resealing acrylic
- Thread starter jpatz18
- Start date
Mine was a little more difficult than just reseaking.. 
But here..I had Help with info from Oddball and Rallysman .
http://www.utahaquatics.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2325
But here..I had Help with info from Oddball and Rallysman .http://www.utahaquatics.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2325
It depends on the extent of the problem. There really is not a cut and dry answer. The next ten people to post will all be right and will all be wrong. With glass, any method is fine because the glass is forgiving. You can not damage it with a razor blade (this statement does not allow for the "stupid people rule"). A razor blade alone in your fingers against acrylic and you can ruin the tank.
With that said, you must find out why the tank needs to be resealed. If it is that $800 tank that the guy claims to have paid $15,000 for, it does not need to be resealed. For that matter, if an acrylic tank is not leaking, leave it alone. If it is leaking, identify where it is leaking and opt first to plug the leak with a dab of silicone. If a seam must be removed, opt for sectioning only part of the seam (the less razor blade to acrylic contact the better).
If you have not purchased the tank, consider where the repair will be. If it can be easily hidden then there is nothing to worry about. If it is front and center, then you might want to consider having it professionally repaired. You should get good results if you are willing to practice with a piece of plexi-glass and a razor blade. Clean the surface with alcohol and add lines of silicone simulating aquarium seals. Let it cure for a day and then practice cutting and scraping the silicone off. Intentionally cut, scratch, and scrape the plexi to get a feel for what kind of damage the razor can do and at what pressure. Before tackling a prized aquarium, you should master the skill on a piece that can be thrown away without a second thought.
With that said, you must find out why the tank needs to be resealed. If it is that $800 tank that the guy claims to have paid $15,000 for, it does not need to be resealed. For that matter, if an acrylic tank is not leaking, leave it alone. If it is leaking, identify where it is leaking and opt first to plug the leak with a dab of silicone. If a seam must be removed, opt for sectioning only part of the seam (the less razor blade to acrylic contact the better).
If you have not purchased the tank, consider where the repair will be. If it can be easily hidden then there is nothing to worry about. If it is front and center, then you might want to consider having it professionally repaired. You should get good results if you are willing to practice with a piece of plexi-glass and a razor blade. Clean the surface with alcohol and add lines of silicone simulating aquarium seals. Let it cure for a day and then practice cutting and scraping the silicone off. Intentionally cut, scratch, and scrape the plexi to get a feel for what kind of damage the razor can do and at what pressure. Before tackling a prized aquarium, you should master the skill on a piece that can be thrown away without a second thought.
hmm, i dont really know if it leaks my problem is i live in Fl(no basement) I dont really like the idea of bringing in 200+ gallons of water in my house. I have insurance buts thats not really the point. Its a really good deal that i know i cant pass. To make sure all is right how thick should the acrylic be?1+inch? Also if they is a leak in the seam if i find the spot can i just use the "special glue" to the seam and not cut anything i go see the tank today hopefully. Also if i get it, for the wet dry should i use a 55 gallon tank?
Yes, you can use the glue if it was not sealed with silicone. If it has very tiny seams, that is glue. If it has thick seams, that is silicone. If you decide against it, let me know. I am looking for an inexpensive one for the engineering building at UCF.