Sealing a leaky tank....help???

[Paintguru]

Well I am debating taking on the project of repairing my leaky 92 gal cube tank myself. The thing is just so bloody heavy that getting it out to bring it somewhere for repair is going to be a real undertaking. Does anyone have any good resources on how one should go about siliconing/sealing a glass tank? Also, is the plastic trim necessary to leave on or can I just rip it off and leave it off? I've never done this before, but I figure it may be worth a shot.

 

[MikeB]

Its really not that hard. I resealed the 2 front seams on my 120. All you need to do it strip away the old silicone from the glass then silicon it.

1st: Run a continuous 1/4" bead, with no gaps or bubbles.

Next: The silicone needs to be smoothed out. This is done by starting at one end, pressing the tip of an index finger down into the silicone, then firmly and evenly, without lifting your finger, running it along the full length of the siliconed joint at a slight angle.

Thats it. Fill and test for leakage.

 

[Paintguru]

So you actually don't put silicone between the two pieces of glass, just along the corners? I always thought he actual seal was between the two pieces of glass but perhaps I am mistaken.

 

[gparr]

I've sealed leaks in the past and had it work well. Make sure you use aquarium sealant. Once the tank is completely dry, cut out as much of the old sealant as you can at the leak location and some distance to either side of the leak. Replace it with new sealant. Let it cure for at least 48 hr. I would wait three or four days. Then water test. But don't fill the tank, confirm that there are no links, empty it, and put it in service. A good water test involves filling the tank and letting it sit for several days. If it's still dry after that time, you likely have solved the leaking problem.

If the plastic rim has a center brace, it's essential and must be kept in place. If not, you can probably remove it, but it's likely that the top edge of the glass will be sharp and or jagged and not very visually appealing. I would remove it, clean it, and put it back on, again using aquarium sealant to seal it so water/salt won't creep out.

If you take your time, let the sealant cure, and make sure the tank is level when you fill it, the results should be satisfying.
Gary

 

[LILBUDDHA]

Additional TIPS ,

After stripping off the old silicone clean area with rubbing alchohol . Run 2 strips of blue painters tape on the outer seam of the bead you will do . After applying the silicone to both seams go ahead and wipe the beads with your finger . Go back to the first seam and remove the tape from bottom to top . It will leave a clean line/bead with no excess silicone .
Keep in mind ,new silicone does not bond well with old silicone . Clean it well .

HTH

 

[Paintguru]

So do I actually need to remove the bottom glass to redo the seal or do I just clean out as much of the silicone as possible and then reapply it to the corners? Sorry, these are probably stupid questions .