Tank top frame seepage, anyone have it?

[CWO4GUNNER]

Im currently in the process of moving the inhabitants from an 80 tank partly becasue of what I believe is a bad top seal as water and minerals seem to be making it bast the top frame to the other side even when the water level is just barley past the top frame. The water never seems to make it to the floor and never feels wet as it evaporate first. Anyone deal with this before and quick fixed it by repairing only the top seal or siliconing the outside edge of the top frame?

 

[msjinkzd]

my 120 does this, i just keep the water to the bottom of the frame because i am lazy

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Looks like salt right? But actually it is Potassium and occasionally have to clean that stuff of my glass cover and light fixtures where it seems to climb. My water is hard but mostly what you see there is Potassium about 800 PPM worth in exchange for Calcium & magnesium which is a killer at those levels. Before I used salt which is 400% cheaper but it would kill my plants dead after a week. With Potassium both the fish and the plants live with it just fine but my AF Cichlids love the hard water here and the 8 PH water I have them in.

 

[toddnbecka]

I had that issue with an old 30 long, I just took off the top trim completely. It was an older tank w/out a center brace.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I had that issue with an old 30 long, I just took off the top trim completely. It was an older tank w/out a center brace.

While partially full of water? Since it is clearly the trim and not the corners I was going to try and reseal just the trim with the tank 3/4 full. Taking off the trim is allot of work with its own risk of cracking the glass or breaking the trim anyway. I hate killing a tanks established bio but Im torn becasue the cabinet and matching canopy which has been sitting in the garage in need of wood repair can use refinishing to set it off. I also have a nice piece of Birch hardwood left over from my 244 project that would turn that cabinet from a perimeter stand into a full support stand with matching edge trim to hide the tanks bottom trim. The third alternative is to just do minimal repairs the canopy and continue to use both in their dingy blond finish state, keeping the tank alive for some other species. Maybe my first salt water tank with just 2 clown tiger fish and nothing else LOL.

 

[dundadundun]

siliconing the inside of the rim would be more effective than the outside and look better too. i'd hate to see you do the outside and then you have to see a line of silicone everyday till it starts creeping back again.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

siliconing the inside of the rim would be more effective than the outside and look better too. i'd hate to see you do the outside and then you have to see a line of silicone everyday till it starts creeping back again.

Well with the tank 75% full I was going to remove the old silicone on the inside top trim and glass then replace it. Then try and clean out that little crack space on the outside bottom trim with pairing knife, you now just that round crack on the lip of the outside trim bottom trim edge. Shove some silicone in there with my finger under pressure all the way around then wipe the excess off the crack so its not visible on the outside. Hopefully that will insure no seepage at all.

 

[dundadundun]

sounds like a plan gunner.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Well I decided to just see what I could achieve trying to remove the trim while the tank was full and the filters running. The progress was easier then I thought it would be the big chucks of silicone removed with my hand and the small stuff that falls into the water floating scooped out with a net. This one end took me only 15 minutes to remove intact.

As I have learned using these long thin retractable razors with built in handles are the best way to go for both shallow and deep cuts. Letting the razor do all the work is important and very little pulling should be done to avoid braking the trim, razor or even crack the glass. Think of it like picking off an old scab you don't want to be too aggressive and cause unnecessary damage. The trim should just come off easily when ready.

At first I couldn't figure out why it was leaking as the inside seal seems well done. But it turns out that no silicone was placed under the trim between the trim and outside glass which has the biggest sealing surface compared to the tiny edge the trim sits on, something I have noticed on allot of aquarium trim. So this time silicone will be sandwiched on both sides just like my 244 tank. That should do it and the tank should cure in a few days ready for some new fish in a still established tan, Albino Oscars maybe LOL.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Update. After thoroughly cleaning the glass edges of old silicone, using a large fish net to easily scoop up old silicone crumbs that fell in the water keeping out two feeder fish seen at the bottom safe and who did not eat any of it. I was also able to re-glue the side trim with GE silicone 1 and using a box fan in the window suck air out of the room while a ceiling fan circulated air in the room with no ill effects on the feeder fish or the neighboring 80 tank with Koi.

So I believe it is possible to replace top trim on a partially full and occupied tank if your careful. It certainly was easier then draining it for just top trim resealing. I will re-silicone the two end trim pieces tomorrow.