Quick question on the reseal I just finished

[Rjramos]

Just saw this thread now and I will mention my experience and recent learning from an expert tank builder. Cured silicone is inert, meaning a new application will not bond to the old in the seam between the panes of glass. I learned this the hard way with the tank above. First of all, the tank was custom built in 1998 it was set up and ran as a reef tank till 2007( 9 years) after this it was emptied, cleaned and stored indoors until October 2013 when I decided to do what you are doing now, cut out the bead, clean and put a new bead in. I thought I did a great job, it looked good, except micro bubbles between the new and old silicone that you can’t see. I set up the tank again and things were great until April of this year(61/2 years later)when I got a call stating the tank was leaking bad al of the sudden. The front bottom seal had failed. I was able to save all the livestock and the tank was custom made new again. Granted, I got my money’s worth on this tank and the failure wasn’t catastrophic, but I will never try resealing an old tank again. The tank builder also told me that if the tank can be carefully disassembled without even chipping an edge, and the panes cleaned good, and then put back together,then that is the way to do it. But not easy to do especially with a manufactured tank with frames top and bottom.( I failed at this too). Reef tanks can go for many years so always consider when the tank was originally built. Manufactured tanks sometimes have a date on the bottom pane. Good luck and I hope that you have better success than me. I have an Oceanic 175 bow front( they don’t make these anymore) covered in the shade outside which I would love to replace my 120 gal with.But I have the same dilema. It doesn’t leak but the silicone is old and I don’t want to take any risk with it.

 

[living_tribunal]

Just saw this thread now and I will mention my experience and recent learning from an expert tank builder. Cured silicone is inert, meaning a new application will not bond to the old in the seam between the panes of glass. I learned this the hard way with the tank above. First of all, the tank was custom built in 1998 it was set up and ran as a reef tank till 2007( 9 years) after this it was emptied, cleaned and stored indoors until October 2013 when I decided to do what you are doing now, cut out the bead, clean and put a new bead in. I thought I did a great job, it looked good, except micro bubbles between the new and old silicone that you can’t see. I set up the tank again and things were great until April of this year(61/2 years later)when I got a call stating the tank was leaking bad al of the sudden. The front bottom seal had failed. I was able to save all the livestock and the tank was custom made new again. Granted, I got my money’s worth on this tank and the failure wasn’t catastrophic, but I will never try resealing an old tank again. The tank builder also told me that if the tank can be carefully disassembled without even chipping an edge, and the panes cleaned good, and then put back together,then that is the way to do it. But not easy to do especially with a manufactured tank with frames top and bottom.( I failed at this too). Reef tanks can go for many years so always consider when the tank was originally built. Manufactured tanks sometimes have a date on the bottom pane. Good luck and I hope that you have better success than me. I have an Oceanic 175 bow front( they don’t make these anymore) covered in the shade outside which I would love to replace my 120 gal with.But I have the same dilema. It doesn’t leak but the silicone is old and I don’t want to take any risk with it.

I appreciate the advice! It’s undoubtedly risky.

From what I’ve read, and heard from others that work with silicone often is that it does indeed bond to existing silicone.

The images above have a 10mm bead running through the seams with the fugi tool I used. All of the actual seams look good, just one spot folded over slightly, the steam is still lodged in there nice.

The next layer of 16 on the bottom edges is just to run a top layer of silicone for comfort. Will it do anything? Not sure but it can’t hurt.

After spending a few thousand just to get in this hobby, I’m not trying to immediately go and purchase a third tank. I want to at least see if this fourth seal is a winner or not.

I don’t plan on having this tank for more than 2-3 years. Just want it to work out while I learn.

Judging from seals I’ve seen online and on here, I’m pretty solid. That 10mm bead is pretty dank thick and the tool runs it pretty consistently.

Doesn’t change how nervous and paranoid I am about it.

 

[living_tribunal]

Here’s a better picture of the fold in question. After running the tool through each seam, I globbed more silicone in the corner for added thickness (which is why it doesn’t look good but no one will ever see it).

 

[Why-Me]

Yeah maybe run the next size up on the tool like you said just to be certain it's ok

 

[living_tribunal]

Excessive? No question.

Am I going to sleep better? Without a doubt.

I was already somewhat confident with the 10mm bead but this 16 is a big momma that runs all the way through the bottom edges.

No one will see it and I get some peace of mind.

 

[living_tribunal]

I made the decision to just get a professional to do it.