Resealing a 180 gallon fish tank...need some help.

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packer43064

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 10, 2008
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Ohio
So I just about got all of the silicone off. Just a little more to go until I can get to actually sealing it. I've resealed a 55 once,but very sloppy work was done. I want this tank to be as perfect as possible. I got painters tape and will be putting it on the sides and bottom and after I push down the sealant with a soapy spoon I will be pulling the tape off and hopefully have nice clean edges.

The problem is though most people say put silicone around all of the edges then smooth it down and then pull the tape off so you have one big seal. It starts to harden even after 10 minutes, doubt I'll have time to put it all on and smooth it down before the tape will get permantely stuck. So essentially ill have to make the 4 uprights seals then make the bottom panel seal. My question is will it be okay though, I mean it'll not be connected. Won't the silicone have a small gap where the upright panel meets the bottom panel on each side?

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Hello; While I agree that it is better to do the silicone on the whole tank all at one sitting, I have found it messy to try to smooth a bead. I tend to try to lay down a good bead of silicone and then leave it alone. I do sometimes wet a finger and touch up the apex of the corners, but use the least amount of touching needed to jion the corners. My compromise has generally been to accept slightly lumpy seams to avoid the mess.
Perhaps some other member has a better technique.
 
I would have one or two people help you with it... you can apply the silicone, somebody goes behind you and smooths it out, and another person goes behind them and tales the tape off. I am debating weather or not to seal my 180 before I set it up and that was the process I was going to use.
 
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