PintoHawk
Jan 9th 2009, 11:50 AM
Illustrated Guide to Resealing a Tank
written & illustrated by Anna Crawford-Hawkins (Lethbridge Aquarium Society)
DIY projects can be inexpensive and fun. There are so many different creative ideas out there, and
for those of us in the hobby who like a challenge and adventure these projects are worthwhile.
Why Reseal?
If you have an old aquarium that has seen better days, and you are worried about it leaking or bursting when
filled with water, then resealing is probably the way to bring it back into usable condition. It is easy to do
and worthwhile if you like a hands-on project. I have resealed most of my aquariums myself, and I have never
had any problems, other than the challenge of removing silicone from under my fingernails afterwards.
Preparation, Tools, Equipment
You will need the aquarium in question, one or possibly two tubes of aquarium-safe silicone and a silicone gun
(depending on how large the tank is, of course), a couple disposable plastic spoons, a rag or two, paper towels,
scissors, a spray bottle with 50% vinegar and 50% water solution, a sharp blade or two, masking tape or painter's
tape, and a vacuum cleaner. Also a plastic scrubby if necessary.
Take the old aquarium & all your supplies to the garage or outside, and you may wish to lay down some newspapers
or a drop-cloth to protect the sidewalk/garage floor - this could be messy.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/a1123old-tank.gif
Step 1
Clean the aquarium inside and out with the vinegar & paper towels to remove any grease, grime, old algae,
scum, etc. It is MUCH easier to work with a clean tank than a smelly, filthy one - trust me. You may want
to use a plastic scrubby if the tank is particularly dirty.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/b1123clean.gif
Step 2
Remove the old silicone from the corners and bottom of the tank using a flat, sharp blade held at an angle
to the glass. Be very careful not to scratch the glass, as this can cause weak points in your aquarium - the
tank may burst if bumped around and put under stress, such as when it is filled with water.
You don't want to remove the silicone from between the sheets of glass, such as at the joints (corners).
Just the silicone that is accessable to you with the blade, such as the flat of the glass. If you take the
silicone out from between the joints, the whole aquarium might come apart in pieces.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/c1123strip_silicone.gif
Step 3
When you have removed all the old silicone, use a vacuum to clean up all the silicone pieces.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/d1123vaccuum.gif
Step 4
Clean the glass inside and out again.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/e1123cleanagain.gif
Step 5
Using the masking tape or painter's tape, run a strip of tape along each area you want to apply the silicone,
creating a frame around the to-be-siliconed areas - do this as you would if you were painting a window frame
in your home. Leave approximately 3/4 of an inch between the tape and the corner; this is where the silicone
will be applied. At each end of the tape, fold it back over on itself to create convenient little pull-tabs
for easy tape-removal. Try to keep the tape as straight and even as you can, so it won't look messy and laughable
when you are finished.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/g1123tape1.gif
Step 6
Use your scissors to snip the end off the aquarium-safe silicone tube at an angle; you want a decent-sized
hole for the silicone to come out - not too big or you will have way too much silicone coming out when you
squeeze, but not so small that you are struggling to get any silicone out, either. Fasten the tube into the
silicone gun. Squeeze a nice line of silicone into the taped-off area (I prefer to start from the bottom
and work my way upwards), keeping it as even as you can all the way up each joint. Immediately use the
plastic spoon to press the silicone into the corner and smooth/spread it up to the very top. Repeat for
each corner joint, as well as the bottom joints around the base of the aquarium.
You want to be generous with the silicone without creating big extra gobs and making a mess of it. You
will figure out how much is enough after you have done one joint, and the others will be easier as you go.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/h1123silicone1.gif
Step 7
Remove the tape immediately after you have smoothed the silicone with the spoon, by grabbing the convenient
pull-tabs and pulling slowly and steadily away from the tank. Be careful not to let the tape smear silicone
all over the tank - it will be messy and awkward. Please note that the tape has been trimmed to allow a
continuous ring of silicone all the way around the base.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/i1123removeTape1.gif
Step 8
Project completed! Always allow the silicone to sit in a dry, well-ventulated area for at least 24 hours to
cure completely. When it is cured, I recommend that you fill the aquarium with water OUTSIDE to test for
weaknesses or leaks before setting it up. Nicely done!
