Need tank resealer

[fishandcards]

From a structural standpoint, the inner seal should need see a lot of stress.  The silicone in the joints should be holding the glass together - thus the inner seal should see minimal or no tensile stress.   

Theoretically, if the seams are completely siliconed, you should not need the inner silicone.  We all know what theory is worth in the real world...you will probably have tiny gaps in the joints.  Due to the pressure and stretching, the water will leak out.  The inner seal is more robust in assuring no gaps - you can see it.

A belt and suspenders is a practical approach, especially in this size tank.

One thing I have read (for entertainment I looked at building a tank) is that you need to silicone all at once since silicone does not bond well to itself once it cures......this to me is the major obstacle in builing your own tank or resealing your own.

[cranialdisturbance]

The cooler it is in your basement the longer the working time you will have with the silicone.  Good luck Steve.  Are you using 10 oz. or 28 oz. tubes of silicone?

[Steve]

Are you using 10 oz. or 28 oz. tubes of silicone?

The ones that fit in a caulk gun, I think they are around 10oz if I'm not mistaken.

[GrizzlysDad]

Are you using 10 oz. or 28 oz. tubes of silicone?

The ones that fit in a caulk gun, I think they are around 10oz if I'm not mistaken.

Hey Steve,
If it's cheaper to buy the larger tubes I have a large caulking gun you can borrow.

[Ron]

Are you using 10 oz. or 28 oz. tubes of silicone?

The ones that fit in a caulk gun, I think they are around 10oz if I'm not mistaken.

As Tony noted, there are different size caulk guns (typically two sizes). Found this out when I was standing at HD one day, realized that the bigger ones were significantly cheaper for whatever product it was I'd been looking at, so I bought the big ones. Got home ... didn't fit in the gun I had, LOL. Gun was cheap to buy and I still came out ahead of buying the little ones. Now I'm set. 

[Steve]

Hey Ron I have a question for ya. I was just downstairs still scraping away at the tank and just sat down by the tank for a second to rest before heading up to bed for the night, and I noticed something that I have not noticed until just now. When I sat down and looked closely at the side pane of glass where the leak is coming from I just happened to notice that the right side pane is not 100% flush with the front & back panes like the left side pane is. It seems to be set "inward" by about a good 1/8" more than the other one is. So I started looking over the silicone butt seams on that right side pane and I actually found a tiny piece of plastic (almost like some sort of just tiny debris) sticking out of the silicone butt seam on that pane.

That right side pane is the one that is where the leak has been. So now I'm thinking, maybe at some point in time someone took that pane out and replaced it and just didn't do a good enough job maybe? If that's the case then would I be okay to remove that side pane of glass, clean and acetone the edges and reseal it back in properly then reseal the inner seal? Because if it is in fact just that pane and I can simple remove and reinstall just the one side pane of glass and not have to rebuild the whole tank then that may be the best news I've heard in this whole project.

[Steve]

Just snapped a couple pics to show you what I mean.

This is the left (good) side. Nice and even like it should be....


Then check this out. Right side (where I'm 99% sure it was leaking from on the bottom)

[Ron]

Most glass tanks I've seen aren't 100% flush on all edges. What matters is the seam between the panes that holds them together. If you look at it from the side, it should be clear. If it's hazy white, then the seam is most likely bad.

As for the plastic bit sticking out, I'm not sure what to think about that. Sure doesn't sound good, but you should be able to look at the seam through one of the panes and see if it actually stuck through far enough to cause a leak.

Are you using something with a cutting edge to remove the old silicone or something like a trowel or putty knife? Just curious because of the leftover shown on the inside corner of the interior seam. I've always used razorblades.

[Steve]

The silicone that I can see ( the vertical butt seams) looks okay, but I can't see the bottom one due to the lower trim and that's where the leak was coming from so I'm thinking that is the one that has a small pin hole/leak.

I'm using a 5" flat razor scrapper, but I have only gone over part of the vertical seams with it so far so there's still some left over silicone that needs to be cleaned. Gotta hit Lowes today and get a new pack of blades though.

If it is in fact the lower butt seam on the side pane then is it possible to pull out just a side pane and reinstall it, or would I also have to take one of the front or back panes out to do the side pane since the side pane sits between the front & back (yet on top of the bottom pane).

[Steve]

Another thing I was considering as well perhaps. This is along the lines of what Josh said the shop he called suggested. If it is just a small spot on the lower seal like it seems to be then I'm also wondering if a piece of something like acrylic angle or similar cut to fit flush up against that sides lower seam in a somewhat eurobrace style, obviously with silicone behind and on top of it such as in this simple sketch might do the trick without much work.

[merritt]

I was wondering if or when you would question the bond of your panels. That is a tall tank. If the bond is bad it will shift the panel causing your best efforts to leak. Its possible before your ownership that it was stored outside where the silocone deteroiated. If you want to take precautionary action you can either tear the whole tank down or have some glass strips cut  the same thickness to reinforce your the panels before resealing. The tank is glass? Use glass for glass or acrylic for acrylic. If this were my tank i would go to any lengths to make sure i did my best. Either way i hope the best on the job

[Steve]

Deleted . Thanks for your input.

[Steve]

Just an FYI. Just ordered a 3/4" x 3/4" x34" piece of acrylic. I am planning on cutting it down to 23 7/8 or there abouts and using it as a patch on top of the reseal of the inner seal. Somewhat a seal on top of a seal. I'm pretty sure this will work. If I'm wrong, well wouldn't be the first time. I'm will to bet this works though.














Anyway if it doesn't.....Blame Blair .....gotta blame someone lol