I have a 92 gallon corner bow front aquarium made out of 1/2" glass that I have owned roughly 18 months now(bought it used of craigslist). I needed to move the tank as fast as possible one day when it was full, and did not drain all the water nor remove any substrate. Long story short when it was all put back together it leaked water from both bow front corners. Is it possible to clean up the inside a bit and put a good layer of silicone in each corner? Would it be to risky? It should be noted ive never re-siliconed a tank.
Is it possible?
- Thread starter Olunds
- Start date
Its very easy to reseal an aquarium. Simply use razor blades to clean out as much of the old silicone as possible, use vinegar to clean the glass really well, and then use 100% silicone (GE I from Home Depot/Lowes works well) to reseal the corners.
Try to put a bead down along the whole area to be sealed, and then carefully run your finger along it to push it into the corner. Try to do this in a single, non-stop motion, as stopping and restarting can cause weak spots in the silicone from too much or too little pressure.
Try to put a bead down along the whole area to be sealed, and then carefully run your finger along it to push it into the corner. Try to do this in a single, non-stop motion, as stopping and restarting can cause weak spots in the silicone from too much or too little pressure.
Just trying to patch up the silicone will not be reliable if you could even get the leak stopped.
It's possible you cracked it, can you see under the tank.
I would cut the old silicone out and re seal it.
It's possible you cracked it, can you see under the tank.
I would cut the old silicone out and re seal it.
I can see under it and the glass is fine. If the aquarium needs to be taking apart then cleaned and siliconed i dont think i will try. However if i could just bridge over the old silicone sealing from glass to glass i would try before i sold as reptile tank.
the "right" way to do it is to cut all the old silicone out and replace it.
I've never done that. I have on 2 occasions smeared a little new silicone right on top of the leaky spot and never had any trouble. Before I knew anything, on my 30 gallon tank I had a leak in the middle of the joint between the front and bottom of the tank. Emptied it, dried it with a paper towel, smeared new silicone on it with my finger, let it dry for 2 hours and refilled it.
That tank has been holding water for almost 15 years now, including a 3 year period where it was stored in a non-climate controlled building in virginia, where there were a couple 100 degree days and a couple -10 degree days each year.
Thats my experience. Before you sell the tank, give it a shot. The silicone is just a couple bucks and you can even buy it in small squeeze tubes if you don't have a caulking gun. lick your finger *before* you m00sh the silicone down, not after!
I've never done that. I have on 2 occasions smeared a little new silicone right on top of the leaky spot and never had any trouble. Before I knew anything, on my 30 gallon tank I had a leak in the middle of the joint between the front and bottom of the tank. Emptied it, dried it with a paper towel, smeared new silicone on it with my finger, let it dry for 2 hours and refilled it.
That tank has been holding water for almost 15 years now, including a 3 year period where it was stored in a non-climate controlled building in virginia, where there were a couple 100 degree days and a couple -10 degree days each year.
Thats my experience. Before you sell the tank, give it a shot. The silicone is just a couple bucks and you can even buy it in small squeeze tubes if you don't have a caulking gun. lick your finger *before* you m00sh the silicone down, not after!
