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by **frisco** on Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:31 pm

help! my 50gallon tank is leaking!! Well I shouldn't say leaking, but water seaping out a little, not too bad but I would like to fix this.

So i'm guessing I just buy aquarium silicone, remove the old silicone and apply the new one?

EDIT: I forgot to mention its seaping from the bottom of the tank, water comes from the trimmings.

by **frisco** on Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:21 pm

alright, I emptied the tank and inspected the silicone. The bottom edges is still good, 3 of the 4 edges have air bubbles/pockets. one side was rather easy to remove just with my fingers. So I guess i'll just let this dry. Do i have to clean the edges after I remove the old stuff? IF so with rubbing alcohol?

by **Fuzzy** on Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:58 pm

Take a razor blade, or olaf knife blade, ect, and clean off all the loose silicon. Don't bother getting silicon from a LFS/LPS. Go to your local building supply center, get any clear 100% silicon, with no mold or mildew addatives. It will say on most tubes, safe for aquariums. If you buy it in a LFS/LPS, you will get the same stuff at 3 x's the price.
Re due the seam. More silicon is better than less, tool it in to the joint, (I use my finger) with some pressure. Let is cure for 48 hours. Clean off any excess or loose silcion ect. I leave my tank for about 5 days total before I water test it. Test it by filling it, and letting it sit for 24 hours or so. Once it is not leaking, clean it out with a damp rag or sponge, dry it, and it is now ready for use.

by **frisco** on Mon Apr 04, 2005 4:05 pm

alright thanks for the reply, I did what you said Fuzzy, I used more silicon and used my finger to get it in the joint, so far it was an easy job. Its day #3 so I'll wait 2 more days then test it.

Thanks Again!

by **Fuzzy** on Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:22 pm

Yep, it really is, if you don't mind the odour, and getting your finger all gooey.

by **Deepseafisher** on Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:28 pm

Yeah, I siliconed a 15 gallon tank I got for free. It took WD 40 to get the sillicone off of my hands. Weirdest feeling on the planet. I just hate trying to get that stuff off of your hands. You just about have to let it set and then peel it off to be entirely rid of it.

Great stuff if you need to fix a tank, though.