I got a 20 gallon tank from a friend of mine and I didn't know a thing about aquariums. He had it outside in the grass filled with ~30 pounds of gravel. I was told it had a few months of sitting out there in the spring and summer. We dumped out the water (yes just tipped it over), carried it to my car (and yes with the substrate still inside), and I drove it home.
A month went by and I decided that I wanted to put the thing to good use. I put it on my dresser and started to fill it up with the hose. Everything was fine up to the half-way mark at witch time I start to notice that I was standing in a small but growing puddle of water. so I used the hose as a siphon and then cleaned up the mess.
I still wanted a fish tank so I went down to petco and asked for some advice. They told me I can use silicone to patch the tank and I will be good as new. So I rush home read how to do it and follow all the instructions. Three days later(one day to clean and dry, and two days to cure) I am ready to fill the tank. This time I thought I would be smart and do the test out in the driveway. I put down cardboard for a cushion and started to fill the tank. It held water for five minutes and then started to leak. I was pissed at first and then even madder when it hit me that you can't siphon a tank at ground level. SO I JUST TIPPED IT AGAIN!
I am determined to get some fish living in my home. This time I do a ton of research and find a 55 gallon tank on Craigslist for $70.00. It was grosse with dead fish in a little 'water'. He wanted to take it out as is with ~80 pounds gravel and all. I had learned my lesson and took my time to drain the tank and fill two five gallon buckets with the gravel and decorations.
It took a lot more money(stand and lights) but I got it going nice and it has been going for over a month.
I later went out and bought a new 10 gallon for isolation.
(the date was reset).
Well, the other day I was cleaning in my garage and saw that 20 gallon tank and thought with my new found knowledge(thank you MFK) I could fix it... again. I cut all the old silicone out, washed it with 99.9% iso., and started sealing it. Three quarters-way through it becomes clear that I needed more silicone but I live to far away from a pet store so I stretched what I had left to just make it. I used globs from thick parts to thin parts and hoped it would do. I took it outside and tested it today(this time on a solid table) and it held water. I can't leave it out in the freezing night so I drained it and set it up inside. It has held water for twelve hours now.
I will update if it stars to leak or in a few days if it hasn't.
A month went by and I decided that I wanted to put the thing to good use. I put it on my dresser and started to fill it up with the hose. Everything was fine up to the half-way mark at witch time I start to notice that I was standing in a small but growing puddle of water. so I used the hose as a siphon and then cleaned up the mess.
I still wanted a fish tank so I went down to petco and asked for some advice. They told me I can use silicone to patch the tank and I will be good as new. So I rush home read how to do it and follow all the instructions. Three days later(one day to clean and dry, and two days to cure) I am ready to fill the tank. This time I thought I would be smart and do the test out in the driveway. I put down cardboard for a cushion and started to fill the tank. It held water for five minutes and then started to leak. I was pissed at first and then even madder when it hit me that you can't siphon a tank at ground level. SO I JUST TIPPED IT AGAIN!
I am determined to get some fish living in my home. This time I do a ton of research and find a 55 gallon tank on Craigslist for $70.00. It was grosse with dead fish in a little 'water'. He wanted to take it out as is with ~80 pounds gravel and all. I had learned my lesson and took my time to drain the tank and fill two five gallon buckets with the gravel and decorations.
It took a lot more money(stand and lights) but I got it going nice and it has been going for over a month.
Well, the other day I was cleaning in my garage and saw that 20 gallon tank and thought with my new found knowledge(thank you MFK) I could fix it... again. I cut all the old silicone out, washed it with 99.9% iso., and started sealing it. Three quarters-way through it becomes clear that I needed more silicone but I live to far away from a pet store so I stretched what I had left to just make it. I used globs from thick parts to thin parts and hoped it would do. I took it outside and tested it today(this time on a solid table) and it held water. I can't leave it out in the freezing night so I drained it and set it up inside. It has held water for twelve hours now.
