bought used tank, has slight leak - Aquarium Advice

fireflygirl · 11-18-2007, 05:22 AM

I bought this 29 gal at a moving sale. It had water in it, when I first looked at it. I cleaned it up, brought it in...The tank had a small layer of water inside, when I was drying underneath one side the paper towel would get wet. So I am assuming I need to reseal. It leaked on one side. Can I just reseal there or do I have to do the whole tank. Is it neccesary to scrape off existing silicone ? Thanks in advance.

NoSvOrAx · 11-18-2007, 12:41 PM

new silicone won't stick to old silicone. You'll have to remove all the old silicone and re do it.

rkilling1 · 11-18-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSvOrAx

new silicone won't stick to old silicone. You'll have to remove all the old silicone and re do it.

Just to add this this, here is a nice DIY article:

http://aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=8961

I would also say to use duct tape about 1/4 to 1/2" on both sides of the bead you are going to lay. It helps to make it look nice.

fireflygirl · 11-18-2007, 06:25 PM

Thanks for the link. I had done some searching but I did not see this one. It states to reseal 3 inches on both sides of leak.. I think I will do this. I really did not want to seal the whole tank over such a small leak on one side.

BillD · 11-19-2007, 03:56 AM

I wouldn't risk it. You will probably end up tearing the tank down to redo it in a short time.

tropicfishman · 11-19-2007, 11:50 PM

I had this problem with a 90 gallon I bought, it wasn't leaking but the seals were chipped up pretty bad. I used a razor blade and removed a section of sealent at a time, applied new silicone and then did the same to the remaining sections. I did this mainly in fear of the tank falling apart if I removed it all at once. I've done two leak tests so far and so far so good, I did leave the tank full for 3 days each time and then pumped it all back out and repeated after letting the tank sit for a week.

11-18-2007, 05:22 AM	#1
fireflygirl Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: TX Posts: 29 Images: 18	bought used tank, has slight leak I bought this 29 gal at a moving sale. It had water in it, when I first looked at it. I cleaned it up, brought it in...The tank had a small layer of water inside, when I was drying underneath one side the paper towel would get wet. So I am assuming I need to reseal. It leaked on one side. Can I just reseal there or do I have to do the whole tank. Is it neccesary to scrape off existing silicone ? Thanks in advance. __________________ 29 gal. semi aggressive, planted tank. schools of tiger barbs, red glass barbs, black skirt tetras, serpae tetras, 2 glow light tetras, 2 albino glow light tetras, 1 adf,a few corydorus, 1 unidentified pleco, 1 green mystery snail, I just put 4 zebra danios in there as well, I know I am overstocked here, but things have went well for almost 2 years now with these fish. 10 gal. planted tank with a few guppies, neon tetras(new addition), 4 corydorus, 2 ottos, a small unidentified pleco and a green mystery snail. I give the guppy fry to friends and to my other fish to eat. 5 gal. planted-2 female bettas, 3 dwarf sun plattys, 2 ottos, 1 green mystery snail I give those fry away as well 2 gal. with a male betta

11-18-2007, 06:25 PM	#4
fireflygirl Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: TX Posts: 29 Images: 18	Thanks for the link. I had done some searching but I did not see this one. It states to reseal 3 inches on both sides of leak.. I think I will do this. I really did not want to seal the whole tank over such a small leak on one side. __________________ 29 gal. semi aggressive, planted tank. schools of tiger barbs, red glass barbs, black skirt tetras, serpae tetras, 2 glow light tetras, 2 albino glow light tetras, 1 adf,a few corydorus, 1 unidentified pleco, 1 green mystery snail, I just put 4 zebra danios in there as well, I know I am overstocked here, but things have went well for almost 2 years now with these fish. 10 gal. planted tank with a few guppies, neon tetras(new addition), 4 corydorus, 2 ottos, a small unidentified pleco and a green mystery snail. I give the guppy fry to friends and to my other fish to eat. 5 gal. planted-2 female bettas, 3 dwarf sun plattys, 2 ottos, 1 green mystery snail I give those fry away as well 2 gal. with a male betta

11-19-2007, 03:56 AM	#5
BillD Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Whitby, Ont,Canada Posts: 930	I wouldn't risk it. You will probably end up tearing the tank down to redo it in a short time. __________________ Join a fish club. Don't have one in your area? Start one.

11-19-2007, 11:50 PM	#6
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	I had this problem with a 90 gallon I bought, it wasn't leaking but the seals were chipped up pretty bad. I used a razor blade and removed a section of sealent at a time, applied new silicone and then did the same to the remaining sections. I did this mainly in fear of the tank falling apart if I removed it all at once. I've done two leak tests so far and so far so good, I did leave the tank full for 3 days each time and then pumped it all back out and repeated after letting the tank sit for a week. __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

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11-18-2007, 12:41 PM	#2
NoSvOrAx Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 144	new silicone won't stick to old silicone. You'll have to remove all the old silicone and re do it.

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