How to reseal an aquarium in 8 easy steps.
I bought a used 100 gallon aquarium.This tank was previously used as a saltwater reef tank.The tank is going to be a planted freshwater rainbowfish display.I'm going to have to seal it and clean it before I can fill it with water.
It's not possible to know how long the aquarium has been in use or how it was stored when buying a used aquarium.Silicone seals don't last forever even if a pre-owned aquarium holds water.Silicone will shrink after 10 years.The tank will leak eventually.Silicone will be weakened by storing an aquarium outside or in a garage that is subject to a wide range of temperatures.Unless you're getting a gently used aquarium from a hobbyist, it's wise to assume you will need to reseal large secondhand tanks.
No.New Silicone won't stick to old Silicone.The only way to properly seal a tank is to remove the old seal and replace it with a new one.
The process of resealing a used aquarium is very labor intensive.The whole process will take several hours.You'll need some supplies.
The aquarium needs to be completely clean to have a good seal.Remove the gunk from the glass, and then start removing the old silicone.When cutting the bead that holds the glass together, be careful.The panes of glass are not being cut apart while you remove the seal on the inside of the tank.The old seal has been removed.
After the old silicone is removed, wipe the glass clean with rubbing alcohol.Apply tape to all of the seams once it dries.Take your time applying the tape because this will determine the outcome of your seal.If you leave enough space, your bead will be at least as wide as the thickness of the glass.If you want to get clean lines, use a razor blade to cut the tape at the corners.
Silicone and rags should be prepared after the tape is applied.Timing is important because the Silicone will start to "skin" in about 10 minutes.You can smooth out caulk by using your finger or a tool.Before the silicone begins to set, remove the tape.I worked my way across the tank in sections.I removed the tape from the side panel before continuing.On larger aquariums, I recommend this approach.The whole tank needs to be resealed.New silicone won't adhere to it once it dries.
This was a 2 step process that I went through.I added the seal to the overflow after resealing the aquarium.The tank is shown in the photo below.
Follow the instructions on the tube.If you want to fill the aquarium with water, you should wait at least 48 hours.If you give the silicone an extra day to cure, you have nothing to lose.It probably isn't cured yet because it still smells like vinegar.
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