Need Advice. Bought 250g Aquarium With A Leak.

Last week I saw a 250g aquarium for sale ( DAS H39) and it had a leak. Got it real cheap and figured I could reseal it. Today I cleaned it all out but I think the aquarium floor has 2 layers of glass. The top layer is 3 pieces silicone together and I believe the other is one piece. I can see moisture droplets between the glass and there's no way to access the bottom as it has a wooden floor as well. My concern is if there's moisture in-between the glass bottoms. Will that in some way keep the new silicone from adhering to the glass when applied.

 

Last week I saw a 250g aquarium for sale ( DAS H39) and it had a leak. Got it real cheap and figured I could reseal it. Today I cleaned it all out but I think the aquarium floor has 2 layers of glass. The top layer is 3 pieces silicone together and I believe the other is one piece. I can see moisture droplets between the glass and there's no way to access the bottom as it has a wooden floor as well. My concern is if there's moisture in-between the glass bottoms. Will that in some way keep the new silicone from adhering to the glass when applied.

Moisture actually helps silicone cure. If you are worried about the moisture the silicone curing will actually draw the moisture towards it via brownian diffusion.

If you are going to reseal make sure you remove all the old material and clean it with some 80/20 isopropyl alcohol. Then a nice clean application of new silicone (ge silicone 1 is best)

 

So I shouldn't worry about the moisture trapped between the glass floors

Another question I just thought about. Being that I have kids home for the summer I didn't want to reseal the tank inside due to the strong oder it releases , so I put it on my back porch and plan on working on it there. I live in South tx and it's been very hot. Should I be worried about doing it outside. I don't have much of an option being that it took 6 guys to roll it to my back yard. Would take about 8 to lift it as it so heavy.

 

Another question I just thought about. Being that I have kids home for the summer I didn't want to reseal the tank inside due to the strong oder it releases , so I put it on my back porch and plan on working on it there. I live in South tx and it's been very hot. Should I be worried about doing it outside. I don't have much of an option being that it took 6 guys to roll it to my back yard. Would take about 8 to lift it as it so heavy.

I'm thinking you might just need to work quicker (I think the heat might make it cure faster), other than that it should be ok if you can work quickly. I'm no expert though, I've resealed tanks before but only inside (and then felt ill from the fumes lol).. So probably a good idea to do it outside, although I think you mostly get the fumes from being directly over it while you're working.

 

Yes. Thanks. I've used silicone in my showers multiple times and boy does that stuff stink. And real strong. I ordered a mask off eBay to minimize inhalation exposure therefore allowing me to work comfortable.

 

So the only problem outside is if sun hits the back if the back is painted black. This will cause uneven heat distribution across the tank and could potentially break the glass. Other than that you should be fine. If it is in a covered area with no sunlight on it you should be fine.

Additionally if it is hot out it will not make it cure faster. Silicone cures based off humidity content in the air. High humidity will increase the cure speed whereas arid conditions slow the process down.

 

I have the aquarium on my back porch under the shade. I have begun the process of removing the silicone . It's all been going smooth until I ran into an issue. The aquarium came with a overflow box that goes on the side. There's a little flange or idk what to call it that allows the box to sit on it with a lip being inserted into it to hold it in place. I removed the silicone around it but I cannot removed it in order to clean it out or remove the silicone on those corners. Should I just remove what I can around it and just try and silicone over it.

 

View attachment 454937 I have the aquarium on my back porch under the shade. I have begun the process of removing the silicone . It's all been going smooth until I ran into an issue. The aquarium came with a overflow box that goes on the side. There's a little flange or idk what to call it that allows the box to sit on it with a lip being inserted into it to hold it in place. I removed the silicone around it but I cannot removed it in order to clean it out or remove the silicone on those corners. Should I just remove what I can around it and just try and silicone over it.

Can you take a pic of the overflow box? You will need to reseal it as well so I need to see it to be able to help you proceed

 

Can you take a pic of the overflow box? You will need to reseal it as well so I need to see it to be able to help you proceed

The over flow comes off. It's not fixed in the aquarium

 

On a side note, make sure the silicone you are using does not contain anything to used to kill mold (basically anything that says "mold free for 10 years" or "mold free"), since those can also kill any future fish you put in there as well. I know someone who had re-siliconed their tank with the wrong type of silicone, and ended up with dead fish a few days after putting them in.

 

The over flow comes off. It's not fixed in the aquarium

Just remove as much of the old silicone as you can. Silicone doesn't bond to cured silicone.

 

Just remove as much of the old silicone as you can. Silicone doesn't bond to cured silicone.

I'll keep trying to remove as much as I can. Don't want this monster to leak

 

I'll keep trying to remove as much as I can. Don't want this monster to leak

Fingernails, razorblades and 80/20 isopropyl are your friends

 

Was able to remove overflow lip. Some progress but taking my time.

Some pics

 

Looking good! Just takes a lot of time

 

Looking good! Just takes a lot of time

I'll second that mine took a fair amount longer to do than I expected.

Interesting what navycheif said about humidity I didnt realize that. I started my water test yesterday on my tank I resealed and I mentioned to the wife that the silicone seemed a bit hazy still... I hope it was fully cured. I waited 3 full days and was still together when I checked this morning (no leaks so far!).

 

I'm usually very impatient with projects but what makes me calm down and take my time is knowing that if I don't do it right there's a chance of having 250 gallons in my living room

 

I'm usually very impatient with projects but what makes me calm down and take my time is knowing that if I don't do it right there's a chance of having 250 gallons in my living room

Yeah take your time. I know it's a drag but just throw on some TedeshcI Trucks band n grab some IPA and do it to it. Trust me 250 gallons is a lot on the floor.

I'll second that mine took a fair amount longer to do than I expected.

Interesting what navycheif said about humidity I didnt realize that. I started my water test yesterday on my tank I resealed and I mentioned to the wife that the silicone seemed a bit hazy still... I hope it was fully cured. I waited 3 full days and was still together when I checked this morning (no leaks so far!).

3 days should be plenty. Its really a function of the humidity. I do mine in the garage when the humidity is really up.

 

The day has come. Just got out of work. Doing a last minute cleaning on all the edges and starting the process.

 

Update. I let the silicone set a week. Then tested with water for one week. Moved it inside the house. Let it run for one week with new and running filters I had on another aquarium. I added sand and fish. When I was at work my kids call that there's water coming out of the aquarium. Luckily my father in law showed up and helped drain the water with a pool pump I had handy and move the fish. All I'm all it's been a stressful couple days. Looks like the silicone didn't hold up. Don't want to reseal so I'm going to sell it.

 

Do you live in new england and how much?