Update on resealing my 500 gallon tank...
- Thread starter kevinster_1
- Start date
lol!!!
yeah this time i'm putting a fan inside and waiting a week or two... this is really driving me nuts.. it's the cleanup that's the real drag.
I think I would go much closer to a 1" bead than a 1/4"... Don't be stingy with the silicone, its the life of your fish.. In a 500g I'd assume you have some pretty pricey fish, worth way more than a couple extra tubes of Silicone.
Lots of people have had luck using a plastic spoon to create the bead, I saw another person who rounded the corner of a credit card and used that (prob my favorite method) and lastly Home Depot/Lowes sells a tool that is purpose-made for that job, and like $3.
Do your homework and maybe even blow a tube on some 2x4's as a "practice" bead.. This tank is going to be a show piece in your house, and ugly corners are almost impossible to fix once cured.
Lots of people have had luck using a plastic spoon to create the bead, I saw another person who rounded the corner of a credit card and used that (prob my favorite method) and lastly Home Depot/Lowes sells a tool that is purpose-made for that job, and like $3.
Do your homework and maybe even blow a tube on some 2x4's as a "practice" bead.. This tank is going to be a show piece in your house, and ugly corners are almost impossible to fix once cured.
kallmond;3961134; said:
I disagree with some of this but who knows for sure? This is my take:
The silicon glue does two things, #1 it holds the tank together, supports the glass and keeps everything where it's suppose to be.
#2 it's a sealing surface to prevent leaks.
Your having trouble with the second part. The thickness of the silicon (in my opinion) has nothing to do with the sealing qualities of the silicon. In fact thinner is better. The key here is having a consistent bead between the two pieces of glass. Check out large glass tanks at your LFS. The silicon glue sealing the glass is very thin. It just needs to coat both surfaces of glass to keep the water in.
I like the plastic spoon idea! I'm going to try that next time.
I'm by no means an expert on this, and didn't intend to portray myself as one. To clarify, I was thinking 1" across, IE 1/2 inch spread out onto either piece of glass and slightly thicker in the 'center' of the bead to 'round' the corners, vs 1 inch thick (as if you'd stuck a ruler straight through the silicone.
Secondly, it seems to me that more silicone 'glue' spread out on to the glass surface is going to result in a stronger bond pane-to-pane, and thus decrease any possible leaks caused by movement, flexing, stretching, or bowing.
Secondly, it seems to me that more silicone 'glue' spread out on to the glass surface is going to result in a stronger bond pane-to-pane, and thus decrease any possible leaks caused by movement, flexing, stretching, or bowing.
>>>> Not an expert at all. I just sealed one tank about 3 times and then the next 5 or so tanks one time each 
LOL I'm capable of learning, slower than most but the potential is there.........I may or may not have some helpful info.
I understand what your saying about the 1 inch thing, and I agree. At least it couldn't hurt. The drying part threw me a bit, I figured it must be 1 inch thick to need weeks to dry?
I just wonder why sealing this tank is so difficult, kinda like we are missing something? Honestly, I don't think it's a glue/silicon cure time issue. A thin bead of silicon will take two days at the most to dry in normal conditions i.e. inside a home, normal heat, normal humidity......
1) I think the OP is waiting to long to smear the glue into place.
Use a caulk gun and apply 1/4" thick bead of glue right into the corner of the glass and run that the length of the glass. Use a spoon or finger, wet, and spread the glue into the corners. Cannot let the glue "skin over" this has to happen within 5 minutes. Easy
or
2) The stand is not level or even, causing stress on one of the joints.........long shot?
It really seems like we are missing something and an empty 500 gallon tank is a sin!
I never worked on a glass tank as large as 500 gallons? Actually my largest glass tank is only 180? I may be missing something to do with such a large tank?
Again, I'm not an expert.
LOL I'm capable of learning, slower than most but the potential is there.........I may or may not have some helpful info.
