Resealing 380 Gallon Aquarium Help

MitchSutherland · 03/15/2018, 07:05 PM

Someone is selling a 380 glass aquarium that leaks at the bottom middle. Not a fast leak, but a leak none the less. My question is: is it able to just be reaealed(removing/cleaning glass and reapplying all new silicone to the corner beads)? Or does the tank need to be completely dissassembled and reassembled? And how does fixing the corner seals only(not the seams) fix the leak? Shouldn’t the structure seals prevent the leak?

rocsec1 · 03/15/2018, 07:27 PM

If it is leaking it is because those seals failed. You have to the whole thing over.

ClownNut · 03/15/2018, 07:50 PM

if small tank, i think patch will work.
but 380g, i would take it apart, clean and put back together again.
keep one thing in mind, the tank vs have you have inside the tank.

Lsufan · 03/15/2018, 09:01 PM

If a tank is leaking then the structural seam & the inner seal is compromised & it would have to be taken completely apart & reassembled. The inner seal is basically only there to protect the structural seam.

Imo I would pass on the tank. Building a tank is harder then it seems & the bigger the tank the harder it is. A 380 gallon tank is definitely not for someone who has never built one. Something that big is best to leave to the professionals imo. It isn’t only the 400 gallons of water on the floor u have to worry about. On a tank that big the panes of glass are so heavy that if it fails catastrophicly 6 months down the road it could severely injure someone & maybe even worse.

tkeracer619 · 03/15/2018, 11:29 PM

I've done it and wouldn't do it again unless I had no job and had all the time in the world. The amount of blood sweat and tears is rather extensive on a build like that.

I agree that once it is leaking the seam is compromised and needs to be completely broken down. I'd pass.

nereefpat · 03/16/2018, 07:29 AM

Excellent for your new red tail boa. Fill it with water?....heck no

03/15/2018, 07:05 PM	#1
MitchSutherland Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Mishawaka, Indiana Posts: 258	Resealing 380 Gallon Aquarium Help Someone is selling a 380 glass aquarium that leaks at the bottom middle. Not a fast leak, but a leak none the less. My question is: is it able to just be reaealed(removing/cleaning glass and reapplying all new silicone to the corner beads)? Or does the tank need to be completely dissassembled and reassembled? And how does fixing the corner seals only(not the seams) fix the leak? Shouldn’t the structure seals prevent the leak?

03/15/2018, 07:50 PM	#3
ClownNut Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,859	if small tank, i think patch will work. but 380g, i would take it apart, clean and put back together again. keep one thing in mind, the tank vs have you have inside the tank. __________________ Dont let me know where u lived if u have a nice pair of clownfish in ur tank!^_^ Clown kidnaper^_^ Current Tank Info: 300DD, SM200/RD3,ATI 60-8X80+4X75, 2 Sea Sweep & 4X6105 & 6208

03/15/2018, 09:01 PM	#4
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	If a tank is leaking then the structural seam & the inner seal is compromised & it would have to be taken completely apart & reassembled. The inner seal is basically only there to protect the structural seam. Imo I would pass on the tank. Building a tank is harder then it seems & the bigger the tank the harder it is. A 380 gallon tank is definitely not for someone who has never built one. Something that big is best to leave to the professionals imo. It isn’t only the 400 gallons of water on the floor u have to worry about. On a tank that big the panes of glass are so heavy that if it fails catastrophicly 6 months down the road it could severely injure someone & maybe even worse. Last edited by Lsufan; 03/15/2018 at 09:06 PM.

03/15/2018, 11:29 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I've done it and wouldn't do it again unless I had no job and had all the time in the world. The amount of blood sweat and tears is rather extensive on a build like that. I agree that once it is leaking the seam is compromised and needs to be completely broken down. I'd pass. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/16/2018, 07:29 AM	#6
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Excellent for your new red tail boa. Fill it with water?....heck no __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/15/2018, 07:27 PM	#2
rocsec1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Medina oh Posts: 1,782	If it is leaking it is because those seals failed. You have to the whole thing over.