How long to test reseal and plumbing

[thatone08]

I recently resealed and plumbed a used tank.

After reseal it sat for 2 weeks. Then I started to plumbe the overflows and the return. Those sat for 48 hours.

I have had tap water running for almost 48 hours.

Is there a specific amount t of time to have water running to test for leaks. Or am I good to scape and fill with salt water now?

 

[KrisReef]

Drain it and then add saltwater and you should be fine.
Good job, btw! No leaks is fantastic!

 

[thatone08]

Thank you!

 

[KrisReef]

Thank you!

I used to build tanks and I have resealed a few and it is hard work to do but it feels great when you’re finished and dry!

Silicone is safe in 48 hours but it keeps getting “stronger” over time. 2 weeks is amazing patience. Once filled, if it doesn’t leak the test is usually over. You should be golden at this point.

 

[mfinn]

I recently resealed and plumbed a used tank.

After reseal it sat for 2 weeks. Then I started to plumbe the overflows and the return. Those sat for 48 hours.

I have had tap water running for almost 48 hours.

Is there a specific amount t of time to have water running to test for leaks. Or am I good to scape and fill with salt water now?

Did it leak before you resealed it?

 

[thatone08]

Did it leak before you resealed it?

No, but I wasn’t sure how it was stored when I bought it used. And the bottom silicone, was discolored and looked shrunk and thin in spots. So I made the decision to reseal it for piece of mind.

 

[mfinn]

No, but I wasn’t sure how it was stored when I bought it used. And the bottom silicone, was discolored and looked shrunk and thin in spots. So I made the decision to reseal it for piece of mind.

I get it. I've bought several tanks that had the inner seal beat up and reapplied silicone to clean it up.

 

[lilpew]

I used to build tanks and I have resealed a few and it is hard work to do but it feels great when you’re finished and dry!

Silicone is safe in 48 hours but it keeps getting “stronger” over time. 2 weeks is amazing patience. Once filled, if it doesn’t leak the test is usually over. You should be golden at this point.

I also just resealed a tank. In your experience, if there is a leak in the tank, will it happen within a one week leak test?

 

[KrisReef]

I also just resealed a tank. In your experience, if there is a leak in the tank, will it happen within a one week leak test?

I got lucky and never had a leak but I did pop a central brace, maybe a month after I filled that tank.

If you totally disassembled the tank and it has not leaked after a week I think you should be fine. Leak test is for gaps in the seal which will leak right away. If it’s still holding after a week, check the seams for any signs that it is separating ( bubbles appearing in the seams that were not there before).

The reason I started using acrylic was that the tank was light and easy to lift and move and they don’t have seams with silicone to worry about. Glass is good but if you can’t sleep for the seams then you should try acrylic, ime.

 

[mfinn]

I also just resealed a tank. In your experience, if there is a leak in the tank, will it happen within a one week leak test?

I had a 240 that leaked from the bottom. I offered to give away if the person took it apart and resealed it completely from scratch.
They said that was the plan.
But people on Facebook told her all you had to do was just peel out the inner seal and put all new down, making sure the inner seal was complete.
About 4 months later I got a call from her at 6 in the morning. She said she saw a little water on the floor at midnight, and got up early to check it and there was a 4" wide slit that was pouring out water.
Alot of corals and a few fish were lost that week.
So, it can happen at any time.

 

[KrisReef]

I had a 240 that leaked from the bottom. I offered to give away if the person took it apart and resealed it completely from scratch.
They said that was the plan.
But people on Facebook told her all you had to do was just peel out the inner seal and put all new down, making sure the inner seal was complete.
About 4 months later I got a call from her at 6 in the morning. She said she saw a little water on the floor at midnight, and got up early to check it and there was a 4" wide slit that was pouring out water.
Alot of corals and a few fish were lost that week.
So, it can happen at any time.

I keep seeing local advertisements for glass tanks for free or cheap, with many of those tanks being made by a big name brand that has had a lot of seam failures reported on here. I wish I had the time and energy to pull them completely apart and reseal them fully but that’s a lot of work to do and time that I don’t have.

Somebody else should start a business doing reseal work. It’s gratifying to reseal a tank and save a pile of money recycling aquariums

 

[lilpew]

I keep seeing local advertisements for glass tanks for free or cheap, with many of those tanks being made by a big name brand that has had a lot of seam failures reported on here. I wish I had the time and energy to pull them completely apart and reseal them fully but that’s a lot of work to do and time that I don’t have.

Somebody else should start a business doing reseal work. It’s gratifying to reseal a tank and save a pile of money recycling aquariums

I agree. I think somebody would make some decent money doing resealing. Before I did mine myself, I called every fish store within a 3 hour radius and nobody knew of a company or person to do resealing.
Im filling my tank up for a leak check today! I hope everything ends up holding!!