135 gallon restoration, from the beginning

W

weldon

AC Members
Jan 7, 2006
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I found a 135 gallon tank on Craigslist a while back, and I'm ready to start putting it to use. It's an old style tank with no center brace and 1/2" glass. I'm going to start cleaning it up and repairing the stand that came with it and I thought I would share on here.

I just wanted to get a sanity check for my plans here before I start.

I filled the tank with water the other day and let it sit overnight for 24 hours. No leaks. I did notice that the silicone is pulling away from the glass on the inside edges, so I plan to remove the old silicone and replace it with new. I'm not planning to separate the glass, just put new silicone along the inside seams. I'm also going to spray paint the trim (currently woodgrain).

Here's my detailed list...

Resealing

  • remove old silicone with razor blade scraper
  • use vinegar to remove remaining silicone scraps
  • clean throughly and wipe down glass
  • use 2" painters tape to tape off 1/2" away from the seams
  • apply silicone to seams
  • smooth with finger, or maybe old credit card trimmed to rounded corner
  • quickly remove painters tape
  • let silicone cure for 24 hours
Painting

  • Tape off glass and opening to tank (drop cover over nearby items in garage)
  • spray paint trim using Krylong Fusion Black Satin
  • I may paint the back glass as well with the same stuff
So here are my questions...


  1. Does it look like I have the steps right?
  2. The tank will have black trim, and the stand will be black with red burnishing. Should I use black silicone?
  3. Can I paint the green Eheim tubing?
Next up will be setting up the Eheim 2217's that came with it and making sure they work before I move it in the house.
 
Looks like how i'd do it - though not sure how much confidence that inspires. I do use alcohol to clean up silicone though. I'd recommend clear sealant, the black is too interruptive for my taste. Personal preference thing. I haven't tried painting my eheim tubes but that same paint should probably work, might need to hit it with some 0000 wool first or whatnot. Sounds like a fun little project :)
 
mmm, only other thing i'd do is wait longer for the silicone to "cure"...
i've seen problems with people only waiting 24 hrs... but then again, people have had it work out for them, lol.
 
thats exactly how I did mine, except I didnt use the round corner trick, I am just a neat caulker.. I used to paint alot.

so what are you painting with the fusion, the trim?
IDK if fusion will work on glass..
 
Well, I should have plenty of time to let the silicone cure. Finishing the stand is going to have to wait a week or more until my wife can get back to painting it. I'll put up some pics once I start removing the silicone. Had to wait because the scraper I bought at Home Depot was spot welded shut. The replacement seems to be put together properly. :)
 
Suggestion: NOT rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol, the type you purchase in the pharmacy, has a small amount of acetone or oil in it. You can buy plain isopropyl alcohol from any decent pharmacy.
From Wikipedia:
... rubbing alcohol, USP ... must be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the US Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, using Formula 23-H (8 parts by volume of acetone, 1.5 parts by volume of methyl isobutyl ketone, and 100 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol)
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol, USP / B.P. contains 68-99% of isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) by volume, the remainder consisting of water, with or without color additives, suitable stabilizers, and perfume oils.

Just mentioning this as it is not always obvious what is in the bottle.
 
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