Resealing 150 gallon Tank- Need Help ASAP

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anhtu402

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 7, 2009
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Lincoln, NE
Hey guys,

Just bought a 150 gallon tank today and will reseal in the next couple of days. This thing is long and heavY!! Anywho, back on subject. I need your advice about scraping the old silicone. Should I scrape into the silicone that's connecting the two glass panels? Some say not to use the razor blade go in too deep, some say to try and get as much out as possible, I'm very confused, please help me. Some advice would be great before I am willing to start this, want to do it right the FIRST time.

Thanks!
 
How bad does it leak?

If its a bad leak then you need to scrape as much silicone off as possible. New silicone doesn't stick well to old, so you won't get any structural support if you leave the old.

If its just a drip then you don't need any structural support so i'd sm00sh some silicone in the corner and call it a day.
 
how old is the tank? why is it leaking? even though it is a small leak, will the old silicone last?
 
First of all, thank you guys for your advice so far and that quick. It does not leak (that's what the last owner said.... hmmm) , but it sure looks like someone did a really bad job on it (really messy on the inside), so that's why I want to reseal to be on the safe side.
 
If you're resealing because its messy then you would need to cut out all of the old silicone.

I think I'd fill it up and see if it holds water before I messed with it too much though. I never really notice the silicone once there's water and fish and plants.
 
If you are going to do it leave the silicone connecting the glass.but get every bit of the rest of it off.the cleaner the glass the better the seal will be.
 
I have always cut out the old silicone using the rectangular painters razors for scrapping paint off glass. Not sure if this will make sense but, I start by cutting the silicone(holding the razor like you would to cut a box open) on the glass pane that runs into the adjoining pane(so front or back panes on most tanks ). That way the razors edge(corner) is running on the face of the mating pane and not in the silicone between the two panes. Then to do the other side I place the razor flat as if you were scraping paint with it butted squarely into the corner of the glass. This way you leave a nice clean cut edge on the silicone in between the panes of glass.

The two biggest tricks to get a nice clean bead that fully gets deep into the corners are:
1. When applying the new silicone, push the bead don't pull. Let a small amount of silicone roll out in front of the tip of the tube as you push. Pulling the bead can allow air pockets in the corner as the bead is pulled over the seam VS pushed into it.

2. I have found taking a credit card/ID/ect... and using a pair of scissors to cut a larger radius(I use a nickle for the sides of the tank and a quarter for the bottom of the tank) on one corner of the card. I then use this as one would use the tools you can buy with the 1/4" radius on them, to shape, scrape the excess silicone into the corners. After I have the silicone shaped I go back with a razor and clean the sides of the beads while the silicone is still wet, I do this VS taping off the area I want the bead to stay in. I have had no problem getting a factory looking seem doing it this way, uniform in shape and size.
 
Great advices guys, I appreciate it a lot!!! :)


Also another question, how big should I make the beads?? Whoever did the last silicone spread it out to 3/4in thick.

The glass panels are 3/4 in thick, 150 gallons (72L x 28H X 19D).

I wonder if I should take pictures or not, think it's necessary??? Since one can look around the internet for it.. :-/ hehehe, just to help others if someone else comes along in the future that might need some help. :-p
 
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