Question about using 3M 5200 to patch a leak

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
A

Argenti Aertheri

Jack Dempsey
Apr 3, 2008
2
1
33
CT
My 55g brackish tank sprung a leak right along the bottom! It’s currently empty with my Ceylon puffer chilling in a 20g long (he’s around 5” currently so this isn’t a viable long term solution). I really don’t want to have to reseal the whole thing, and after much reading it seems people have had good results using 3M 5200 sealant, but I have some questions hopefully someone can help me with:

Do I need to remove the silicone from the leaking spot? If so how far out from there should I go?

The tank is in my bedroom, along with a tortoise terrarium, I really don’t want to move the tank, and I’m not sure where I’d move it to since its below freezing here so I can’t just take it outside, but I also don’t want to endanger my tortoise — how foul is the stuff? And for how long? If it’s only smelly for a couple hours I can move the tortoise

Do you think putting saran wrap or foil over the tank to keep moisture in would help it cure faster? Or help keep the smell contained?

Thank you!
 
Sorry you didn't get any answer on your question.

You should remove the silicone inside the tank along the corners and not just replace it at the spot of the leak.
 
I've patched bottom by removing sealing bead of silicone from spot + a few inches left & right, then patching spot with a to-size cut piece of glass - usually a triangle as I've found it easier to cut, but a rectangle should be fine. So: remove silicone sealing skirt to very very clean, then renew silicone & then squish the glass bit long-side-in & tight along the gap (with silicone under the glass bit) to stick to the bottom glass, then re-bead around the triangle also. Let set, re-fill. So far's worked every time... touch-wood.
Stinky, yes, but unlikely toxic to anything a little distance away. Open window & a fan would likely do it.
Note1, that the glass is largely redundant - replacing skirting's likely enough and I've had success with same when could't bother with glass triangle
Note2, that silicone doen't like to stick to silicone, or to anything else but clean glass, it seems. Thus most will tell you to re-do the whole seam-side, and why I'm suggesting you cut a glass triangle to fit the skirt-gap you've cleaned out.
Note3, that 5200 doesn't particularly like to stick to old silicone either, and it's not as good on glass as silicone. Even though 5200 is supposed to stick & cure underwater (big "if" for an indoor application) you'd be removing the old/leaky silicone regardless.
Note 4, there's a stuff called Gold Seal or something like that, I'd not heard of but was being toted on a Facebook forum some weeks ago. Amazon reviews were hit&miss, so, again, indoor applications it's best to hedge your bets. To this:
Note 5, you were likely best off replacing the tank for quickest & most solid turnaround. Keep the oldie & fix at leisure - there's always a good excuse for a next tank ;)

What's your tortoise?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom