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Khandurian
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Post subject: Tank Rebuild Redux! Posted: Dec 13, 2006 - 07:13 PM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Jul 28, 2006
Posts: 2488
Location: Cocoa Beach Florida Baby!!
Status: Offline
 
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Well as some of you know, my first attempt to repair a 55 I found on the side of the road was a failure. It leaked after I got done. The leak was slow. extremly slow! in fact it was 1 drop every 3 hours!
So after stepping away from the tank for a month I figured it was time to tackle it again.
Heres the first pick of the pain staking task of masking off.
Sadly, this is also my first mistake! I FORGOT to add the thickness of the glass for the bottom. Oh well, No biggie, it will end up being a very very small seam this way!
Which you might be able to see here...
Here's a closeup of that final seam. You will be able to see where I did the masking without adding in the thickness of the glass
And now for the final pic. This is what happens when you lean over your work and start working from the wrong end! DOH!
All this work, and this is only ONE side! I am taking this one side at a time as I do not have the ability to be able to buy a whole bunch of clamps for a one time use project! More to come as it progresses!! |
_________________ 1 10 Gallon 1 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon 1 Unknown
1 10 Gallon Planted 1 Green Terror
1 55 Gallon 1 Angel Fish
1 55 Gallon 9 Tiger Barbs 9 Albino Tiger Barbs 9 Gold Barbs!
1 55 Gallon 7 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon Empty
1 20 Gallon Long Divided 3 Betta's!
1 30 Gallon 1 BA Tetra!
Drip Acclimate your new fish!
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Bud8Fan
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Post subject: RE: Tank Rebuild Redux! Posted: Dec 14, 2006 - 08:19 AM |
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FishGeek Member

Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Nebraska
Status: Offline
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I thought you just bought a good one for $35?
Your a glutton for punishment.  |
_________________ 300 Gallon - 1 Tiger Oscar (Grovie), 1 White Tiger Oscar (Zoe), 4 Tiger Barbs, 3 Pictus Cats, 2 Electric Yellow Labs, 1 Turquoise Severum, 2 Gold Severums, 6 Silver Dollars (one Red Hook), 2 Acei Cichlids & 1 Senegal Bichir (Dino)
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Khandurian
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Post subject: RE: Tank Rebuild Redux! Posted: Dec 14, 2006 - 10:46 AM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Jul 28, 2006
Posts: 2488
Location: Cocoa Beach Florida Baby!!
Status: Offline
 
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Ya, I did! This one has been sitting in the workshop for over a month now. My first attempt was a failure. Simply cause I did not use enough silicone. I also got alot more hints on how to reseal one of these larger tanks.
This tank is not going for show or anything like that. It's basically going to be a "garage tank" to grow plants for my other tanks.
Ya know, one of those extremely HIGH light tanks with co2. |
_________________ 1 10 Gallon 1 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon 1 Unknown
1 10 Gallon Planted 1 Green Terror
1 55 Gallon 1 Angel Fish
1 55 Gallon 9 Tiger Barbs 9 Albino Tiger Barbs 9 Gold Barbs!
1 55 Gallon 7 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon Empty
1 20 Gallon Long Divided 3 Betta's!
1 30 Gallon 1 BA Tetra!
Drip Acclimate your new fish!
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Khandurian
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Post subject: RE: Tank Rebuild Redux! Posted: Dec 14, 2006 - 08:07 PM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Jul 28, 2006
Posts: 2488
Location: Cocoa Beach Florida Baby!!
Status: Offline
 
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Day 2
Well, it's been 24 hours since doing the first one. I see some bubbles in the seam. (cry) Their small so hopefully it will work out, I dont know. We will find out.
One side in place and the silicone's in place...
Pic of the seam
Tried to get a closeup, but it did not come out that well. Got some cleanup to do as well when it fully dries.
Being held together to show the rest of it.
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_________________ 1 10 Gallon 1 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon 1 Unknown
1 10 Gallon Planted 1 Green Terror
1 55 Gallon 1 Angel Fish
1 55 Gallon 9 Tiger Barbs 9 Albino Tiger Barbs 9 Gold Barbs!
1 55 Gallon 7 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon Empty
1 20 Gallon Long Divided 3 Betta's!
1 30 Gallon 1 BA Tetra!
Drip Acclimate your new fish!
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Bud8Fan
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Post subject: RE: Tank Rebuild Redux! Posted: Dec 15, 2006 - 08:41 AM |
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FishGeek Member

Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Nebraska
Status: Offline
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| Looking good ! |
_________________ 300 Gallon - 1 Tiger Oscar (Grovie), 1 White Tiger Oscar (Zoe), 4 Tiger Barbs, 3 Pictus Cats, 2 Electric Yellow Labs, 1 Turquoise Severum, 2 Gold Severums, 6 Silver Dollars (one Red Hook), 2 Acei Cichlids & 1 Senegal Bichir (Dino)
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ACableGuy06
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Post subject: RE: Tank Rebuild Redux! Posted: Dec 15, 2006 - 06:24 PM |
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FishGeek Member

