600 Gallon All Glass Tank....

[thatoldguy]

An LFS had this for sale about a year ago. It's been my weekend project ever since. Just about got it good to go....I have some minor leaks to fix though.

Setup: three Fluval FX5's, two 800w Titanium heaters, one massive power head to move water (if I need it...)

Pics:

 

[thatoldguy]

The problem I have is that it leaks from the three seams on the bottom. I've tried to get past the problem by gooping on more silicone, but I'm going to clean up those seams and start over. I have 3/8 tempered glass on those seams held down by silicone.

Mind you, this tank is going with me when we sell our house in a couple years, so I can't use anything that will make a permanent bond. Any advice?

 

[soggysandwich]

remove the old silicone and put new on, make sure it is really clean before you put the new stuff on

 

[cichlid savage]

The silicone wont bond to the old. You must clean the glass very well. I always wipe down with alcohol.

 

[Miguel]

yes. cut the old silicone with a razor blade and then clean the glass very well with alcohol.

 

[Ric Foster]

Whats the dimensions on that tank? NICE project!

 

[CHOMPERS]

... I have 3/8 tempered glass on those seams held down by silicone.

... so I can't use anything that will make a permanent bond.

The glass over the seams is the right way of doing it. Just use lots of silicone and work fast and clean. Put a large bead down the middle of the seam and press the glass on so that it squeezes the silicone outward (to avoid air entrapment). You may also want to try siliconing pond liner over the seams. I am not sure how well silicone bonds to synthetic rubber but it is worth experimenting with. You can also try other adhesives if silicone does not work well.

 

[Dr Joe]

Your on the right track, like everybody says "remove all the old silicone and clean well with alcohol" ventilate the room well. and get one of these kinda things to get the silicone down fast http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94849 . Keep the seams about the thickness of a nickel, and do all the seams at one setting. What are you using for sealant? Oh ya, get help! straps, duct tape and strong willing friends and no beer (this project is way to big to be beer powered).

Can't wait till someone doesn't read this whole thread and tells you that you should test this outside first .

Keep us posted on this great project,

Dr Joe

.

 

[thatoldguy]

Whats the dimensions on that tank? NICE project!

Ten feet long, four feet wide, about thirty inches tall. The LFS I bought it from sold it to me for $600. I couldn't buy the materials for that much, so I snapped it up.

It came with two fifty gallon sumps (you can see them in one of the pics), but I'm going to make a new project out of that.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Oh, and by the way, maybe you should fill and test it outside