Suggestion on sealing my tank

[Linda C.]

I'm looking for advice on sealing my tank. It's a 5 sided/40ish gallon tank that I have had my teenage goldfish in for 13+ years. It sprung a leak in the front seam. Thank goodness I was home when I noticed it spraying about 5 feet across the room. So far I have been using a razor blade and have been scraping and scraping. Any suggestions to make sure I do this the correct way is appreciated. Ouy! :mixed:

 

[jaze36]

I'm currently goofing around with a similar project. Use lots of razor blades, when it seems like it is not going easy get a new one. You will get the tank cleaner easier, because there can be no silicone left when you resilicone it, not even a film. Clean the area with denatured alcohol, found at home improvement stores. Then resilicone, I'm going to use ge silicone I for doors and windows, if you use this make sure it is not the one with mildewcides in it, it will stay on the lable. I have used this on other projects and it works great. Get some blue painters tape and tape the areas where you don't want any silicone. As for making the silicone look nice I have heard of useing wet plastic spoons or pieces of pvc. Good luck.

 

[Dave ESPI]

Linda, PM sent.

 

[reefD]

i am a skeptic...thus ...an old tank that leaks will leak again....replace it......my 2 cents.

 

[Linda C.]

I think the smell of silicon has gone to my head....I didn't think my job was neat enough the first time sealing the tank...so I scraped and scraped...then sealed again....and I didn't like the front two seams the second time so I just got done with my third try. I paid $3.38 for 10oz of silicon...new tank would be $160....cost of worrying if it will leak on the upper level my house with oak flooring----hmmmm. (I'm going to do as Ken suggested and fill it outside and wait and see if it leaks or not).
Thanks Scott, Ken, Dave and David for the advice.

 

[Dave ESPI]

.......make sure the silicone is dry before filling it.................




a tad useless as advice ? me thinks not.


* I've actualy seen people try to fill a siliconed tank that was "hard to the touch" just to have it rupture later on in the day..... HILARITY ENSUED.

 

[reefD]

very understandable.........hope everything works out well.

 

[Linda C.]

I waited 3 days before I filled the tank (which was yesterday)....It has been 24 hours and no sign of any leaking. I'm still a bit nervous of putting it back on my oak flooring while living with a non-fish-geek husband. How of any of you who resealed a tank done?

 

[xian]

My mother's 55 was resealed once no leaks in three years.

 

[Lakeside518]

I resealed a 45 gal pentagon perfecto tank with no probs or leaks. It originally had a small pin leak in one seal after couple yrs of service. I only resealed the one seam. Same way Jaze descibed. I used the all-glass aquarium silicone.

 

[Dave ESPI]

I've resealed almost 30 tanks.

only 1 leaked, but it leaked after it was moved improperly with water in it, and filled up too fast with COLD water.