Yo Mr. Pickles... that chip wouldn't bother me much at all. I'm sure you've noticed it already but the condition of the silicone sealant is rough enough to merit a reseal. Not difficult work but it won't be the funnest thing you've ever done.
Did you ever own a chipped corner aquarium?
- Thread starter Red_Belly_Pacu
- Start date
I’ve never done that. How hard is it to mess up? Seems like take a sharp razor to remove all the old silicon extremely well, rub with isopropyl alcohol, then re-silicone.
Others have said they would silicone some angle aluminum on the corners. I figured I would do that and put that side to the wall. Worth it, I’m your opinion or not?
It's a simple process. Remove all the existing silicone w/ a razor blade is first step. Some that have done it before say you should then clean the glass w/ acetone but I never do as I don't care for intentional exposure to neurotoxins except maybe those I pay to consume. I do use rubbing alcohol to clean the glass and I spend extra time to get that cleaning process right.
Once you've done that use painter's tape to outline straight edges for the silicone you're about to install.
Buy silicone that is pure... no mold inhibitors, etc. IIRC I used some made by GE.
Once you've (quickly) placed the silicone bead in the tank then pull the taped lines out and let it dry.
The next day trim it up and give it a test.
Aluminum? I would not do that myself. The silicone bond would be between the AL and the glass and putting more silicone on top of the AL would likely not improve your seal.
Assuming you're in the US you can slide by the big box hardware stores where they sell a tool in the paint section that looks a bit like a seriously stout paint scraper with a chiseled edge at the front and an arrow head looking point at one corner. It removes silicone really well.
I had a chipped 20 long with no issue. I had a 55 that got a chip. Tank was old and developed a leak from the bottom but the chip was up top.
Joritz8011
Feeder Fish
Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum and I would need a piece of advice please. I've moved a couple months ago and during the process, I noticed a chip on the corner of the fish tank. The fish tank is 10 gallon and is in our living room. It's been like this for the past 4 months, no leak. I was wondering if it makes sense to apply some epoxy glass to fill in the chip and make it stronger.
Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you
I'm new to this forum and I would need a piece of advice please. I've moved a couple months ago and during the process, I noticed a chip on the corner of the fish tank. The fish tank is 10 gallon and is in our living room. It's been like this for the past 4 months, no leak. I was wondering if it makes sense to apply some epoxy glass to fill in the chip and make it stronger.
Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you
I'm going to bump this thread, as I joined this forum specifically to get others' input on the damage that I have to a new aquarium. I have posted elsewhere, but everyone has just told me to purchase a new tank, and I am tired of hearing that as the only solution.
I bought a "brand new" Waterbox Aquarium 80-gallon rimless aquarium for $400 (tank, sump, stand, plumbing) due to damage to the bottom left corner of the tank. I had every intention of replacing the rear glass panel that is damaged, but after looking more closely at the damage once I got the tank home, I feel like it may not really need to be replaced. There is no cracking coming from the initial chip, and I can't see any damage to the silicone as well (the chip is still attached to the silicone). I have already secured the chip back in place, but I am torn between just leaving it as is and tearing the tank down to rebuild it with a fixed rear panel (either new glass or cutting ALL of the glass down to make the tank more shallow).
Edit to add details:
The glass is 48"x21" and 12mm thick, non-tempered standard glass. The non-damaged front and side panels are all low iron.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
I bought a "brand new" Waterbox Aquarium 80-gallon rimless aquarium for $400 (tank, sump, stand, plumbing) due to damage to the bottom left corner of the tank. I had every intention of replacing the rear glass panel that is damaged, but after looking more closely at the damage once I got the tank home, I feel like it may not really need to be replaced. There is no cracking coming from the initial chip, and I can't see any damage to the silicone as well (the chip is still attached to the silicone). I have already secured the chip back in place, but I am torn between just leaving it as is and tearing the tank down to rebuild it with a fixed rear panel (either new glass or cutting ALL of the glass down to make the tank more shallow).
Edit to add details:
The glass is 48"x21" and 12mm thick, non-tempered standard glass. The non-damaged front and side panels are all low iron.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
Doesn’t look too harsh to me. Set it up on the porch and fill it up for a day or two. You’ll have a heck of a lot better answer than the maybe / probably / possibly stuff you’ll get on boards.
i’d toss a snort of silicone on the inside of that corner just to be a belt and suspenders man and give it a test run.
Good luck.
i’d toss a snort of silicone on the inside of that corner just to be a belt and suspenders man and give it a test run.
Good luck.
@scoubt it doesnt appear that crack goes into or near the seam, appears to be more of a "flake" than a crack imo. Id say its good to go, but if you want to take a couple precautionary measures you could 1) check with a magnifiying glass or loupe for any small radiating cracks that might get worse and 2) set it up in a garage or porch and fill it with water for a week or so.
Hello; Much depends on where the tank will be set up for permanent use. In a basement on a concrete floor = no worries. In a house on wood floors with or without carpet = big worries, far more than $400 worth.
Damage is damage. The damage shown is pretty severe. Also the damage is on the bottom corner where water pressure is greatest. Putting it on a porch or other "safe " place and letting it sit filled for a week or two might help the nerves, but damage will still be damage. Point is we nor you can know otherwise. All else is fancy guessing.
Damage is damage. The damage shown is pretty severe. Also the damage is on the bottom corner where water pressure is greatest. Putting it on a porch or other "safe " place and letting it sit filled for a week or two might help the nerves, but damage will still be damage. Point is we nor you can know otherwise. All else is fancy guessing.