Help With Leaking Tank

[JasDownUnder]

Hi All

I didn't know if this should go in the General area, or into the DIY area, so i put it here.

I have a problem... One of my tanks that we used to use developed a leak, so we put it outside and forgot about it. Now i find myself in need of another tank, and i can't exactly afford a new one, so i was wondering, if it is possible to re-seal the old tank with some silicon around the inside?

Will the silicon affect fish/plants in any way down the track?

All ideas are welcomed

Thanks For Your Time
Jason

[OrionGirl]

The leak can be fixed. If it's leaking at a seam, remove the old silicone and apply new. If there's a crack, silicone a piece of glass over the crack, on the inside. Use 100% silicone, and avoid anything that has color, fungacide, or mildewcide. your LFS will sell tubes, but they will be pricier than a product by DAP that many Home Depots carry. --ed--Just noticed you're in Australia. Don't think you have Home Depots--try your local hardware supply store.

Moved to DIY.

[JasDownUnder]

I ended up going down to my LFS and telling them my problem (leaking tank) and asked if they had any silicone, and they gave me a tube of the stuff that they (presumably) use. It doesn't say it has any mildewcide or fungacide in it (i looked in my equivalent of Home Depot and most of them were clearly marked if they did contain it)

However, it did say that it is not recommended for use under the waterline? do all silicones say this?

[slipknottin]

Alot of silicones say things like that. Primarily a liability issue.

[Tim Bo]

I would not advise using silicone that is not intended for underwater use, though I have never done so to try it out. There was a short discussion about silicone grades for tanks a short while ago.
http://64.191.28.50/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11723