I understand what your saying about the 1 inch thing, and I agree. At least it couldn't hurt. The drying part threw me a bit, I figured it must be 1 inch thick to need weeks to dry?
I just wonder why sealing this tank is so difficult, kinda like we are missing something? Honestly, I don't think it's a glue/silicon cure time issue. A thin bead of silicon will take two days at the most to dry in normal conditions i.e. inside a home, normal heat, normal humidity......
1) I think the OP is waiting to long to smear the glue into place.
Use a caulk gun and apply 1/4" thick bead of glue right into the corner of the glass and run that the length of the glass. Use a spoon or finger, wet, and spread the glue into the corners. Cannot let the glue "skin over" this has to happen within 5 minutes. Easy
or
2) The stand is not level or even, causing stress on one of the joints.........long shot?
It really seems like we are missing something and an empty 500 gallon tank is a sin!
I never worked on a glass tank as large as 500 gallons? Actually my largest glass tank is only 180? I may be missing something to do with such a large tank?
Again, I'm not an expert.
well the tank is leaking much much slower than it did last week. it didn't start leaking again until after running it at full water level for 14 hours. this means that sealing it help but that either i didn't wait long enough or i didn't even out or smear the silicone on properly. again this is my first time having to do this so i'm trying to get info from you guys. every single reply has helped to thank you.
i think that what i need to do is to even out the silicone a little better and i'm trying to learn from my previous mistakes by talking to you guys. but honestly i don't know what i did wrong. it's a big tank and so i'm doing it as carefully as i possibly can.
i dont think that the tank isn't leveled but it happens... right? we've had so many earthquakes around the world, or maybe the frame shifted. hard to tell...
i think that what i need to do is to even out the silicone a little better and i'm trying to learn from my previous mistakes by talking to you guys. but honestly i don't know what i did wrong. it's a big tank and so i'm doing it as carefully as i possibly can.
i dont think that the tank isn't leveled but it happens... right? we've had so many earthquakes around the world, or maybe the frame shifted. hard to tell...
Na, it's most likely not a leveling issue. I think because the tank is so large the silicon is drying before your getting to smear the bead between the glass or the glass surface is not completely clean/dry. It sounds like you have a very very small leak. But it's a leak and must be fixed.
I've been in your shoes and I know what your going through. It sucks I know
So you have two options: You can try to find the area that's leaking. Like the lower left corner has the leak or what ever? Then drain the tank and make sure the area is dry. Your going to need a couple days to dry this with a fan. When you think all the water is out and the tank is very dry, push your finger into the silicon in the area that you think is leaking. If water squeezes out your going to have to remove the glue in that area. Put a fan on it and dry it out again. Re-apply the silicon in that area and check for leaks.
The best option sucks the most. Usually the best decision is the hardest to make!
Rip out all the old glue and start over. Make sure the gluing areas are clean and dry. I like using acetone from Home Depot. I'm sure glass cleaner would work too. You just have to make sure all the old glue is off and the area is dry, no oils or dirt so the glue bonds to the glass.
Okay I'm sure your sick of me by now, I'll shut up.
I've been in your shoes and I know what your going through. It sucks I know
So you have two options: You can try to find the area that's leaking. Like the lower left corner has the leak or what ever? Then drain the tank and make sure the area is dry. Your going to need a couple days to dry this with a fan. When you think all the water is out and the tank is very dry, push your finger into the silicon in the area that you think is leaking. If water squeezes out your going to have to remove the glue in that area. Put a fan on it and dry it out again. Re-apply the silicon in that area and check for leaks.
The best option sucks the most. Usually the best decision is the hardest to make!
Rip out all the old glue and start over. Make sure the gluing areas are clean and dry. I like using acetone from Home Depot. I'm sure glass cleaner would work too. You just have to make sure all the old glue is off and the area is dry, no oils or dirt so the glue bonds to the glass.
Okay I'm sure your sick of me by now, I'll shut up.
