any tips on re sealing a 220 gal. aquarium to hold water again?

[deeda]

You should be able to tell by looking at where the bottom panel meets the side panel since you have already removed the interior silicone bead. If you still can't tell, get a razor blade and holding it flat against the bottom, see if penetrates the side panel seam slightly. If it does, then the side panels sit ON TOP of the bottom panel.

Truthfully, I would be very satisfied just doing a complete, properly done interior reseal at this point. I have never had to do a complete panel tear down.

At the worst, if the interior reseal does not work, the tank will probably just leak in the same place again. Then you can do a complete tear down. If will only waste a couple weeks.

Please be sure to let the silicone cure completely before doing your first test fill with water. I let my 125G cure for one week in the garage (during the summer) and left it full of water for 4 days outside to check for leaks. Hopefully you can do this indoors since the weather is cold and in an area that any water leak won't damage anything.

 

[Miguel4u2]

it is a all glass tank for sure, i still didn't take it apart or do anything to it, waiting to see what my best option will be,i think i am going to just do the inside and wait a week and see what happens, a lot of people say just do the inside and do it right you are golden, so i'm game, will prob do it tonight since all i gotta do is re apply the new silicone,
but it is a aga tank so no tearing panels apart?

How big is your tank, i recently finished re-sealing my 110 gallon Properly and it still leaked due to the water pressure, now i am in the process of removing the bottom pane and doing it properly, sometimes its the silicone between the glass panes that is faulty.

 

[NORTHERNREEF]

the tank is a 225 gal 6x2x30"T, inside on the bottom trim it says built by mg/ci jan 03 with a anchor as a logo on the side

 

[nolapete]

How big is your tank, i recently finished re-sealing my 110 gallon Properly and it still leaked due to the water pressure, now i am in the process of removing the bottom pane and doing it properly, sometimes its the silicone between the glass panes that is faulty.

Even if that's the case, stripping apart the glass is not necessary. If you know where the leak is and can work the silicone out of that section, it can't hurt, but it is NOT necessary to reseal the tank. For most people, reassembling a tank from scratch is a daunting task, especially the first time. I've resealed many leakers without doing it and none have ever leaked again nor have they ever cracked post reseal.

 

[triply]

i also have a leaky tank that i just took the silicone out of

my question is how does silicone hold to acrylic?

my tank is glass but the overflow inside the tank was custom built and is basically just another wall inside.

how do i reseal that?

will the silicone seal to the acrylic and the glass?

 

[nolapete]

Acrylic has to be roughed up with sandpaper for silicone to bond to it. It will hold but not even 20% as well as it does to glass.

 

[Midknightskie]

His tank is 225 Gal and with just left over water in the tank it leaks not more than a few gallons! This means that the silicone between the glass panes are mush and blown out; this is the silicone that does the larger part of holding glass panels together. Redoing the inside only on this tank is like building an overflow out of paper mache; it might work but for how long?

 

[NORTHERNREEF]

His tank is 225 Gal and with just left over water in the tank it leaks not more than a few gallons! This means that the silicone between the glass panes are mush and blown out; this is the silicone that does the larger part of holding glass panels together. Redoing the inside only on this tank is like building an overflow out of paper mache; it might work but for how long?

this is a very good point, their was a little water in the tank left and when we picked it up to move it and it had to go vertical slightly water started coming out on us and the floor,

how strong and long will the seal last if i only do the inside?
6 months a year then disaster strikes yikes lol

still havn't done any progress ,tank is ready on the inside tro be re sealed

not sure how the bottom panel sits in or out

 

[triply]

i have a 90 gallon the sides sit on the bottom. i would imagine 90% of tanks are the same way. You loose alot of support i would think if it was the other way around.

 

[Knowdafish]

this is a very good point, their was a little water in the tank left and when we picked it up to move it and it had to go vertical slightly water started coming out on us and the floor,

how strong and long will the seal last if i only do the inside?
6 months a year then disaster strikes yikes lol

still havn't done any progress ,tank is ready on the inside tro be re sealed

not sure how the bottom panel sits in or out

A wimpy thin bead won't last at all, but a nice 3/4" to 1" bead will last forever and be very strong. The key is in the prep work and applying a nice, large, even bead to VERY clean glass. If done correctly, and left to properly cure, you will have NO worries.