Joined: Oct 09, 2006
Posts: 223
Location: Northwest Ohio
Status: Offline
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I have not done re done a tank yet, Have one to do soon...I was under the impression that you should do all the seams at the same time, due to cured silicone and fresh dont bond together well. And also I had seen that you should remove the tape while the silicone is still a lil tacky otherwise you will have to cut it out. Is any of this info correct?
Andrew |
_________________ 75 Gal. Fresh Planted
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Khandurian
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Post subject: RE: Tank Rebuild Redux! Posted: Dec 15, 2006 - 06:42 PM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Jul 28, 2006
Posts: 2488
Location: Cocoa Beach Florida Baby!!
Status: Offline
 
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| Quote: | | I was under the impression that you should do all the seams at the same time, due to cured silicone and fresh dont bond together well. |
I heard that as well, however, I spent alot of time on another forum, however, there was quotes from manufactures that silicone will bond to silicone cured, partly cured, almost cured. A guy built an 86 gallon(?) RIMLESS tank doing the same method I'm doing. So I figured if it worked for him it will work for me!
| Quote: | | And also I had seen that you should remove the tape while the silicone is still a lil tacky otherwise you will have to cut it out |
You are exactly correct on this situation! I will have to go with a straight edge and cut the silicone along the tape line to be able to remove the tape.
| Quote: | | Is any of this info correct? |
Yes, and no. You will get many, many, many, many, (did I say many?) many different opinions on the silicone. I'm just going by what I saw someone do successfully!
The tape situation is a preference thing! I am a very messy person. I cant help it! Really! I know it will be more work to cut the silicone and remove the tape. I just did not feel comfortable enough to remove the tape while the silicone was still wet. |
_________________ 1 10 Gallon 1 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon 1 Unknown
1 10 Gallon Planted 1 Green Terror
1 55 Gallon 1 Angel Fish
1 55 Gallon 9 Tiger Barbs 9 Albino Tiger Barbs 9 Gold Barbs!
1 55 Gallon 7 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon Empty
1 20 Gallon Long Divided 3 Betta's!
1 30 Gallon 1 BA Tetra!
Drip Acclimate your new fish!
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Khandurian
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Post subject: RE: Tank Rebuild Redux! Posted: Dec 15, 2006 - 06:56 PM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Jul 28, 2006
Posts: 2488
Location: Cocoa Beach Florida Baby!!
Status: Offline
 
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Well, side 2 will have to be completely re-done. I do not know what happened, but it's full of so many bubbles it's scary! Up and down all 3 seams!
So Instead of wasting time removing that side I went ahead and started side 3. This one by far is the BEST looking seams I have ever done! They were 1000 times better than the first 2!
So heres a few pics.
This one is showing it held together. I will tell you this, next time I will SPEND the extra money and get better clamps. I just do NOT like these clamps!
I finally got a pic of the size of the seam. The seam is 3/8 inch!
The other seam on the piece done tonight
One thing I did learn while doing all this. You can over work silicone! I attribute this to the massive bubble collection on side 2. Smooth seams is my ultimate goal. Not size, how big or small, smooth seams. I have not found the trick to this yet, but i'm getting closer! |
_________________ 1 10 Gallon 1 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon 1 Unknown
1 10 Gallon Planted 1 Green Terror
1 55 Gallon 1 Angel Fish
1 55 Gallon 9 Tiger Barbs 9 Albino Tiger Barbs 9 Gold Barbs!
1 55 Gallon 7 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon Empty
1 20 Gallon Long Divided 3 Betta's!
1 30 Gallon 1 BA Tetra!
Drip Acclimate your new fish!
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Khandurian
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Post subject: Posted: Dec 18, 2006 - 06:54 PM |
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Moderator Extraordinaire
Joined: Jul 28, 2006
Posts: 2488
Location: Cocoa Beach Florida Baby!!
Status: Offline
 
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Well, the honey do list came first over the weekend, so I had to put the tank on hold! (figures!) Anyways, it's no longer the weekend (grin!)
All together!
Tape removed!
The last side is still drying of course!
Check out that seam! I finally figured it out!!
Definitely the best seam ever! (at least I think so!)
Water test in 3 days!! |
_________________ 1 10 Gallon 1 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon 1 Unknown
1 10 Gallon Planted 1 Green Terror
1 55 Gallon 1 Angel Fish
1 55 Gallon 9 Tiger Barbs 9 Albino Tiger Barbs 9 Gold Barbs!
1 55 Gallon 7 Green Terror
1 10 Gallon Empty
1 20 Gallon Long Divided 3 Betta's!
1 30 Gallon 1 BA Tetra!
Drip Acclimate your new fish!
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Bud8Fan
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Post subject: Posted: Dec 19, 2006 - 08:16 AM |
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FishGeek Member

Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Nebraska
Status: Offline
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| Good luck on the water test !!! |
_________________ 300 Gallon - 1 Tiger Oscar (Grovie), 1 White Tiger Oscar (Zoe), 4 Tiger Barbs, 3 Pictus Cats, 2 Electric Yellow Labs, 1 Turquoise Severum, 2 Gold Severums, 6 Silver Dollars (one Red Hook), 2 Acei Cichlids & 1 Senegal Bichir (Dino)
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