|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 5, 2008 20:23:53 GMT -5
I just checked the sealant on the 40 gallon I resealed a few weeks ago. I never used alcohol to wipe down the areas where I was applying the sealnt because I didn't know and now the sealant is rough and pealing. The sealant above water level is fine, but the stuff under te water is bumpy and it seems like iot may be coming off like the sealant was when I first bought the used 40 gallon. Will it deteriorate anymore underwater? Before I added water to the 40 gallon, the sealant felt fine. Now I am very worried. I have not found a leak but I really need to be sure. If it did start leaking, I would have to take all the fish out and they would probably die from the transfer! Any help is appreciated.
Renee
|
|
|
Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 5, 2008 20:52:43 GMT -5
tape toilet paper on all the seems and watch for leaks....i would say if it is clean in 2 days you are okay
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 5, 2008 20:59:14 GMT -5
Thank you so much for replying! I was so scared. There are no leaks now. I am just afraid one will develop if the selant breaks down any more. I'll put toilet paper around it to make sure. Thank you!
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 5, 2008 21:11:49 GMT -5
I just put tiolet paper arond the corners of the tank and used tape so it wouldn't fall off. I hope I did it right...
|
|
|
Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 5, 2008 22:01:10 GMT -5
tough not to do it right. it is a simple idea but works great....
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Oct 6, 2008 10:11:47 GMT -5
Great advice Bill Renee, try not to rub the silicone too much where it seems loose. Is this new silicone? If so the silicone is not likely detreriorating (unless you used low grade silicone). However how the silicone is applied can make all the difference in the world. I do not use alcohol, rather a razor blade to clean and "rough" up areas prior to application. For now, rather than get you worried all over, I would follow Bill's advice. Carl
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 6, 2008 13:09:11 GMT -5
Yeah, it is new silicone. It says it is 100% silicone on the bottle of it I used. So far, no leaks. What i did before I added it was I used a razor blade, however, I did not remove the silicone that was directly on the seams, just the sealant around it. If it is not leaking by rtomorrow, would you say I am ok? Also, will it deteriorate further?
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Oct 6, 2008 13:15:58 GMT -5
Using Bill's suggestion, if there is no moisture on the toilet paper, I would worry over this. Admittedly, it is best to remove ALL silicone, however this is water under the bridge now and your repair still may be fine for some time. As to 100% silicone, this is generally what to look for, however there are also curing agents which are not created equal and Dow Corning/DAP and GE hold patents for the best ones. Carl
|
|
|
Post by 8 in the Corner on Oct 6, 2008 13:39:07 GMT -5
Did you use a sealant made specifically for aquariums? I do not, I use clear "GE Silicon I." It is 100% silicone rubber WITHOUT a mildew inhibitor (which would be toxic to the fish). GE Silicon II has the mildew inhibitor, do not get that one.
The GE brand is high quality and costs only $4.28 for a 10.1 oz. tube. I have used it exclusively for years without any mishaps or leaks. With the price of "Aquarium Sealant" at the fish stores, this is a real money saver! ;D
If you did not allow it to "cure" completely (24 hours) it may have some problems adhering to the glass. I do not use any solvents to clean the glass before applying either, and I also use a razor blade to remove any old sealant before working on a tank.
Here is the stuff I use:
I use a standard caulking gun (about $5) to apply it.
Just cut the nozzle at the width you want the bead to be and squirt it in the tank where needed. If you have a long area to seal, hold the gun at an angle, pointed away from you and "push" the bead ahead of the nozzle. This will force it into any openings between the glass panels and give a good seal.
Takes a little practice, too fast and the bead is not thick enough, too slow and it gets thick in front of the nozzle. Slow and steady is the technique to use. Not as easy as it sounds in a small (5-10g tank), but simple in bigger ones with more room to turn the gun different ways.
John
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Oct 6, 2008 14:07:14 GMT -5
That is a good point about the Mildew Inhibitor John/8. I failed to mention this and this is important to avoid as well as Marine Silicones which are meant for bonding boats not aquariums, but are often mistakingly purchased by aquarists thinking that this would be better for aquariums. I cover much of this in my Aquarium Repair/Silicone Article, I think you might have read it Renee, but it has ALL this information PLUS a video showing how to apply silicone in repair (or building a new aquarium or lid hinge) CORRECT AQUARIUM SILICONE APPLICATIONS; What Silicone to use and what not to use, Aquarium Repair, Aquarium construction.Carl
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 6, 2008 16:12:32 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the info 8 and Carl. However the sealant I purchased from Petsmart taht said it was 100% silicone on the bottle. Irt was also made for fish hence I got it at a petstore. I also allowed it way more than 24 hours before I added water, more like a week or more. And I did watch your video Carl, its mcuh harder for me than you make it look. The sealant looks fine from the outside of the tank but in the inside, when you feel it, it is pealing at the edges and bumpy. The 40 gallon is less than 1/2 full right now. All the selant ABOVE water is fine, it's the stuff that's under the water level that id doing bad. It seems like AFTER I add water is when it starts to deterierate. Will it continue to deterierate with time if I leave it alone? Sorry, i didn't get that asnwered yet.
