I decided to jump in and try to build my own tank. My problem is that when placing the panels the silicone began to dry (skin?) by the time I got to the last panel. It all went together fine, but I'm worried that it did not create a good seal, what with the silicone skinning. Also, I may have put down too large of a bead because it squirt out quite a bit when I placed the panels and looks quite ugly. Do I need to do it over again? Can I just cut out the silicone on the inside after it cures and run a new bead?
DIY tank build... do over?
- Thread starter pekkers
- Start date
If you were building a tank you need to redo the tank. If the silicone had skinned over you took too long, it will not hold correctly.
Ok. I redid it after hours of removing the first batch of silicone and it looks pretty good now. So I have one more question: how long after applying the silicone can I physically move the tank? The forecast is calling for rain soon and I constructed the tank on an open veranda. Is the silicone set after a certain period where it becomes stable? Or do I have to find a good tarp?
I don't think the surface of the silicone will be affected by the rain water. But it probably needs more curing time before moving the tank.
I would go ahead and move it inside (carefully).
But I would give the silicone a full month to cure before filling it up.
I usually advise customers to allow 1 day curing time per mm of glass thickness before filling, so a 12mm glass tank would be left for 12 days and so on.