Does sealant dry out and leak if tank left dry?

[Deleted]

I have a 36g corner tank, brand new and unused, sitting dry for maybe 8 years now waiting for me to build a suitable cabinet for it. someone just mentioned to me that it may be no good at this point because the sealant would have dried out and will leak when filled.

Can anyone tell me if this is a real concern?  

I realize I could find out fast enough by adding water, but that's not something I care to do in my house. It's not like it's a small tank that will fit in a bathtub to test it. I also don't want to build a cabinet before knowing..

Any input, tips etc on this would really appreciated and thanks!

[Deleted]

Greetings,

I would contact the manufacturer.... I don't think this is true though.... My 20 gallon extra high was many years old when I bought it. The store had it stored up above the fish tanks and it would get hot up towards the ceiling. The label on the aquarium was "baked" on - so the sealant had to get pretty hot, too. Nothing wrong with the sealant.

You could play it safe and put more sealant along all seams. Although I just read on another forum all sealant has to be removed first... so that would take some time. That same forum had a member ask a question similar to yours.... and the replies were all that the sealant does not dry out when aquarium is left empty.

Does anyone you know have a garage where you could fill it and leave a couple of days?

Judy

[Deleted]

Dec 17, 2014 15:56:56 GMT -5 @judy4fish said:

Does anyone you know have a garage where you could fill it and leave a couple of days?

Thanks Judy! That does sound encouraging.

Great idea using a garage and actually I have one of those, complete an old melamine futon platform which would provide a large enough flat surface to set it on! Can't do it now with freezing temps but come spring for sure. I wouldn't be able to build anything before that anyway. What's one more winter with this gracing the floor of my tv room 

[Carl]

Here is a quote from the Aquarium Answers; Silicone Applications article

"Life Expectancy;
Most Silicones last as to the stated lifetime from the manufacturer from my experience in keeping literally 1000s of glass aquariums, however being under water, and the acids, etc., do take their toll on the silicone.
However in an aquarium has been used, then left dry, I have found that the silicone will often leak when water is then added again. This is not a problem with a stored new/unused aquarium unless stored in sunlight.

In the case of a stored aquarium with dried or cracking silicone, it is best advised to remove the old silicone and re-apply, do NOT apply new silicone over old silicone."

Reference:
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/03/aquarium-silicone.html

You could play it safe and put more sealant along all seams. Although I just read on another forum all sealant has to be removed first.

Good Point Judy!

Carl

[Deleted]

Dec 17, 2014 16:49:02 GMT -5 Carl said:

Here is a quote from the Aquarium Answers; Silicone Applications article

This is not a problem with a stored new/unused aquarium unless stored in sunlight.

Thanks Carl, so that's more good news... and it hasn't been sitting in sunlight.

Part of me would like to sell it and go for a nice straight 55 or 60, but it is a cute tank and I hate to bail on it now having stepped around it for 8 yrs or so. Not a quitter 

thanks guys!

[Deleted]

Greetings,

I am really impressed - Aqueon replied to my request right away. Since my smaller aquariums are all Aqueon, I decided to ask them. Here is the reply from Rob Moneyhan:

"Silicone will last for a good 25 to 30 years or more if taken care of and kept out of direct sunlight. If stored where it is exposed to UV rays from the sun or in a reptile enclosure with UVB radiation lamps then it will dry out after a few years. If the silicone looks like new then it is fine. Dried out silicone is unmistakable. It will look like it is flaking off along the edges."

Judy D.

[Deleted]

Dec 17, 2014 20:13:25 GMT -5 @judy4fish said:

Greetings,

I am really impressed - Aqueon relied to my request right away...

Wow, I'M impressed. Awesome of you to do that, Judy.. thanks so much!

Looks like I should be good to go. No sunshine or lizards and the sealant looks supple.. all I need is that darn stand built.

Good info also for anyone thinking of reviving an old tank.

Thanks!

[Deleted]

Well...I was curious. I do have three Aqueon aquariums... Not sure if the 75 gallon is Aqueon.

I fixed the typo in my own post (should be "replied").... I am a terrible proof reader. I had my own art education web site for my students to use for Internet lessons. I would give them extra credit for finding my typos. Some even showed me typos on other web sites (grin). I gave them extra points for those, too, even though I couldn't fix them. I would often write to the web master and let him/her know, though.

On the cabinet base: Check your phone book for a kitchen/bathroom cabinet builder (or look online for some in your area). We couldn't find bathroom cabinets we liked so had them custom built. Our bathroom cabinets are beautiful and cost us a lot LESS than if we purchased them in a store - and are all made from REAL wood (maple). Sketch out what you want. You may be surprised.

Judy

[Carl]

Dec 18, 2014 12:25:57 GMT -5 @seapetal111 said:

Dec 17, 2014 20:13:25 GMT -5 @judy4fish said:

Greetings,

I am really impressed - Aqueon relied to my request right away...

Wow, I'M impressed. Awesome of you to do that, Judy.. thanks so much!

Looks like I should be good to go. No sunshine or lizards and the sealant looks supple.. all I need is that darn stand built.

Good info also for anyone thinking of reviving an old tank.

Thanks!

Thanks for sharing Judy

I might remind readers though that this information and MUCH more is found in my Aquarium Answers article about silicone use.

Here is a quote:
"The picture/diagram to the left shows what to basically to look for as to silicone coverage in the important joint where two glass panels meet. This is where most of the strength is obtained from the silicone.
If the silicone is missing or pulled away (as can be easily observed by looking through the glass at each joint to see if air or water is present in place of silicone), you may need to repair this.

The addition of silicone in the inside corners gives added strength and small leak protection, but is not as important for aquarium strength as the silicone in the joint.
If any of the exposed silicone appears/feels dry and easily pulls or flakes away, it should be replaced."

In all modesty, I feel this is one of my better articles, in part due some peer review where when I originally wrote it, a peer/friend asked me why if this much information I was not selling what I recommended and this is when I actually started to sell silicone as well

Here is a quote from the article (now moved into a new overview section)
"This is a subject I have had a great deal of experience in, in part because one of my aquarium maintenance services was aquarium re-building, and I re-built many over my 30 years professionally employed in the aquarium maintenance business.
More importantly, I give credit to Bill of "Prestige Aquariums" (which unfortunately went out of business after his death). Bill took me under his wing in 1979 and provided me with free tutelage in the art of aquarium building and I learned a lot from him.
Much of my experience as well as newer research is relayed in this article."

Reference:
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/03/aquarium-silicone.html

Carl