if you took the seal off of the corners and the glass detached there was no silicone put between the panes before it was assembled or did you cut right thru to the outside of the tank.
at this point i would break the whole tank down and resilicone it.
no worries in the future
dave
I agree. When you start and get all of the old silicone off, clean the glass with ammonia to remove any of the oils left over. The silicone needs a very clean surface to adhere to and it does not adhere to old silicone very well.
I also learned a few of lessons the hard way (in red).
1.Tape the whole aquarium before starting.
Add pull tabs at each end of the pieces.
2.
Make sure you have enough silicone on hand for the entire job. Use Type I silicone, pure clear without any pigments, mold inhibitors, etc.
Work quickly! The silicone sets up pretty fast. Use a tongue depressor to push the silicone into the corners and to taper the edges.
Remove the tape as soon as you finish the edge. If the silicone 'skins' it will make a mess and you will probably need to redo it again.
2 sets of hands is a big help here. Don't try to clean up any smears or drips yet.
3. Let the silicone dry and cure for at least 3 days before putting water in it, especially if your climate is humid or damp. Clean up any stray bits with a razor blade and ammonia after the silicone has fully cured.
4. Fill the tank in an outdoor location that is level, like a shed or garage. Let it sit for a few days to make sure the seams hold. This is also a good time to check for any stray silicone you missed.
5. Drain the tank and set it up in its home location.
Let us know how it turns out! Good luck!
