My 75 gallon bowfront build

Yesterday I picked up an entire set up for $100. Total steal. Two lights, one old style one LED, marineland canister (not sure which one but it's huge), tons of extras and fish. 4 adult angels, 4 neon tetras and one platty. The fish are pretty rough looking and skinny. I've got them all in hospital tanks and medicating them.

The tank, not useable, seals look rotted so here goes my first attempted sealing!

Well I'm sorta slow at moving so today I'm scrubbing the algae off the glass, I'll start taking the old seals off after the glass is cleanish

 

I'm way to nervous to play with seals. Good luck and please keep us updated.

 

I to am currently building my 100 gallon bowfront! I am in the process of building a sump station for the tank in using a 12 gallon tank for the sump with a outdoor pond pump rated for 400 gph

 

I'm way to nervous to play with seals. Good luck and please keep us updated.

Oh it's terrifying but those seals were rotted. Some areas the seals had water under them. I'll be polishing the glass as well for a brand new look.

I'm taking my time so I do this right, and I've got time. I put the angelfish in my 36gallon with my sterbaI (eek no separate QT) but I didn't have much choice. I am medicating them and trying to fatten them up.

I'll post more photos as I go along. I can't tell if the seal was that poorly discolored or if someone put a sealant over top another sealant but it was black underneath


I would like to add my experience as a woman looking for a specific item at a hardware store.

The app told me I was in the right isle, I just couldn't find the specific silicone I need for my tank. So I walk to the counter and ask the man there if that product is in and if he knew where it was located. He led me back to where I'd been looking. He showed me all the silicone. I again asked him for the specific brand and type. He went on to tell me they're all the same. I told him again the one I needed and stated it's for an aquarium. He went on to mansplain how I absolutely must go to a pet store for the Aquarium silicone. And he proceeded to tell me about his aquarium reseal project. I asked a last time if they had the product I need. He said they didn't, I finally said I'd just go down the road to the competition.

I walked away with the intention of going to a different store then decided no, I was there, I'd find it. Well it took some searching but there it was, on the very bottom tucked in a corner.

Ugh. Yes I am a woman. Yes I'm re-sealing an aquarium. Yes I've done my research and I know what product I want. Yes I can and I will complete this project just as well as anyone else.

Ok off my soap box

 

Couple photos showing the old silicone. And a photo of the silicone I was looking for. Its GE Silicone 1 100% silicone with no additives.

 

Short update on today's progress.

While cutting silicone off and trying to be careful not to get into the seam, I think I got into the seam. So back to YouTube for a bit o learnin.

Well. One video talks about switching his plan from clear silicone to black because the tank was originally done with black and he wanted it to match.

Hummm....

More YouTube....

Viola, I'll rebuild not just reseal. I bought clear silicone, I love how the clear edges look. The 75 was originally done in black and I think I got too deep into the seam anyway.

On a side note. I set up my 10 gal QT in my bathroom - there's something relaxing about a tank by the toilet.


Edited:

The seals are off of the inside. That went easier as I went on.

 

Photos show how rotted the silicone was. There was substrate gravel under the silicone.... Yikes!

I'm finding this project to be relaxing.

 

Looks promising, good luck!

 

Awesome job, it looks like it’s coming along nicely

 

Awesome job, it looks like it’s coming along nicely

It's coming along slowly since I'm mostly working on it only on my days off. I'm struggling to get the top rI'm off. I'll post another pic when it's off.

 

It's coming along slowly since I'm mostly working on it only on my days off. I'm struggling to get the top rI'm off. I'll post another pic when it's off.

That’s something you definitely want to take nice and easy too. Don’t want to damage the glass

 

It's coming along slowly since I'm mostly working on it only on my days off. I'm struggling to get the top rI'm off. I'll post another pic when it's off.

Awesome project you’ve taken on. Bit jealous of your tank!

 

Looks like you have the same tank I have used for 15 years. I'm in the process of converting it to freshwater from saltwater. It's a good tank. Good luck with the sealing.