Common Mistakes to Avoid: Building Own Tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
ClaustrophobicTurtle

ClaustrophobicTurtle

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 30, 2016
73
16
8
Melbourne, Australia
Hey guys!
Next week's the week.
I'm buying a used 6x2x2, dismantling it, moving it into my apartment, then resiliconing the whole thing together.

Turns out its cheaper to buy a tank, then buy the glass over here in Aus..

Anyway, it will be my first time siliconing, and was hoping to get some tips.
I've watched heaps of videos online on how to do it, seems simple enough but I've also seen people saying you can do a 'lousy' job of applying the silicone.

What are some tips to do it successfully and maybe mistakes to lookout for when putting a tank together for the first time?

Thanks heaps! photos will be uploaded as the build progresses :)
 
Make sure the panes are clean and no old silicone residue left on them.
When I did my 220 I used suction cups made to move glass, made it a lot easier to handle the panels. A helper is always a good idea. Wear surgical gloves, makes cleanup easy. Have all your supplies handy and ready. Silicone open and ready to go. I like to use painters tape to hold the panes together as I build the tank. Start with the bottom pane lay a bead across the back and sit the back pane on, have your helper hold it. Lay a bead down the back pane and across the bottom toward the front, sit the side pane. Repeat for the other side. Lay a bead down the front of the sides and across the bottom, sit the front pane on the bottom at an angle and lean it toward the sides till its in place. Smooth the inside bead for the inner seal.
Leave the silicone that comes out of the joints on the outside of the tank, just let the silicone harden. You can trim that with a razor later.
Dont get in to big of a hurry but dont go very slow either you want to try to get it together in time to smooth the inner seam.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ClaustrophobicTurtle
BIG-G said:
Make sure the panes are clean and no old silicone residue left on them.
When I did my 220 I used suction cups made to move glass, made it a lot easier to handle the panels. A helper is always a good idea. Wear surgical gloves, makes cleanup easy. Have all your supplies handy and ready. Silicone open and ready to go. I like to use painters tape to hold the panes together as I build the tank. Start with the bottom pane lay a bead across the back and sit the back pane on, have your helper hold it. Lay a bead down the back pane and across the bottom toward the front, sit the side pane. Repeat for the other side. Lay a bead down the front of the sides and across the bottom, sit the front pane on the bottom at an angle and lean it toward the sides till its in place. Smooth the inside bead for the inner seal.
Leave the silicone that comes out of the joints on the outside of the tank, just let the silicone harden. You can trim that with a razor later.
Dont get in to big of a hurry but dont go very slow either you want to try to get it together in time to smooth the inner seam.
Click to expand...
Thats amazing thank you so much for your tips and reply :D
 
Cleanliness is next to leakproofiness...clean the glass till it squeeks. I prefer to set the inside edge of the glass in place and roll the glass upright. Once you squeeze the silicone you have 5-15 minutes to work it...the longer you take the greater the risk for the silicone to skin over and not grab the glass
 
I presume you absolutely have to dismantle the tank in order to get it in the apartment? Or are you using the glass from the 6x2x2 to make a new configuration?
 
DarylMac said:
I presume you absolutely have to dismantle the tank in order to get it in the apartment? Or are you using the glass from the 6x2x2 to make a new configuration?
Click to expand...
The length is fine its the 2 foot width which wont fit through the angle i need to make it fit it into my bedroom from the hallway. The thing is 2 foot width is a bare minimum for my stock.. a male dovii :(
 
So much work if you already have a tank that is together. Can't put it in the living room or something?
 
Thats rough. You've stood the tank on end I presume? I had friend who couldn't make the angle into his bedroom so we put the tank on end (on a blanket) and slid it around and in.

Even if you have to remove the door and jamb it's a lot less work that re-building a tank.
 
  • Like
Reactions: robham777
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom