Installing corner guards on tank

[Tuffloud1]

Has anyone siliconed “corner guards” on corners of glass tanks to strengthen/protect corners?

Would there be any benefit in terms of preventing leaks?

I saw a YouTube video of “Billy Pipes” doing this and was intrigued. Seems like it improves the appearance of ugly silicone if nothing else.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Has anyone siliconed “corner guards” on corners of glass tanks to strengthen/protect corners?

Would there be any benefit in terms of preventing leaks?

I saw a YouTube video of “Billy Pipes” doing this and was intrigued. Seems like it improves the appearance of ugly silicone if nothing else.

Aside of a corner strike, getting hit from something which may protect the glass from chipping, stopping a leak I doubt it. The silicone between the glass is the only thing keeping a tank together. Plastic trim does help a little, but not by itself.

 

[Tuffloud1]

So it isn’t possible to stop a leak from happening by siliconing the outside corner of a tank?

 

[Flippers4pups]

So it isn’t possible to stop a leak from happening by siliconing the outside corner of a tank?

Unfortunately, no. A leaking tank needs to be replaced or rebuilt. Patches, if even remotely successful would only prolong the possibility of failure. Replace or rebuild is your friend.

 

[dantimdad]

If it's not leaking and the tank is in good condition, yes it would strengthen the tank.

Albeit kinda old school metaframe looking.

If it's having an issue, then no, it would be a bandaid on a bullet hole.

 

[Tuffloud1]

If it's not leaking and the tank is in good condition, yes it would strengthen the tank.

Albeit kinda old school metaframe looking.

If it's having an issue, then no, it would be a bandaid on a bullet hole.

Reason I’m asking about reinforcing is I peeled back the wall trim surrounding my in-wall tank and noticed some chunks of silicone missing on the inside corner edges of silicone as well as bubbling in the silicone where the 2 lanes of glass meet.

I also noticed some coraline growing under the silicone in a few areas. When using a scraper, the scraper is able to slide slightly underneath the edge of silicone, not sure if that’s normal.

The tank is 5 years old now, I purchased brand new.

Replace the tank or keep running it? I have the opportunity to change it out because I have to move it.

 

[dantimdad]

Yep, I hate to say this but, either cut it apart and rebuild it or replace it.

If it were just the inside seal and no bubbles, I would say just reseal it. But...

 

[Tuffloud1]

Yep, I hate to say this but, either cut it apart and rebuild it or replace it.

If it were just the inside seal and no bubbles, I would say just reseal it. But...

I’m pretty sure these are the same bubbles that have been there since new. Definitely no leaks ever.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Agree that you're not going to stop leaks from the outside. But you can still put on corning molding to give your tank that special look.

The corners on my tank were so ugly.....old tank with chipped corners....I attached corner molding using Sticky-Tack. Purely cosmetic.

 

[dantimdad]

If you feel completely comfortable with it, then you could reseal it.

At that point, since it's in wall, you could put the corners on it. I would use 1.5" aluminum angle that was 1/8" thick.

I built my rim out of it and it's doing well.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I would have to say that missing silicone on the glass isn't bad. It's the silicone between the panels that needs to be soild. Small bubbles in that area can be okay and almost all tanks have some.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but how thick is your glass panels? What size tank?

 

[dantimdad]

@redfishbluefish I like the look of that.

 

[Tuffloud1]

I would have to say that missing silicone on the glass isn't bad. It's the silicone between the panels that needs to be soild. Small bubbles in that area can be okay and almost all tanks have some.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but how thick is your glass panels? What size tank?

It’s an Aquarium Masters 90 gallon reef ready with corner overflow.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It’s an Aquarium Masters 90 gallon reef ready with corner overflow.

Do you know how thick the glass is?

 

[Tuffloud1]

Do you know how thick the glass is?

3/8

 

[Flippers4pups]

3/8

I would think your okay. If the bubbles you see enlarge, then take action.

 

[Tuffloud1]

I would think your okay. If the bubbles you see enlarge, then take action.

Oops, I just got home and measured. It’s 1/4.