How to Reseal a Tank?

[D.S.]

I have a 60gal Hex tank that has sprang a leak somewhere at the bottom.
What is the best way to reseal it? I was told by someone at a LFS to scrape
off the old silicone and apply the new and then fill it with water. The
pressure of the water would then push the silicone into the cracks. That
sounds like a disaster waiting to happen! Any ideas?? Would I have to
reseal the whole tank, or just the bottom?

Thanks

--
D.S.

[Dinky]

"D.S." > wrote in message
...
| I have a 60gal Hex tank that has sprang a leak somewhere at the
bottom.
| What is the best way to reseal it? I was told by someone at a LFS
to scrape
| off the old silicone and apply the new and then fill it with water.
The
| pressure of the water would then push the silicone into the cracks.
That
| sounds like a disaster waiting to happen! Any ideas?? Would I
have to
| reseal the whole tank, or just the bottom?
|

I'm no expert, but that advice could work. Silicone cures underwater,
but I'd have the tank in a location that won't mind being wet. <g>
Worth a try, but I've always let the tanks cure dry.
And yes, remove as much of the old silicone as you possibly can.

[Akk]

I would remove the panel that is leaking ,clean it proper and re slicone it
back into place,at least there is peace of mind then.


Akk
"D.S." > wrote in message
...
> I have a 60gal Hex tank that has sprang a leak somewhere at the bottom.
> What is the best way to reseal it? I was told by someone at a LFS to
scrape
> off the old silicone and apply the new and then fill it with water. The
> pressure of the water would then push the silicone into the cracks. That
> sounds like a disaster waiting to happen! Any ideas?? Would I have to
> reseal the whole tank, or just the bottom?
>
> Thanks
>
> --
> D.S.
>
>

[D.S.]

What's the best way to remove the silicone?

D.S.

"Dinky" > wrote in message
...
>
> "D.S." > wrote in message
> ...
> | I have a 60gal Hex tank that has sprang a leak somewhere at the
> bottom.
> | What is the best way to reseal it? I was told by someone at a LFS
> to scrape
> | off the old silicone and apply the new and then fill it with water.
> The
> | pressure of the water would then push the silicone into the cracks.
> That
> | sounds like a disaster waiting to happen! Any ideas?? Would I
> have to
> | reseal the whole tank, or just the bottom?
> |
>
> I'm no expert, but that advice could work. Silicone cures underwater,
> but I'd have the tank in a location that won't mind being wet. <g>
> Worth a try, but I've always let the tanks cure dry.
> And yes, remove as much of the old silicone as you possibly can.
>
>

[Todd Nicholson]

Cut it out with a sharp razor blade.

-Todd

"D.S." > wrote in message
...
> What's the best way to remove the silicone?
>
> D.S.
>
> "Dinky" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "D.S." > wrote in message
> > ...
> > | I have a 60gal Hex tank that has sprang a leak somewhere at the
> > bottom.
> > | What is the best way to reseal it? I was told by someone at a LFS
> > to scrape
> > | off the old silicone and apply the new and then fill it with water.
> > The
> > | pressure of the water would then push the silicone into the cracks.
> > That
> > | sounds like a disaster waiting to happen! Any ideas?? Would I
> > have to
> > | reseal the whole tank, or just the bottom?
> > |
> >
> > I'm no expert, but that advice could work. Silicone cures underwater,
> > but I'd have the tank in a location that won't mind being wet. <g>
> > Worth a try, but I've always let the tanks cure dry.
> > And yes, remove as much of the old silicone as you possibly can.
> >
> >
>
>

[AAAlias]

Beer can opener then clean it up good with a razor.


"D.S." > wrote in message
...
> What's the best way to remove the silicone?
>
> D.S.
>
> "Dinky" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "D.S." > wrote in message
> > ...
> > | I have a 60gal Hex tank that has sprang a leak somewhere at the
> > bottom.
> > | What is the best way to reseal it? I was told by someone at a LFS
> > to scrape
> > | off the old silicone and apply the new and then fill it with
water.
> > The
> > | pressure of the water would then push the silicone into the
cracks.
> > That
> > | sounds like a disaster waiting to happen! Any ideas?? Would I
> > have to
> > | reseal the whole tank, or just the bottom?
> > |
> >
> > I'm no expert, but that advice could work. Silicone cures
underwater,
> > but I'd have the tank in a location that won't mind being wet. <g>
> > Worth a try, but I've always let the tanks cure dry.
> > And yes, remove as much of the old silicone as you possibly can.
> >
> >
>
>

[Simon O'Keeffe]

fine steel wire is the easiest IME.
I use a steel guitar string.
Just wrap the ends around some old pieces of wood like a garotte and
slide this betweent the panels.
If it were me i'd re do the whole tank. Chances are the silicon has gone
hard.
Use a real good silicon (like G.E. 999a) and you will get 20 years
before you need to re do the tank again,
Simon

AAAlias wrote:

>Beer can opener then clean it up good with a razor.
>
>
>"D.S." > wrote in message
...
>
>
>>What's the best way to remove the silicone?
>>
>>D.S.
>>
>>"Dinky" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>
>>>"D.S." > wrote in message
...
>>>| I have a 60gal Hex tank that has sprang a leak somewhere at the
>>>bottom.
>>>| What is the best way to reseal it? I was told by someone at a LFS
>>>to scrape
>>>| off the old silicone and apply the new and then fill it with
>>>
>>>
>water.
>
>
>>>The
>>>| pressure of the water would then push the silicone into the
>>>
>>>
>cracks.
>
>
>>>That
>>>| sounds like a disaster waiting to happen! Any ideas?? Would I
>>>have to
>>>| reseal the whole tank, or just the bottom?
>>>|
>>>
>>>I'm no expert, but that advice could work. Silicone cures
>>>
>>>
>underwater,
>
>
>>>but I'd have the tank in a location that won't mind being wet. <g>
>>>Worth a try, but I've always let the tanks cure dry.
>>> And yes, remove as much of the old silicone as you possibly can.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

[Dinky]

"Simon O'Keeffe" > wrote in message
...
| Use a real good silicon (like G.E. 999a) and you will get 20 years
| before you need to re do the tank again,
| Simon



Myself, I'd use silicone. Silicon may be useful, but not for sealing
fish tanks. <bg>

Dinky

lightly trolling

www.mba.org

[Wayne Sallee]

Also clean any calcium buildup with distilled vinigar, or if your not afraid,
use muratic acid (hcl), for faster calcium cleaning. Then clean the area with
denatured alcohol to get a good bond.

Wayne Sallee
http://members.aol.com/waynesallee/weblink.htm