2nd hand tank

[DiscusMad]

I was given a second hand tank that has been sitting in a shead for the past 6 years and need to replace the silicon on it. Doese anybody know an easy way of pulling one apart and putting it back together again?

It loks like most of the silicon went hard so I do need to replace it.

thanks

[DiscusMad]

nobody can help??

[Fishpimpin73]

Well first off..........

If it was ME.

I would fill her up and let her set for about a week.

Out of the house of course

Check to see if you can't bring some life back into that silicone.
Since it is sooo old, you are going to want to do this anyway, b4 trying to tear it down.
Hardened silicone is a MONSTER to get off.

Once this is done.

You need to decide if a full on rebuild is actually in order.
You might be able to just get away with resealing the inside

But if not.............

It is just a matter of deconstructing the tank.
I have done it a few times ( in an emergency ) but don't actually recc it.

How big is the tank?

Is it worth saving?

Normally in a situation like this ( IME ) once the header and footer are removed they never end up being reusable.

So I would start there.

Get your dimensions and see if your going to be able to replace the trim.
Get an idea of what it is going to cost you to do this.

After that.............

Your going to need a razorblade and a whole lot of patience.

Remove the header first.
Now depending on the age of the tank, some of these bad boys were REALLY glued on good.
Others just pop off once the seal is broken.

Be careful not to break the trim ( You may be able to reuse it )

Same goes for the base trim.

This is the HARDEST part.

Now if you are going for a full on tear down, your going to have to be VERY careful.

When you finish cutting a pane out.....
REMOVE IT.

And when you get down to the last two.........
Have a buddy there to hold it for you.

If you break a pane now.........
Your going to wish that you had never started

Once you get the "Top" off then you can start getting to work on clearing out the silicone around the base. Always work from the OUTSIDE first.

Once the trim is removed...........

You can start on cleaning out the old seal.

I like to cut it back about an inch down each seam.
For some reason, it helps to have that corner peice of silicone to pull on.

After you get the top done.

Choose a seam and start.
I like to work left to right, make sure that you get ALL of the silicone out.
Do one pane at a time.

( And remember to put it back together opposite of the way it came apart )

The hardest part is getting the bottom out.

Be EXTREMELY careful when removing the base trim.

Once you have all the joints cleaned, rub down EVERY edge with a solvent, then let it dry.

At this point you might want to leave it till the next day.

Now that everything has been cleaned and dried, start putting it back together.

Here is where things get tricky.........

Last time I did this, I rebuilt the tank upside down.
Using the header to hold the panes together.
And making it so the bottom went on last.

I didn't have any help, so figured I would try it.
Worked for me.

It's ultimately up to you on how you want to put it back together.

Be LIBERAL with your sealant.
Apply SILICONE to every EDGE and JOINT.
Make sure that you get your fingers NICE AND STICKY, NO AIR BUBBLES ALLOWED!!

I am the king of overkill, so after putting that last tank together.
Not only did I compression seal it, I DOUBLE sealed the inside when the first set was done.
Filled it with water and let it set for two weeks.

But like I said in the begining......

I wouldn't recc it

HTH

[DiscusMad]

thanks Fishpimpin73

Ithink I had used more than enough silicon on it lol so I hope it will hold up going start testing tommrow afternoon for leaks and leave it sit with water for a week

[Fishpimpin73]

Let us know how it works out

[DR.V]

DiscusMad tell us how did it go ?
Did it leak again ?

[DiscusMad]

well today I had filled it up and there were no leaks in the seams of the tank at all :P so I am going to leave it a week with water in it to realy make shure its ok.