siliconing and such

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Robert Fling

Robert Fling

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Sep 3, 2015
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when resealing a tank do you have to scrape off all the old silicon or can you just silicon over the old stuff making sure to get in all of the grooves. I did that with my new used 125 gallon and didn't think about this until after it was done, however it didn't leak when I filled it up. it currently is empty so if it won't hold for the long run let me know and I'll redo it thanks fish people!
 
I remove all the interior silicone fillets with a razor blade, clean the glass surface well, let it dry and then apply new silicone and let it cure for at least a week before test filling with water outside.
 
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I really wish I would've thought about it before just slapping some silicone on it and having it look like ****. I think I'm going to redo it and maybe I'll use black silicon ;)
 
Hello; I have tried it both ways. I went to cutting away all the old silicone eventually as I had more sealing failures if I did not. My experience has been that new silicone does not stick very well to the old cured silicone.

I have read posts on this forum stating that a good scrubbing of the old silicone has allowed the new to stick to the old. Maybe I did not clean it well enough or use a good technique but I have had leaks when putting new over old. To be sure I have had some leaks after cutting out the old silicone, just seem like much fewer to me. This topic has been discussed in some threads, so a search may yield a better explaination.

Some keys to a reseal for me are to 1.) cut out the old silicone and remove it. A shop vac is a big help. 2.) I like to make sure the seams between the glass panes are very dry and clean before laying down a line of new silicone. 3) I like to try to put all the new silicone into all the seams in one setting. I want it to be able to stick to itself at the corners while it is still tacky. I use one of he big tubes with a caulking gun as they make the job possible in atimely manner. There is more and i have an old post saved if you want to see it.
 
removing the old silicone is a must IMHO. prep is everything,, I clean with rubbing alcohol. some use acetone, I prefer rubbing alcohol, masc it and and away you go.

this good little you tube on it.
 
I just finished scraping all of the silicone off and I vacuumed all the scraps out, put good painters tape a half inch away from the seems and tomorrow I'll be picking up some silicone, does anyone have any recommendations on that and how thick should I apply it? I kind of want to use black silicon anybody ever done so? oh and I used fingernail polish remover to clean the seems, uaru joey said he uses that if its around. I would've used rubbing alcohol but I don't have any.
 
finger nail polish is acetone, again allot use it. I just do not like it because of the fumes and feel it can leave a film on the glass, but that's just me more than likes.

advice? seal in one shot, calk, cove and remove the tape in one shot. just like the vid showed.
 
I noticed the film your talking about when I tried to tape it and I actually watched that video before I started scraping the silicone off. what kind of silicone can I use? I heard using the cheap stuff from home depot is a bad idea on large aquariums
 
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