Reseal ?s

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Jerkinthetank

Jerkinthetank

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Apr 15, 2012
116
6
33
Wisconsin
Hi All,

I am questioning how much of a resealable I can do. I want to just do the vertical sides over. As the rest looks fine. Has anyone done this with success if so any lessons learned or is this just not an option???

Thanks in advance for any and all advice
 
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you cannot just do the vertical seams. you must do the whole thing, silicone will not bond to dried silicone. most of us have done it with great success. people will tell you different things about what kind of silicone is safe to use. me personally I always use the marineland brand that is made for aquariums. it's a little more expensive than a dap or ge, but it is the right stuff every time and it works. scrape all seams with a razor and get all of the silicone off using solvents for the residue, then tape off and apply. remove the tape before the silicone dries. the last tank I did was a 75gal and it took about a tube and a half. good luck. you can also use the search feature and finds tons of threads about sealing aquariums.
 
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alecrromine said:
you cannot just do the vertical seams. you must do the whole thing, silicone will not bond to dried silicone. most of us have done it with great success. people will tell you different things about what kind of silicone is safe to use. me personally I always use the marineland brand that is made for aquariums. it's a little more expensive than a dap or ge, but it is the right stuff every time and it works. scrape all seams with a razor and get all of the silicone off using solvents for the residue, then tape off and apply. remove the tape before the silicone dries. the last tank I did was a 75gal and it took about a tube and a half. good luck. you can also use the search feature and finds tons of threads about sealing aquariums.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the tips, I have done other reseals but those needed all seams no questions asked. This will get all seems now. Was trying to avoid the cover for the drilled part. But that was just me being lazy. size of the tank btw is my first 180 gal pretty excited
 
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180s are awesome. that's going to be a lot of work. it's better to do it right the first time, especially with a tank that size, when a seam failure can easily turn in to a huge insurance claim for your house. the first time I resealed a 180 it took me weeks to work up the courage to seal it. I would recommend filling it for the first time outside, and let it sit for a couple of days to make sure it is all good. if a pane comes out at least you're only out a tank, and not the floor of your house too. best of luck to you. make sure to share pictures with us.
 
one more thing. make sure you have 5-6 tubes on hand before you start sealing. once it cures, if you're not done you have to start over. I would also check into renting a battery powered caulk gun (if you don't have one).
 
alecrromine said:
one more thing. make sure you have 5-6 tubes on hand before you start sealing. once it cures, if you're not done you have to start over. I would also check into renting a battery powered caulk gun (if you don't have one).
Click to expand...

What size tubes are we talking here?? And thank you for your help on both posts you are making this go much smoother already
 
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this is the link to some that I've used before and it works well. If I remember right it calls for a 7 day cure time. it's a little expensive, but I can say with 100% certainty that it works. if you buy this over the ge or dap or whatever else there is, it will cost you a few dollars more per tube. but 20-30$ more is piece of mind that I think is totally worth it. I used to use ge silicone and I bought the same stiff I always had and it killed my fish, from then on I swore that I would only use silicone specifically designed for aquarium use. a 180 is a big investment, I wont cheap out on the stuff that literally holds my investment together

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E...167&sr=8-5&keywords=aquarium+silicone+sealant
 
For small tanks I use GE silicone 1
For large tanks I use RTV108
But whatever you use make sure the preparation is perfect. It is critical that the glass be clean of all old silicone residue.
 
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