Checking tanks for potential leaks?.

[Eupterus]

I've seen two threads about tank disasters today and had the seams burst on my twenty gal apartment tank the other day, which had to be emptied ASAP.
My four fish are currently in my second twenty gal planted tank and my lucky bamboos are underwater temp while I setup another tank.

Is there any way to check tanks for I dunno how to put this...soundness?.

I am feeling a little paranoid about leaky tanks now and worried about my two tanks at my parents house. I got my 55 gal used and have had it running for at least 15 yrs. I'm thinking of tearing it down temp and resealing it at the bottom just in case.

The other tank is acrylic so I'm not so worried about that one, though if it did burst it would be more of a problem due to the size.

I'm in the process of setting up a thirty gal for my apartment fish which I had stored...Went along the seams with my finger and touched up the sealant just in case.

 

[ThePBM]

you can't touch up the sealant. new doesn't bond to old. to reseal you need to strip off old, and apply a new seam in one sitting

 

[Buckdog]

I had an outdoor tank for years and it started to leak finally (it was second hand anyway). At the leakpoint I noticed "water creep" between the silicone and glass. There was even algae in the void. I knew the tank would fail soon so I finally moved the fish indoors to a new tank.
Thats what I look for when I inspect my tanks.

 

[Wolf3101]

The way I check used tanks is to push on the center of the silicone joint with a fingernail and watch the edges. If the edges of the seal...'feather' or pull away from the glass then you're looking at a reseal. if not...then no mater HOW long it's been...the tank should be fine.

After your first reseal (to take the mystery out of it) you won't give resealing a tank a second thaught.