Help me fix this tank?

[bozco]

Hey everyone. Me again. I just found another $10 (canadian) tank at the used junk store. Its a nifty vintage 5 gal, has a stainless steel frame, that kind of tapers, and a stainless steel canopy. The canopy had me sold, it still works great, I paid $35 for a canopy alone last time I needed one. Has a working air pump two, that washed out green colour that was popular 30-40 years ago.

Anyways, back to my question. The bottom popped right out of the frame after I got it home. The glass is all good, just the silicon is gone. I know you can buy fish tank sealer at the lfs, but would any silicon sealer work? Like the kind that you use in the bathroom? Also, to get the excess leftovers off, do I just use a razor blade or is there something that will dissolve the stuff. Its no good I think, I will probably have to dismantle and reconstruct the whole thing. The sealer that is already on it is all dry and crackly. I wouldn't trust it.

 

[sguthrie]

You have to make sure that the sealer doesn't have any anti-microbial stuff in it (Microban®). Home Depot has aquarium sealant that will work for an aquarium of that size. Fish stores have it as well, but it may be more expensive. The really important thing is that it doesn't have the antibacterial stuff.

Razor blade all of the old stuff off and clean the surfaces well.

That being said, I don't really know jack about rebuilding an aquarium, but that'll get you started.

 

[daveedka]

You have to make sure that the sealer doesn't have any anti-microbial stuff in it (Microban®). Home Depot has aquarium sealant that will work for an aquarium of that size.

I use the home Depot stuff because I trust it, but any 100% pure clear silicone will work, just make very sure it's pure, most additives will be anti-mildew or anti fungus, and will kill your fish

Razor blade all of the old stuff off and clean the surfaces well.

Agreed, after the razor blade I usually clean with rubbing alchohol, it will take off anything the razor doesn't get.
Fit your tank, practice assembly, and then run a continuous bead along the joining edges and put together. Do not disturb for at least 24 hours, then you can do careful cleanup with the razor blade, and then run a cover bead at all seams for looks and extra security. I always smooth my beads with a wet teaspoon to get that nice pretty look. anything that rolls off the edge of the spoon, leave untill it sets up and remove with the razor blade, Silicone is much easier to clean up when it is set up. I always waited at least a week, but recently bought a freshly built tank from a commercial builder, and they advised minimum 3 weeks before adding water. My tank was considerabley larger than yours and had very thiick beads though. just make sure the beads are cured clear through before stressing them with the weight of the water. I have repaired several 10's 20's and 55 over the years, It's a great way to get good tanks dirt cheap.

 

[bozco]

Great, thanks guys, thats all I needed to know. Wasn't sure why there were reasons to get special sealer, didn't know about anti-fungus stuff. Anyway, thats great.

Oh, one more question. I said the tank had a frame. It lookes like it is just there for looks. Personally I don't care for it. The frame runs around the bottom, top, and on each corner. Ug, I'll just draw a picture. Its times like these I wish I had a digital camera.

Anyway. Its a shiney, thin, steel like frame (very light weight). I want to keep the bottom, and maybe the top rim (because the canopy fits it well), but it looks like I might be able to get rid of those tapered corner peices that I think might interfer with the veiw of the fish when it is set up. Do you think it would be ok to remove the corner peices when I rebuild the tank? Do you suppose they were their for looks or for strength?

 

[daveedka]

My understanding of tank construction is that some kind of adhesive (epoxy?) that kind of "melts" the raw glass/acrylic edges together,

This is the case with acrylics, the "glue" essentially welds the acrylic together, with Glass Silicone is all that is used for tank construction, likewise silicaone does not adhere well to acrylic and therefore is typically not used. The frame will help but on a smaller tank it isn't necessary, But definately read the threads in the DIY forum, there is a lot of info there.

 

[bozco]

Found some info on the tank and supplies. Its a metaframe tank and pump from the 1950's. I may end up fixing it up and selling it instead. There is someone in town looking for stuff from this time period. Thanks for the help.

 

[johnnyxxl]

I rebuilt one that had a slate bottom in it. I used the tape like silicone on the outside of the glass and then used the silicone on the glass to seal it. I cleaned it using a razorblade, and salt water.

 

[johnnyxxl]

all that holds your tanks together is that frame and the silicone I have taken apart tanks before that were broken to get the good glass out of them.

 

[JSchmidt]

Originally posted by Tando Murphy
That just amazes me. If you're right, making aquariums seems pretty easy, just the glass cutting part would make it difficult (and I understand when you buy glass you can get it cut to size...)

Wow. I'm agog. I just don't see how soft pliable silicone could hold the hundreds of pounds of pressure, but if you say so I can only assume you know what you're talking about.

Hmmmphphph.

Many people make glass only tanks... no frame whatsoever. On many tanks, the frame largely for looks. A top frame may help a largish tank from bowing out in the middle, but there are other ways to deal with that.

Nope, it's silicone and silicone alone that holds the tank together.

I've got a 20 high that lost its frames and it is fine. You just have to make sure that, if there is any unevenness on the bottom that you have some sort of semi-pliable material for the tank to sit on.

Jim

 

[BK]

i believe most of the meta frame tanks had slate bottoms and as they broke they were replaced with glass ones. this is why they so often leak. i have a couplei got free/ $.25 from rummage sales this way and all of them have had bottoms that have been poorly replaced and leak.

the frames on newer tanks are just there to protect the glass edges and keep bowing in check. it is amazing that silicone has that great of adhesion to glass but its the truth.