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Oct 6, 2008 16:31:34 GMT -5
The silicone itself will not deteriorate in this short of time, however you MAY have some "pealing" from the repair as the adhesion may not have been good do to old silicone that may have had deposits on it that would resist adhesion of the new silicone.
This will unfortunately continue over time, the question is when it becomes critical, and for this I refer back to Bill's suggestion.
Carl
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 6, 2008 18:40:11 GMT -5
How will I repair it when it comes critical without removing the fish? Would applying sealant to the outside of teh seams work to seal it when that comes? I know apllying to the outside is a far-fetched idea but I was wondering if that would work.
|
|
|
Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 6, 2008 19:15:41 GMT -5
it would help....but won`t "solve the problem....plus it would be a lil ugly....
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 7, 2008 14:34:25 GMT -5
So will I have to replace it? If I had to replace it, my mom would probably force me to go smaller! *sighs*
I'm having my neighbor Theresa who has some experience with fish take a look at the sealant. She whas selanted tanks herself so she should be able to tell me how bad it is or if I am overreacting.
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Oct 7, 2008 20:56:14 GMT -5
As Bill stated this can be ugly, however if done carefully this can lesson the poor aesthetics and actually make a reasonable seal. I have repaired several customers tanks where a total tear down was not an option by gently cleaning a the outside seam with a razor, being careful as to not remove much silicone that is likely holding the tank together. Then once clean I apply the bead of silicone and form the ridge as I show in the video which once cured adds MUCH strength!
I have had 200 gallon tanks where the seams were leaking; I made this exact repair with no problems for many years.
Carl
|
|
|
Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 7, 2008 20:57:44 GMT -5
if you end up having to seal later....take your filter, media, water....everything and put it in 2 five gallon buckets. with filtration and water movement they will be fin once you properly repair your tank. don`t skimp on silicone curing time tho.....very important. i always double what the directions say. i normally give 48 hours instead of 24 just to be safe.
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 8, 2008 15:42:14 GMT -5
Thanks. I felt the selant again last night and it doidn't seem as bad. Maybe I was overreacting on the bumpylness and peeling,.. Last night when I felt it, it didn't feel too bad. Sorry if I was overreacting, my mom cahhnged my medswhich caused my OCD to go crazy and wnst to cahnge them around more isntead of putting them back. Thenm my dad got in trouble for drunk driving the second time and wants to kill himself, has been stressing my mom wityh b his rudeness, and doesn't have a home, job, or car. Sorry I have not had the time or motivation to type about that. I have been really busy and very stressed out.
I have had the tank TP'ed for 2 days and no leaks. I will be inspecting the tiolet paper closer. My neighbor has not had a chance yet to come over but she said within the next day or so..
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Oct 10, 2008 16:40:59 GMT -5
I removed th tiolet paper yesterday, after it had been on 4+ days. No leaks. My neighbor looked at it (she couldn't put her hand in to feel since she had paint on her hands from yardwork) and said it was fine. She told me to let it go and not check it at all from now on. She knows hiow badly I obsess about my fish and her helping me was actually the turning point when my goldfish stopped dying. She told me to stop doing wtatr changes and medicating for every little thing that didn't seem normal and they started to live! Anyway, I am no longer worried, plus I checked the sealanty when she was over and it was bumpy but in good shape. Sometimes I think something is bad or soemthing is wrong with my fish when I am really stressed out like with my dad lately. Please excuse my alarm about this. Sorry, it is hard since I have OCD and a stresss disorder sometimes to seperate no big deal from a big problem.
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Oct 10, 2008 17:04:51 GMT -5
I removed th tiolet paper yesterday, after it had been on 4+ days. No leaks. My neighbor looked at it (she couldn't put her hand in to feel since she had paint on her hands from yardwork) and said it was fine. She told me to let it go and not check it at all from now on. She knows hiow badly I obsess about my fish and her helping me was actually the turning point when my goldfish stopped dying. She told me to stop doing wtatr changes and medicating for every little thing that didn't seem normal and they started to live! Anyway, I am no longer worried, plus I checked the sealanty when she was over and it was bumpy but in good shape. Sometimes I think something is bad or soemthing is wrong with my fish when I am really stressed out like with my dad lately. Please excuse my alarm about this. Sorry, it is hard since I have OCD and a stresss disorder sometimes to seperate no big deal from a big problem. Well glad that everything is OK Renee. As for the stress disorder, I and others understand (you are part of the EA family); and as well last I checked I am not perfect either I have three kids, each with very unique difficulties such as Autsim and worse, so I understand how difficult this can be. Carl
|
|