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/j1123cure1.gif
December 2008
All images are Copyright Lethbridge Aquarium Society 2009
written & illustrated by Anna Crawford-Hawkins (Lethbridge Aquarium Society)
DIY projects can be inexpensive and fun. There are so many different creative ideas out there, and
for those of us in the hobby who like a challenge and adventure these projects are worthwhile.
Why Reseal?
If you have an old aquarium that has seen better days, and you are worried about it leaking or bursting when
filled with water, then resealing is probably the way to bring it back into usable condition. It is easy to do
and worthwhile if you like a hands-on project. I have resealed most of my aquariums myself, and I have never
had any problems, other than the challenge of removing silicone from under my fingernails afterwards.
Preparation, Tools, Equipment
You will need the aquarium in question, one or possibly two tubes of aquarium-safe silicone and a silicone gun
(depending on how large the tank is, of course), a couple disposable plastic spoons, a rag or two, paper towels,
scissors, a spray bottle with 50% vinegar and 50% water solution, a sharp blade or two, masking tape or painter's
tape, and a vacuum cleaner. Also a plastic scrubby if necessary.
Take the old aquarium & all your supplies to the garage or outside, and you may wish to lay down some newspapers
or a drop-cloth to protect the sidewalk/garage floor - this could be messy.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/a1123old-tank.gif
Step 1
Clean the aquarium inside and out with the vinegar & paper towels to remove any grease, grime, old algae,
scum, etc. It is MUCH easier to work with a clean tank than a smelly, filthy one - trust me. You may want
to use a plastic scrubby if the tank is particularly dirty.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/b1123clean.gif
Step 2
Remove the old silicone from the corners and bottom of the tank using a flat, sharp blade held at an angle
to the glass. Be very careful not to scratch the glass, as this can cause weak points in your aquarium - the
tank may burst if bumped around and put under stress, such as when it is filled with water.
You don't want to remove the silicone from between the sheets of glass, such as at the joints (corners).
Just the silicone that is accessable to you with the blade, such as the flat of the glass. If you take the
silicone out from between the joints, the whole aquarium might come apart in pieces.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/c1123strip_silicone.gif
Step 3
When you have removed all the old silicone, use a vacuum to clean up all the silicone pieces.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/d1123vaccuum.gif
Step 4
Clean the glass inside and out again.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/e1123cleanagain.gif
Step 5
Using the masking tape or painter's tape, run a strip of tape along each area you want to apply the silicone,
creating a frame around the to-be-siliconed areas - do this as you would if you were painting a window frame
in your home. Leave approximately 3/4 of an inch between the tape and the corner; this is where the silicone
will be applied. At each end of the tape, fold it back over on itself to create convenient little pull-tabs
for easy tape-removal. Try to keep the tape as straight and even as you can, so it won't look messy and laughable
when you are finished.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/g1123tape1.gif
Step 6
Use your scissors to snip the end off the aquarium-safe silicone tube at an angle; you want a decent-sized
hole for the silicone to come out - not too big or you will have way too much silicone coming out when you
squeeze, but not so small that you are struggling to get any silicone out, either. Fasten the tube into the
silicone gun. Squeeze a nice line of silicone into the taped-off area (I prefer to start from the bottom
and work my way upwards), keeping it as even as you can all the way up each joint. Immediately use the
plastic spoon to press the silicone into the corner and smooth/spread it up to the very top. Repeat for
each corner joint, as well as the bottom joints around the base of the aquarium.
You want to be generous with the silicone without creating big extra gobs and making a mess of it. You
will figure out how much is enough after you have done one joint, and the others will be easier as you go.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/h1123silicone1.gif
Step 7
Remove the tape immediately after you have smoothed the silicone with the spoon, by grabbing the convenient
pull-tabs and pulling slowly and steadily away from the tank. Be careful not to let the tape smear silicone
all over the tank - it will be messy and awkward. Please note that the tape has been trimmed to allow a
continuous ring of silicone all the way around the base.
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/i1123removeTape1.gif
Step 8
Project completed! Always allow the silicone to sit in a dry, well-ventulated area for at least 24 hours to
cure completely. When it is cured, I recommend that you fill the aquarium with water OUTSIDE to test for
weaknesses or leaks before setting it up. Nicely done!
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp228/thefishfiles/diy/j1123cure1.gif
December 2008
All images are Copyright Lethbridge Aquarium Society 2009