Fiberglass cloth seams

[buckeye5755]

I’m currently building a 600 gallon plywood tank using Joey’s methods and books. I’m having a small leak though where water is getting under the front panel (which sits on tank bottom) and coming up through the outside of the tank.

I’ve drained and resealed a couple times, to no avail. We had some difficulty getting the glass pushed up against the frame as it was 3/4 inch starphire.

My ask is, will fiberglass cloth and pond shield adhere to the tank bottom and roughly 1 inch up the glass? Seeing if that would be a viable alternative or an addition to silicone to prevent a leak. However, I’m not sure the pond shield would bond and harden to the glass to form a good seal.

All of this would be hidden under sand when complete, so I’m only looking for the best structural options that could aid in stopping the leak.

If there are any other ideas, please feel free.

Thanks!

 

[RedDevilRyan]

When you say "drained and resealed" does that mean adding some extra silicone or taking the entire front panel out, removing the hardened silicone and starting over?

As far as the pond shield or fiberglass being the solution to create a new seal, they will "stick" to glass but it won't be a seal you can feel good about. You can peel them off of glass with your finger nail.

If it's just a slow leak there are some slow-curing silicones out there many public aquariums use for installing their acrylic panels. I haven't had to use it personally but that would be something I'd try if I was having an issue. The pressure from the water helps push the silicone into any gaps or voids, and it slowly cures underwater to stop your leak.

 

[buckeye5755]

Adding additional silicone. I haven’t removed the front panel, but I have removed and re-added silicone at the bottom where the glass meets the floor of the tank.

I did get some of the the gold label underwater sealant that is fish safe. I have removed as much silicone as I can to reseal again, and not sure if I should use normal aqueon silicone, or use the bead of the gold label sealant to seal.

 

[DIDYSIS]

sounds like you need to remove window fully and maybe even look for a leak in the pond armor. not sure why the glass was a problem getting it up against the frame, did you not put some silicone on floor and all around window then shove it in tight with bracing?

Likely adding more and more will not get the real issue as you are seeing.

 

[PapHater]

Usually new silicone will not fully adhere to old silicone. If you are going to reseal it, you should remove the glass and remove all of the old silicone from the glass and tank. Is the leak coming from the glass or coming from where the front frame meets the bottom?