For those that reseal their own tanks

[Pharaoh]

I had an interesting conversation today and I thought that I would share.

I am currently researching chemicals that will help aid in the breakdown of the 500G. So far we have used Tolulene, xylene, and Goop Off to little avail. Next we are going to try MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) as we can get some of that for free. Hopefully it works.

Well, as I was thinking about other solutions to this issue, I thought "Who better to tell me that an aquarium manufacturer?" So, I called glass-cages. I spoke with one of the "technical" guys there. Conversation below;

Me: I was calling to see if you might be able to tell me what the best option for removing silicone would be.
Rep: What exactly are you trying to accomplish?
Me: I am taking apart a large fish tank and need to break down the silicone
Rep: Just use a razor blade.
Me: with the way in which this tank is built, I cannot get a razor blade to reach some of the seams.
Rep: Oil would break down the silicone, slowly, but eventually. That is why we have to clean everything before we put it together. Even the oil from your hands would cause the silicone not to stick.
Me: I see. So would it break it down completely or just soften it.
Rep: Well, it would soften it. I'm still not understanding what you are trying to do.
Me: I am trying to take apart a large aquarium so that I can move it a reassemble it.
Rep: That is an impossible task.
Me: How so?
Rep: Silicone will not stick to previously cured silicone.
Me: I understand that. I have plans to fully remove and clean the glass before reassembly.
Rep: It is impossible to remove all of the silicone on the glass. Once you tear the tank apart, I'm afraid that it will never be an aquarium again. You cannot put it back together
Me: I see. Well thank you for your time.

I thought this was particularly funny seeing as though tons of people have resealed aquariums. Yes, I know that silicone is hard to remove, but it is far from impossible, especially since he didn't even know what size aquarium I was speaking of and I never mentioned.

So..... I guess I am on my own again. LOL

I WILL get this tank apart and it Will go back together!

 

[Cashlaw]

LOL . . . sounds like a failed attempt at setting you up for a sales pitch. No way you can do that repair on your own (that hundreds of people have done successfully) . . . just buy a new one from us, instead.

 

[spiff]

That sounds about on par with the rest of the BS that Glasscages is becoming known for.

Regarding your job there, silicon is supposed to be impervious to chemicals, so I think its going to be all elbow grease. Denatured alchohol and the other chemicals listed are good for cleaning the glass before resealing.

 

[Pharaoh]

There are chemicals that will soften it. Worst case scenario is that i have to break a few of the smaller pieces of glass in order to save the big ones. Many of the euro braces need to be replaced anyway. I am almost to the point of finishing them off in order to get this thing apart.

 

[Toddo]

Acetone is very aggressive. I've never tried it on silicone though.

Just watch out with it contacting your skin..

 

[spiff]

Boy, that would be a shame.

I guess you tried the threading a wire through a seam trick? Finding a wire that is thin enough to be useful, yet strong enough to be pushed through the silicon is yet another trick. I have heard of people starting with a regular sewing needle and thread just to get started and then pull the wire through the hole. Or, grabbing and pushing only 1/8th an inch of the wire at a time with a needle-nose will push it through just about anything.

Is it just that all the seams are covered up with framing?

With glass that thick, it might be enough to scrape off all the sealant so that you can and then use forceful pressure to break the bonds between the glass. Force that you wouldn't use on thinner glass..

Also, I found this stuff online:

http://www.geocel.co.uk/dynpdfs/127.pdf

 

[Pharaoh]

Acetone is very aggressive. I've never tried it on silicone though.

Just watch out with it contacting your skin..

I'm way past acetone. I could bathe in acetone compared to the stuff I'm using. LOL

 

[Pharaoh]

Boy, that would be a shame.

I guess you tried the threading a wire through a seam trick? Finding a wire that is thin enough to be useful, yet strong enough to be pushed through the silicon is yet another trick. I have heard of people starting with a regular sewing needle and thread just to get started and then pull the wire through the hole. Or, grabbing and pushing only 1/8th an inch of the wire at a time with a needle-nose will push it through just about anything.

Is it just that all the seams are covered up with framing?

With glass that thick, it might be enough to scrape off all the sealant so that you can and then use forceful pressure to break the bonds between the glass. Force that you wouldn't use on thinner glass..

Also, I found this stuff online:

http://www.geocel.co.uk/dynpdfs/127.pdf

I'm not real worried about breaking the smaller pieces. Most of the are junk anyway. I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve, some of which you mentioned. But I am quickly running out of time and patience.

The problem with most things is that it will not soak into the silicone fast enough to break it down. I would pretty much have to soak the entire tank in this stuff to get it to break free. Which, by the way, will be tried on the bottom seams as I will be able to pour it in and leave it. The real issue is getting this stuff to penetrate the seams, which is basically impossible.

This just tells me one thing.....once this is setup in the basement. It is staying there unless someone else wants to take it apart! LOL

 

[jcardona1]

bro...just use the worlds best solven....GASOLINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats what i used to clean up the residue left behind after scraping away the silicone

 

[12 Volt Man]

I had an interesting conversation today and I thought that I would share.

I am currently researching chemicals that will help aid in the breakdown of the 500G. So far we have used Tolulene, xylene, and Goop Off to little avail. Next we are going to try MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) as we can get some of that for free. Hopefully it works.

Well, as I was thinking about other solutions to this issue, I thought "Who better to tell me that an aquarium manufacturer?" So, I called glass-cages. I spoke with one of the "technical" guys there. Conversation below;

Me: I was calling to see if you might be able to tell me what the best option for removing silicone would be.
Rep: What exactly are you trying to accomplish?
Me: I am taking apart a large fish tank and need to break down the silicone
Rep: Just use a razor blade.
Me: with the way in which this tank is built, I cannot get a razor blade to reach some of the seams.
Rep: Oil would break down the silicone, slowly, but eventually. That is why we have to clean everything before we put it together. Even the oil from your hands would cause the silicone not to stick.
Me: I see. So would it break it down completely or just soften it.
Rep: Well, it would soften it. I'm still not understanding what you are trying to do.
Me: I am trying to take apart a large aquarium so that I can move it a reassemble it.
Rep: That is an impossible task.
Me: How so?
Rep: Silicone will not stick to previously cured silicone.
Me: I understand that. I have plans to fully remove and clean the glass before reassembly.
Rep: It is impossible to remove all of the silicone on the glass. Once you tear the tank apart, I'm afraid that it will never be an aquarium again. You cannot put it back together
Me: I see. Well thank you for your time.

I thought this was particularly funny seeing as though tons of people have resealed aquariums. Yes, I know that silicone is hard to remove, but it is far from impossible, especially since he didn't even know what size aquarium I was speaking of and I never mentioned.

So..... I guess I am on my own again. LOL

I WILL get this tank apart and it Will go back together!

LOL you called Glasscages, what did you expect?

I would contact someone from Central Aquatics (owners of Aqueon (All-glass) and Oceanic. see what they have to say..

http://www.central-aquatics.com/