Has anyone else experienced this?

B

bobbykurva

AC Members
Jan 3, 2005
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Connecticut
bobbykurva.tripod.com
I've got a new 55g tank, set on what I believed was a planar and level surface. There were no gaps beneath the bracing when the aquarium was put on the stand, and to be sure I added 3/8" foam underneath it. The aquarium and water level are dead even.

Upon filling the tank, I noticed what looked like chalk white streaks on all of the seams. The streaks are not constant from top to bottom, and some are thicker than others. The white streaks appear where the panels of glass are joined. Has anyone else experienced this on any of their aquariums?

The tank is Top Fin, and I have two other smaller Top Fin tanks and have never experienced this on them.

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I have an All Glass Aquarium and i have white on all my seams. I think its just from the silicone sealant... sounds normal to me
 
I understand that leaks look like leaks - DUH! :-) My concern is this possibly a product of stress put on the tank? Could this lead to leaks or a blowout in the future?

The sealant is all black. It was solid black before adding the water. After the tank started to fill with water did these chalk white strips appear where each panel meets.

How could black sealant turn white?
 
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Maybe it's a just a product of all the force of the water in the tank pushing the panels apart slightly? It is only silicone sealant, after all. I'm sure that if you put stress on it, some of it is going to pull away slightly from whatever surface it's bonding to. That could be what's happening here. The white you're seeing could be a trick of the light penetrating whatever gaps may have formed and boucing back out through the glass.

Also, from your pic, it seems to be occurring only on the thinnest portion of the seal on the edge furthest from the joint. Since the rest seems to be holding quite nicely to the glass, I wouldn't worry about it.

As for glass stress, you said the water and tank were both level and the tank didn't rock at all when you put in on the stand? If that's the case, you should be fine.

Stop worrying and enjoy your tank!
 
I have heard of plywood being used under an aquarium to provide a solid, flat surface but 3/8" foam seems to introduce a possibility for instability. Is this a proven approach?
Beasts
 
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