Use only 100% silicone. All Glass makes it in small tubes or a larger tube for a caulking gun.
I just resealed a 20 year old 55g and started by cutting out all the old silicone with a razor and cleaning the glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. Then use a masking tape to mask a straight edge from top to bottom on all the corners. Leave about 3/8" to 1/2" depending on the size of the tank. There's no need to mask the bottom as your substrate will cover it. Once it's cleaned and masked, clean the surface once again with rubbing alcohol. Let it dry thoroughly. Now your ready to run your bead of silicone. After you run the bead take the round edge of a popsicle stick to work the silicone tightly into the corners. Once the silicone begins to set after about 10-20 minutes you should remove the masking tape. Don't wait too long or you might not be able to remove the tape easily.
The next step is the most important.
Take the tank outside and fill it up. Wait a day and check for leaks. If it's dry, you're good to go!
Use only 100% silicone. All Glass makes it in small tubes or a larger tube for a caulking gun.
I just resealed a 20 year old 55g and started by cutting out all the old silicone with a razor and cleaning the glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. Then use a masking tape to mask a straight edge from top to bottom on all the corners. Leave about 3/8" to 1/2" depending on the size of the tank. There's no need to mask the bottom as your substrate will cover it. Once it's cleaned and masked, clean the surface once again with rubbing alcohol. Let it dry thoroughly. Now your ready to run your bead of silicone. After you run the bead take the round edge of a popsicle stick to work the silicone tightly into the corners. Once the silicone begins to set after about 10-20 minutes you should remove the masking tape. Don't wait too long or you might not be able to remove the tape easily.
The next step is the most important.
Take the tank outside and fill it up. Wait a day and check for leaks. If it's dry, you're good to go!
I believe if you look at teh label it will say eitehr 24 or 48 hours to cure (dry) the silicone. I've always waited 48 just in case there was that one little spot.... But I'm also a chicken
Well,I just finished moving my 2 convicts together in the 30 gal.The resealing was a success (YAY).Now I'm going to see if they breed,I sure hope so.I went to the landscape supply and got 1/2 cubic foot of pea gravel for $3.00 (what a bargain)for use as substrate.I'll post some pics just as soon as I can.
I used Dap silicone in a long tube,it was $4.59 and I didn't even use half of the tube.This particular silicone was 100% pure silicone and it was rated for food use.
