Aquarium - Killer deal

[kenny]

I'm so stoked!!!

I just bought a 50 gallon corner aquarium with stand and cover for only $19.99 at a thrift store.

They disclosed it needs to have two leaks fixed. (I just verified the leaks at home.)
I checked out how to fix it on the Internet and it sounds easy and cheap:

Dig out about an inch of silicon.
Clean with acetone (nail polish remover).
Add new silicone.
Wait 24 hours.

Pestsmart charges $200 for this smaller one pictured (44 gal) and that does not including the stand.

$20 is a steal for both even with the needed repair.
All the glass is perfect.

 

[Gailey]

Kenny, Where abouts were the leaks?

 

[kenny]

On both sides of front center panel about a third of the way down from the top.

 

[Cehrabehra]

enjoy! what kind of fish do you want to get?

 

[kenny]

We already have goldfish so maybe I should get an Oscar.

Maybe one of these big ones. Click

 

[Gailey]

Date: 2/21/2010 9:18:00 PM
Author: kenny
On both sides of front center panel about a third of the way down from the top.

At the seam or in the middle of the panel?

Can you post a picture?

 

[kenny]

There is a very slow dribble at the seam between two pieces of glass.

All the glass is fine.

Why do you ask?
Is there a non-repairable location?

 

[kenny]

Okay Gailey I posted a pic.
The two leaks are under the blue tape.
FWIW, these are slow oozing leaks.

What did you have in mind?

After I fix it this tank will be filled up and remain outside for a while until I'm satisfied that it does not leak.

 

[Gailey]

Kenny, it''s not unusual for silicone on a tank to degrade after time.

If this were my tank, rather than just try and repair the two leaking spots myself, I would have the whole thing professionally re-siliconed. Some places silicone over top and some will strip re-build your tank for you. I''m not talking about Petsmart or any of the big box stores. You would need to find a small independent who offers this service.

The last thing you want is to set up your lovely new tank only to find in a few months or so that you''ve sprung a leak elsewhere. A 50 gallon tank is not the easiest to strip down, and where would you keep Oscar in the meantime - in the bath?

Good luck with it. Keep us posted.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 2/22/2010 12:21:51 AM
Author: Gailey
Kenny, it''s not unusual for silicone on a tank to degrade after time.

If this were my tank, rather than just try and repair the two leaking spots myself, I would have the whole thing professionally re-siliconed. Some places silicone over top and some will strip re-build your tank for you. I''m not talking about Petsmart or any of the big box stores. You would need to find a small independent who offers this service.

The last thing you want is to set up your lovely new tank only to find in a few months or so that you''ve sprung a leak elsewhere. A 50 gallon tank is not the easiest to strip down, and where would you keep Oscar in the meantime - in the bath?

Good luck with it. Keep us posted.

wouldn''t that cost more than a new tank?

 

[kenny]

I think it would.
Wages are high here in Los Angeles.

I'll look into it more and perhaps redo it myself (I can be a handy guy) or throw it away and consider it a $19.99 lesson.

Thanks for the heads up Gailey.
Waking up to 50 gallons of water on our floor is not my idea of a good morning.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 2/22/2010 1:29:37 AM
Author: kenny
I think it would.
Wages are high here in Los Angeles.

I''ll look into it more and perhaps redo it myself (I can be a handy guy) or throw it away and consider it a $19.99 lesson.

Thanks for the heads up Gailey.
Waking up to 50 gallons of water on our floor is not my idea of a good morning.

you can keep the water level just below the leak line

in this case = to about 20 gals.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I don''t think you''ll have any problem - before kids I worked at a pet store for a couple years and we had about 50 fish tanks and we had to repair a few - it''s really not rocket science. The ONLY issue is how attractive it looks, but you can play around with it. If there is too much silicone you can see clearish white blobs reflecting tank light... that''s not ideal but it will stop the leaks!

 

[Cehrabehra]

also - if you''re feeling unconventional... you can paint the THREE sides black on the outside and reverse the orientation - this will give you a place for stuff to hang off the back if needed too. Then use tall plants to create tidy visuals. Painting the back of the tank black is very easy, common, popular... I painted one blue once and it was okay - it fit the particular situation, but black is really nice. Better than those things you tape on lol Anyway, if you find your repair too globby this is another idea

 

[Gailey]

Date: 2/22/2010 1:25:35 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 2/22/2010 12:21:51 AM
Author: Gailey
Kenny, it''s not unusual for silicone on a tank to degrade after time.

If this were my tank, rather than just try and repair the two leaking spots myself, I would have the whole thing professionally re-siliconed. Some places silicone over top and some will strip re-build your tank for you. I''m not talking about Petsmart or any of the big box stores. You would need to find a small independent who offers this service.

The last thing you want is to set up your lovely new tank only to find in a few months or so that you''ve sprung a leak elsewhere. A 50 gallon tank is not the easiest to strip down, and where would you keep Oscar in the meantime - in the bath?

Good luck with it. Keep us posted.

wouldn''t that cost more than a new tank?

It''s a fair point and I don''t know the answer to the question I am afraid. I know of a place here, where I live that does it, but I have never asked how much.

One thing that may have attributed to the leaks is the use of a razor blade to clean the inside of the tank. I use a wallpaper scraper, but I am careful to avoid the corners. If you can identify this as the possible reason for the leak, then it might not be a degredation issue.

 

[kenny]

Good point Gailey.
I''ll look for evidence of that.

Sara, I think I will do the black paint thing.
I placed a black cloth on the back of my 30-gal.
A black back almost gives a look of infinite depth.

 

[Gailey]

Takashi Amano often uses black backgrounds I believe.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/22/2010 10:41:30 AM
Author: kenny
Good point Gailey.

I''ll look for evidence of that.


Sara, I think I will do the black paint thing.

I placed a black cloth on the back of my 30-gal.

A black back almost gives a look of infinite depth.

Kenny - you do realize your tank is DIAMOND shaped, right?