was working in pretty bad humidity and heat as its a hot summer here in Australia . ..his prep is always very good too he sprays glass cleaner from the can like crazy and wipes every surface down well.....im thinking these are gas bubbles stuck within the silicone layer as its thick ....they dont appear to go all the way through from one panel to the next which ive read doesnt affect strength of seals?
Hey mate....can uou elaborate why? Its reinforced by 12mm x 50mm strips over the top of the base thats only like that for 30% of the seems length and has 2 x 30cm top braces.....been running a month with no problems or changes in the gas bubbles ....
No one here can tell you it's fine unequivocally. You'll have to trust your builder and your own instincts.
wvned
Well-known member
I am wondering why you would choose to ask random people you dont know that over what the person who built the tank.
I would use the tank.
I have had 2 tanks fail at the center of the bottom seam that were fine when I purchased them. Both 55 gallons. I wont buy them anymore. When they go it's a big mess.
I would use the tank.
I have had 2 tanks fail at the center of the bottom seam that were fine when I purchased them. Both 55 gallons. I wont buy them anymore. When they go it's a big mess.
Kharmaguru gave the same answer I would. I tend to be overly cautious about things like this. I've been on hobby related message boards for a long time and have heard was too many stories about tanks springing a leak at the seam or having a complete blow out. Again, I err on the side of caution.
alton
Well-known member
If he gave you a warranty you should be good. Planet which is my tank of choice gives a 3 year and a 5 year if you buy their stand. My oldest from them is 10, the company they worked for before was Oceanic the Original before the name was sold and moved out of state which built my bosses tank and it is around 25 years old.
wvned
Well-known member
Usually the warranty is just for the tank itself and not the disaster it will create if it fails. Some homeowners insurance policies will cover it.
I have a Custom Aquarium Lifetime tank 240 gallons. Guaranteed forever
but the reality is
Should the aquarium be found defective, the customer must return the aquarium at their cost to CustomAquariums.com manufacturing facility in Neenah, Wi. The condition it arrives at the Neenah, Wi facility is the condition that will be evaluated for a warranty claim. The aquarium will be either replaced or repaired at the manufacturer’s discretion. The customer may pick up the aquarium at the manufacturer’s location without charge, or have the items shipped at the cost of the customer.
So if it fails they will do the same thing over again and send it back to you.
Yes the tank is expensive but it is but a tiny bit of the overall cost of a large system as well. Large tanks have come on hard times and aren't out there like they used to be too.
I have a Custom Aquarium Lifetime tank 240 gallons. Guaranteed forever
but the reality is
Should the aquarium be found defective, the customer must return the aquarium at their cost to CustomAquariums.com manufacturing facility in Neenah, Wi. The condition it arrives at the Neenah, Wi facility is the condition that will be evaluated for a warranty claim. The aquarium will be either replaced or repaired at the manufacturer’s discretion. The customer may pick up the aquarium at the manufacturer’s location without charge, or have the items shipped at the cost of the customer.
So if it fails they will do the same thing over again and send it back to you.
Yes the tank is expensive but it is but a tiny bit of the overall cost of a large system as well. Large tanks have come on hard times and aren't out there like they used to be too.
Absolutely no bowing or change in the gas bubbles that appear trapped in those parts of the silicone bead thats quite thick ...it has 2x 30cm top braces in 12mm glass and a 5cm by 12mm thick glass bottom bracing ....top braces and bottom reinforcement has no bubbles hardly ....
Btw this is my fronny tank....i breed them and these guys are all mine ...i put alot of work into the cabinet etc in prep for this big tank...perhaps im having a slight vent lol 
its a damn heavy solid tank took 4 of us to carry. Fyi this male in the centre of tank is 25cms now his dad was 40!
its a damn heavy solid tank took 4 of us to carry. Fyi this male in the centre of tank is 25cms now his dad was 40!Attachments
Small bubbles in the silicone are actually pretty common and usually not a sign of weakness. In many cases it can be related to the tensile strength of the silicone being used. Some of the stronger structural silicones are thicker and the gases created during curing have a harder time escaping, which can leave small bubbles behind.
The thickness of the glass and the size of the silicone joint can also play a role. When you have thicker panels or a larger bonding area, it becomes more difficult for those gases to work their way out while the silicone is curing.
Because of that, small bubbles in the seam often show up even in very well-built tanks and don’t necessarily indicate a structural issue.
The thickness of the glass and the size of the silicone joint can also play a role. When you have thicker panels or a larger bonding area, it becomes more difficult for those gases to work their way out while the silicone is curing.
Because of that, small bubbles in the seam often show up even in very well-built tanks and don’t necessarily indicate a structural issue.
