resilicone tank?

[Jandree22]

I have my 75g outside while I work on it. While it's completely empty, because I have a lot of GE Type 1 silicone left over from my sump baffles, I was contemplating putting a new bead of silicone down over the original layer. I would just redo the bottom seals, simply because they'd be out of sight from my almost certain sloppy job. To my knowledge the tank isn't leaking, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to resecure the seal while tank is empty? It's 10 years old, fwiw.

what'cha think?

 

[jdmcivicek9]

it couldnt hurt...i wouldnt do the sides only because i suck at running beads of anything haha and id probably end up with silicone everywhere but the bottom sounds alright!

 

[cveverly]

I just did this today. From my understanding resealing over old silicone will not work.

I used a razor blade and cut the old sealer from the inside. Do NOT cut between the panes of glass. Once old sealer is removed clean with rubbing alcohol. Use painters tape to mask about 3/8" from each edge you are sealing. Apply sealer and smooth it out. I used my finger but others use spoons or tools made to do this. While the silicone is still wet remove the painters tape. You will have a nice sharp edge left.

 

[Jandree22]

Well let me ask this... I searched around, and as you were getting at, the process of resealing the tank pretty much involves razor blading the old surface silicone off the glass, but leaving the in-between the glass silicone in tact, untouched. Also noticed the side panels don't even have any surface silicone present.

So, what actually is the purpose for the surface silicone on the bottom pane vs. the in-between glass silicone?

 

[Tswifty]

I did what you are talking about doing on my 90 gallon tank while I had it empty. Anyway, I used blue painters tape to get the clean lines.

Just lay down the tape as a border, silicone away, then peel back the tape leaving a nice clean line.

Just remember to peel the tape back right away... it doesn't work if you let the silicone set then peel it back

I forgot and did it once :lol:

 

[Jandree22]

Yeah, I imagine that could be less than ideal

So just to make sure I understand, did you lay the new stuff right over the original silicone, or razor blade the original stuff off first?

Basically the dilemma is, I'm all about doing stuff right, but this is a classic "if it ain't broke don't fix it" sort of thing. The seals aren't bad that I know of, rather on a 10 year old tank, just wanted to give it a new lease on life with extra silicone I had laying around anyway.

thanks again!

 

[Tswifty]

I just layed it over the origninal stuff.

I also made my "secondary seals" a little wider than the original ones.

 

[Jandree22]

10-4, thanks. I actually did find the pic of your painter's tape job in that godforsaken thread of yours :lol: