Hey everyone. I was browsing CL today and saw a post for glass for a 300 gallon aquarium for 300 bucks. I was wondering if anyone who has no experience with siliconing has had a success with siliconing their own fish tank. I know it involves a lot of patients in such but I want to know what I would be getting at if I bought this glass. Thanks :]
300 gallon fish tank build.
- Thread starter kj01fl@live.com
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I've resiliconed a 125g glass tank, and it was a piece of cake. It took me about 2 hours, beginning with removing the existing caulk, cleaning with alcohol, and then resiliconing. I did a little bit of a sloppy job, and didn't tape off to leave clean lines, but I imagine you could do the job in a Saturday afternoon no problem.
As long as there's no broken glass, I'd say its definitely worth it, considering what you'd spend on a NEW 300g glass tank...
As long as there's no broken glass, I'd say its definitely worth it, considering what you'd spend on a NEW 300g glass tank...
Alright well I think I am going to do it. I think that in the end it would be worth it because I will take my time on it and do everything straight out of the books.
If you do it by the book you shouldn't have any problems just remember to take your time and let the silicone cure for at least a week maybe longer. You want to make sure its completely cured so a slow leak doesn't happen. I sealed a tank and didn't let it cure long enough and about four hours into the test fill a ridiculously slow leak started forming. I had to redo the entire thing and I would hate for the same thing to happen to anyone else.
I may have rushed the siliconing part, but not the curing or water testing phases 
I let the silicone cure for 10 days, then I put the tank outside and filled it and left it for about 10 days filled outside. I figured if it didn't leak then, it was safe to bring into the house and fill.
One of the really important parts is to make sure you clean all the old silicone out and really clean the glass before you put in new silicone. I used flat razor blades and made sure I scraped everything off. Then I rinsed it really well with alcohol.
I let the silicone cure for 10 days, then I put the tank outside and filled it and left it for about 10 days filled outside. I figured if it didn't leak then, it was safe to bring into the house and fill.
One of the really important parts is to make sure you clean all the old silicone out and really clean the glass before you put in new silicone. I used flat razor blades and made sure I scraped everything off. Then I rinsed it really well with alcohol.
i re siliconed my 220, and it was also very esay, let it cure for about 7 days but it never leaked and held up fine. also didnt do a clean job but never been good at it, but also to lazy to care at times. but its looks fine and everyone that has seen it doesnt know any difference.