Resealing a tank tool - not yet available in Canada :(

[CACAdmin]

Now as I have never actually resealed a tank, I'll leave it to those experienced in doing so to let me know if I'm wrong, but I think I've found a helpful tool to aid in resealing a tank.

I came across this review (http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=672) in Practical Fishkeeping magazine. It's for a product called CornerTape which makes creating a smooth clean edge seal with Silicone. And so I went to their website to check it out. Although their video demo (http://www.cornertape.net/drupal/node/48)shows resealing tile in a bathtub enclosure, it's easy to translate this into resealing a tank.

The downside: although they have a patent in Canada, they don't sell it here. ::(: I have emailed them, though, asking if and when they plan to distribute it here in Canada.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Looks like it would be worth a try.

[Katalyst]

Jay if they send it to the States I have an addy there you are welcome to use if you'd like to.

[CACAdmin]

Thanks Kat. At the moment they only have distributers in Europe and the UK. However, I figure they must have plans to eventually sell it here if they've bothered with patents. I'll let you know what they say (if & when they reply to my query).

[RatMan]

why waste your money? Buy a 2 wide roll of painters tape (green or bluedoes not matter) then you lay it along one side the the other leaving the width that YOU want.......moisten your finger tip and have a bowl of water and a rag handy. Run your finger along the bead of silicone, remove with the rag re-moisten your finger and carry on. Very important part is to remove the tape once the silicone has started to set, it has to be removed before it starts to cure or if you have put silicon over the tape it will look really bad, but if the skin is just forming that is the time, take it straight up and away, a pair of throw away rubber golves are handy here. I have resealed tanks and chalked bathroom tub surrounds this way. Roll of tape $1.99........practice priceless.....

[CACAdmin]

Thanks for the detailed instructions. :smile: They're very helpful especially for those like myself who would be tackling doing a tank for the first time.
Roll of tape $1.99........practice priceless.....
Some of us require lots of practice. :laugh: The difficulty some of us with two left feet, err... thumbs , have with even basic tasks like this is probably the basis for the invention of CornerTape.

[RatMan]

Really it is not that hard and the more you do the easier it will get.....and you can take pride that you did it and it came out nice........even a person from BC can do it with a wee bit of practice.......important thing is to keep the finger wet and remove the tape once the silicone skins over....and not to wait for it to dry.......but then don't touch it till it is cured completly

[CACAdmin]

even a person from BC can do it with a wee bit of practice
:laugh: ... me and my ten thumbs. However, please don't lump the rest of the poor BC'ers in with me. I'm sure we have some skilled folks here :yes: (along with the inept ones like me.:rolleyes: ) I don't have a tank to do at the moment but I'll be sure to let you know what success I have when the time comes.

[leafgirl115]

Its looks like it would work realy well :) (though i have never used silicone lol.... just bough my first today to make some aquarium caves and perminant dividers....)

[CACAdmin]

Just be sure you use aquarium safe silicone (I use GE Silicone II for porch and windows) Often silicone for the bathroom has stuff added to prevent mildew, etc. and that is toxic to the fishies.

[leafgirl115]

Just be sure you use aquarium safe silicone (I use GE Silicone II for porch and windows) Often silicone for the bathroom has stuff added to prevent mildew, etc. and that is toxic to the fishies.
I have GE silicone I the 2 all had antimildew stuff.

[CACAdmin]

Sorry, my mistake. It's GE Silicone I for Windows and Doors. I shouldn't rattle stuff off the top of my head in the wee hours of the morning.:rolleyes:

You can also use Canadian Tire brand, I gather. As Blaine stated in this thread (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1949),

The only big deal to watch for is the kitchen and bath type silicone because it contains anti fungal agents that will kill your fish !!!
:wideeyed:

[leafgirl115]

Its ok :)

Thanks for the other topic as well (Im still trying to fined my way around this forum....)

[CACAdmin]

There's lots of info here so it's always good to ask if you can't find the answer. Someone is bound to help you find the info you need.

[_Green_]

why waste your money? Buy a 2 wide roll of painters tape (green or bluedoes not matter) then you lay it along one side the the other leaving the width that YOU want.......moisten your finger tip and have a bowl of water and a rag handy. Run your finger along the bead of silicone, remove with the rag re-moisten your finger and carry on. Very important part is to remove the tape once the silicone has started to set, it has to be removed before it starts to cure or if you have put silicon over the tape it will look really bad, but if the skin is just forming that is the time, take it straight up and away, a pair of throw away rubber golves are handy here. I have resealed tanks and chalked bathroom tub surrounds this way. Roll of tape $1.99........practice priceless.....

One thing I would add to this is that having a few utility knife blade handy would be a big help should one accidentally get silicone on the glass, this will easily remove it. The blade must be very sharp, otherwise is will leave a fine film of cone on the glass and will look like crap. Ratman mentioned the film which forms as the cone begins to cure, once that starts to happen don't try touch it because you will only make it look worse. If you don't get it right before the it begins to cure then leave it alone, wait until it it fully cured, removed and start again. Another thing to keep in mind when doing anything like this, whether it be making a new tank or resealing an old one, is that silicone does not bond well to itself, so it's extremely important to get ALL the old silicone off before you begin, which is nearly impossible. Again sharp blades will be handy for this. One more thing to note is that one should NOT try to move/push the silicone while fingering it, this will cause it to quickly build up on your finger which will make a mess outside the seem. The whole point in fingering the cone of the smooth the bead out so it looks uniform. Best advice I can give to avoid all that is use a fine bead of high quality silicone (CRLaurence Co. makes a great product) for most tank sizes and 1/4" bead should be enough. Drag the cone, don't push it and have sharp blades ready to clean up any silicone that may get past the outside edges of your finger.

These are a few of the things I learned while installing custom shower enclosures, hopefully they can help others members avoid some of the headaches.

I'm going to build a starphire tank hopefully by the end of February, when I do I'll post what I did with pictures.

_Green_

[CACAdmin]

Thanks for the tips.
Also, I look forward to seeing how you go about building your tank. A great DIY project. :yes: We learn so much from observing what others have done (so pics are extremely helpful... for me anyways).

[_Green_]

Thanks for the tips.
Also, I look forward to seeing how you go about building your tank. A great DIY project. :yes: We learn so much from observing what others have done (so pics are extremely helpful... for me anyways).

I will post pics for you, I actually don't expect it will be very difficult at all. I just have to decide how big I want it to be, right now I'm thinking 75-100 gallons. The bigger the better as far as I'm concerned, but if I keep it 75 or so I could use the 2215 I already have. I guess it will all depend on what I can talk my wife into letting me spend money wise lol

_Green_

[brnttoast]

for those that want a pretty seam on their DIY tanks

you can buy a very inexpensive bead tool for silicone
i have seem them at home depot

they look like this
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=4386&familyName=Starbrite+Caulk+Rite+Tool&history&AdWords&engine=adwords!6456&keyword=%28silicone+application+tool%29&match_type=

in no way am i affiliated with this vendor, i used this only as an example for the tool, mods pls remove if this is against rules