melbournebetta Posted May 1, 2011 Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 ]Tomorrow is the day, the little spawn/grow-out tank started leaking a few weeks back, the kids have all been re-located and it's time for this tank to get a little TLC. I saw this video on youtube and this site's instructions - and thought i might give it a go. If i can get to bunnings (my car is a little reluctant to play with me at the moment) I will post step by step shots of my success/failure. I'm somewhat inspired as I don't have to take the whole thing apart (see video) but can just re-seal the lot from the inside. Hope this might help others, as I'd struggled to find much info on the process on this forum. Wish me luck! -DIYNess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted May 1, 2011 Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 I'm doing a reseal on a 2ft tank today - the hardest part is stripping all the old silicone off - personally I wouldn't be using acetone (fingernail polish remover) inside the tank - a razor blade is good enough to remove old silicone for a reseal and then I usually clean the area with isopropyl alcohol (or metho if no isopropyl around). For silicone - the best are: Rhodorsil V2 Dow Corning 480 both are around $8 - $12 per tube depending where you buy it.... both are available in clear, white or black.... For second best (and most available) use the Selly's Glass silicone (has aquariums listed as a use on the label) - about $7-$8 per tube from major hardware stores.... DO NOT use any other silicone - most have anit mould and other chemicals in them that do not tend to go well with fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 1, 2011 Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 Lots of photos please Ness. Never been game to have a go myself. Would really like to build a tank/barracks/display tank out of two footer with sump in the back. Just not confident. I will think about it, research it then buy one. Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Just ask when you're ready Paul... can give you some good tips on glass cutting and tank building to save slicing and dicing yourself.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrefly Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Good luck DIY-Ness! Braver woman than I.. My adventures with silicone have never gone well Check out eBay Busman, I picked up one there recently for $15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I want tips on glass cutting and tank building as well. I'm going to start a new thread so we don't hijack Ness' resealing thread which has been advertised as having video and pics even though there aren't any yet. I hope she wasn't referring to the YouTube. Sorry Ness, it has to be YOUR video. *lol* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 (edited) Just sat down after a 40 min DIY Extravaganza... the only issue will be the amount of photos I have to upload (ehem) I found this a pretty easy process, the lengthy part was driving to the hardware store to collect scraper/blades/tape and silicone, only to find that I had to drive to the aquarium to buy the right silicone. At least the lovely guy at the hardware store didn't just try to sell me any old silicone...He warned me off the black stuff, and a few other brands - as they have chemicals that are antibacterial/antifungal and leach poisons - we don't want this for obvious reasons. Please note, this is a back-up grow out tank and is not designed to be a display tank, thus I've elected to attempt this - I can't really be bothered making it immaculate, but found the process quick and easy (I'm pretty slap-dash!) and if you took better care it would probably be easy to execute a tidy re-seal... List of supplies; Silicone (tanksafe) $12 Blades $2 Blade holder thingy $4 Masking tape $5 Silicone gun thingy $11 iPhone that dosen't really work as a phone $ Priceless Tank in question: You'll notice the tank has 3 sides with that litte 90 degree support, this is to increase surface area tension, as this is stuck on with silicone also... the one side that leaked had no support, and had just started leaking in a small area: getting the silicone off was pretty easy, came away quickly: <continued> Once all silicone bits were off: Edited May 2, 2011 by melbournebetta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Loving it. Good work Ness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Looking good Ness... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 (edited) (thanks bus) ... Made sure everything was super dry, and applied the masking tape - I should have slowed down at this point but I kept thinking "it's just a grow out tank" and I didn't want to have to do it AGAIN, so i made the gaps between masking tape rather large: ...and obviously didn't worry too much a bout making it all straight. These little black "corners" were great, I used them as a guide, and I can see how they are a great cheat as you can't really see the silicone job behind it. Hot tip: Make the joins at the bottom slightly larger and use a little more silicone Time to look at the silicone gun and piece the cannister, but before you do that, here's another Hot tip: cut the top of the nosel on a slight angle, this will give you more control of the silicone as it comes out. another Hot Tip: PRACTICE WITH THE SILICONE FIRST! it is easy to control, and when you have completed one corner, release the tension on the trigger so the silicone dosen't keep coming out.... THATS how you make a mess Practice: ....awwww Used the blade to cut the nosel on an angle: comment pls ! ...not the most perfect job, but you get the hang of it pretty quick.... my youtube video said work from the bottom up... so I did all the bottom first (with a bit more silicone here than for the sides) Then did each corner from the bottom towards the top Edited May 2, 2011 by melbournebetta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 You don't have to wait till someone comments. Just wait 10 minutes. Oh... it's only been 8 minutes. Ok any more pics? Assume you didn't get silicone on the camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Wow! I think this thread may have to be pinned!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Lol. Feel a bit nervous after seeing that pic of you putting the gloves on. "Right, spread em". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Now for the fun bit - trust me, I have a doctorate in DIY... Hot Tip: Silicone is strong, put gloves on This is the fun bit!! Remember this stage is about spreading the silicone and making a neat edge, it increases the surface area, you don't want to push it around, but just manipulate it into the corners and change it's shape. Some say wait, some say go for it, I say go for it... take the tape of fairly quickly after you have smoothed it out (this is a messy process, my hot tip: leave the bloody gloves on!) - I wish i had Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 More??? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Question: Did you remove the silicone between the joins or just the stuff on the inside of each corner?You didn't wait for it to form a skin before ripping off the masking tape? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 If you wait for the silicone to skin you will then have a trimming job to do later on..... Well done Ness..... what type of silicone did you end up getting from the LFS? Haven't seen that label before..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 <woah this is taking much more effort than I had anticipated> ...Where was i? oh yes - masking tape removal Here's the wet finished product: It's not all that tidy - but as I said, that wasn't an objective, if YOU want it tidy, you can always wait the 1-2 days until the silicone is completely dry and clean up by cutting it with a razor The masking tape did a good job of keeping it between the lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Looks good enough for a grow out tank Ness.... besides ... its all experience and the next display tank you do will be perfect :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 <wait 8 mins> ...this was the brand I was sold at Coburg Aquarium... if all my fish die I'll know who to blame. -END- <for now> when the tank's set up i'll throw another shot on here to prove it's water tight. -DIYNess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 You've done a great job Ness. I wasn't brave enough to post piccies of some of my dodgy silicone jobs Mind you, the bulk of the bad stuff in my tank can't be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 'Razzi, Yeah, I left the joins in tank with the old silicone, I am trusting that the application of the new silicone is strong enough to hold the whole thing together, and make it water-tight. I have to admit it was a little wobbly, so the silicone between the joins was all that held it together while i was doing this job. However, the black struts down each corner (on the outside of the tank joins) seems to have held the whole thing in place... I would recommend getting some of those if you were building tanks - extra surface area and strength. Didn't wait for the silicone to skin, it's the same principal as paint - and i don't wait for that to skin either. -Ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Nah your fish shouldn't die Ness.... checked it out and apparently the US FDA has approved it as food safe and its an acetic cure so sounds all good .... great to know another silicone that is safe for fish.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neffy Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Nice work Ness doesn't look messy at all ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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