coal for Christmas- potential seam failure

nycfishy · Dec 17, 2022

Was cleaning tank today and noticed this on my 525xl, not sure how long it's been there.
How worried should I be?
I'll try reaching out to redsea directly but wanted some opinions if this is imminent failure, can hold like this for years.
Tank is about 6 years old and I really enjoy it but if this means starting over I'm getting out as I don't have it in me to start over.

Cell · Dec 17, 2022

Very worried, regardless of what RS tells you.

nycfishy · Dec 17, 2022

Cell said:
Very worried, regardless of what RS tells you.

like flood in next few hours/days worried or sometime in next 10 years worried.

nycfishy · Dec 17, 2022

Also just looked it up and tank is 4 years old

homer1475 · Dec 17, 2022

Inner filet of silicone. The structural part is between the panes. The filet inside is just to make it look good.

Probably from using a blade type scraper to clean the glass.

I wouldn't worry one bit.

nycfishy · Dec 17, 2022

homer1475 said:
Inner filet of silicone. The structural part is between the panes. The filet inside is just to make it look good.

Probably from using a blade type scraper to clean the glass.

I wouldn't worry one bit.

Sorry but not following. If that bit of silicone looses adhesion to the bottom won’t it start leaking as there would be direct “path” for water from inside the tank to the outside. Even if it’s just think sliver at edge.

brandon429 · Dec 17, 2022

how about this

mark the current separation line with a sharpie dot.

cease any scraping if any. if it moves one iota past the mark, attach your post here:

Red Sea Reefer Tank Seal Failure

This is beginning to look like the Marineland DD fiasco.

www.reef2reef.com

based on the volume of that thread I could not consider a red sea tank concern free, but if you didn't do any scraping and that happened above: I am not sure how to interpret that data other than as a potential concern.

homer1475 · Dec 17, 2022

Ever watch how they put a tank together?

The structural silicone is between the panels. The panels are not put directly together(glass to glass), then siliconed from the inside. The overflow from squeezing the panels together after silicone is applied is then filleted on the inside to smooth it out.

brandon429 · Dec 17, 2022

ps

if you need to transfer this tank we can do it without a recycle and all your stuff will live. at least that part is certain

FSP · Dec 17, 2022

For clarity, the fillet protects the seam from water. Can't really tell from the pictures, but the bottom is the worst part of an aquarium to have seam issues.

Tamberav · Dec 17, 2022

If you decide to get a new tank, just buy new sand (I would wash it) and move your rock/corals/fish over with some tank water and some new water (like a water change).

You do not have to start over. Just transplant your tank.

brandon429 · Dec 17, 2022

dont forget downsizing too, we could move all your rocks and corals into a much smaller tank and it would just look fuller, you'd be excluding a couple fish vs the current load, but keeping in the hobby 99% happy/not rs brand on the next reef, any make at all. take only your smallest fish/remove some to match the downsize.

nycfishy · Dec 17, 2022

brandon429 said:
how about this

mark the current separation line with a sharpie dot.

cease any scraping if any. if it moves one iota past the mark, attach your post here:

Red Sea Reefer Tank Seal Failure

This is beginning to look like the Marineland DD fiasco.

www.reef2reef.com

based on the volume of that thread I could not consider a red sea tank concern free, but if you didn't do any scraping and that happened above: I am not sure how to interpret that data other than as a potential concern.

great minds, I took a wine glass marker and outlined it so I could keep track of any progression.
thanks for link to failure thread,

nycfishy · Dec 17, 2022

homer1475 said:
Ever watch how they put a tank together?

The structural silicone is between the panels. The panels are not put directly together(glass to glass), then siliconed from the inside. The overflow from squeezing the panels together after silicone is applied is then filleted on the inside to smooth it

Ok I get that and it makes sense but if you look at the picture the seam is starting to "give" below that finish fillet. It's into the area where the bottom glass and front glass meet and bond.

nycfishy · Dec 17, 2022

brandon429 said:
ps

if you need to transfer this tank we can do it without a recycle and all your stuff will live. at least that part is certain

tank can only go into the same spot it currently sits so would need a temp tank to hold everything while the transfer happens, I know it's doable and not the worst thing in the world but fair bit of work. Now that some of the anger has subsided I'm at least considering it.

Jeeperz · Dec 17, 2022

nycfishy said:
tank can only go into the same spot it currently sits so would need a temp tank to hold everything while the transfer happens, I know it's doable and not the worst thing in the world but fair bit of work. Now that some of the anger has subsided I'm at least considering it.

If it creeps past your mark in the next several months I'd just buy a Rubbermaid stock tank of appropriate size. Get your new, custom double bottom tank coming, then get stock tank setup in garage/basement/spare room/living room

, semi filled with fresh salt water, transfer rocks, but give them a good swish in a fresh bucket of saltwater to remove detritus, then fill stock tank, once it's full transfer livestock, and pumps/skimmer for flow/aeration. Take red Sea tank down and make a video of blowing it up with tanerite and post here and on YouTube/Facebook if you do Fakebook. Install new custom tank with rinsed sand and transfer livestock/rocks and watch levels and enjoy new tank for years

Idech · Dec 17, 2022

nycfishy said:
tank can only go into the same spot it currently sits so would need a temp tank to hold everything while the transfer happens, I know it's doable and not the worst thing in the world but fair bit of work. Now that some of the anger has subsided I'm at least considering it.

I hope you keep reflecting and decide to stay in the hobby. 4 years is an achievement and it would be a shame to let all your work go down the drain.

nycfishy · Dec 17, 2022

Idech said:
I hope you keep reflecting and decide to stay in the hobby. 4 years is an achievement and it would be a shame to let all your work go down the drain.

been on hobby for 10 years with a one year break during major house renovation. so I do love it but knees hurting and less time available to invest so just not as excited as I used to be, which sucks as I've got this tank fully automated and tuned where I touch it very infrequently. but thanks for the kind words of encouragement.