Need response quickly about resealing 210 gallon

[Martini5788]

Structurally the tank is fine, but the seams looked crappy so I am resealing them. How thick of a bead should I use? I plan on taping the corners and such, and want to know how far away from the corner I should place the tape.

[ericarenee]

Tape is a bad idea..

It will give you a thick line down the glass away from the corner and Look awful..

I would clean all the Glass very well with Alcohol . Cut silicone Tube like 1/8 inch.. Keeping your finger wet with alcohol Run your Finger down the beat of Calk (this prevents it from sticking to your Fingers.... Calking is kinda a Practice makes perfect thing...
The calking tools taping methods seem to always look bad. If you get some on the glass either let it dry then scrape it off . OR Remove it with firm pressure with your Finger (wet with alcohol.....
This is how Professional Glazes Do it. They do have some Tools for larger seems.

If you need to before you run your finger down the Sealant to make a smooth nice looking seam. Spray a bit of alcohol / water mixture on the sealant.. It will evaporate and not effect the bond to the glass.... 1.1 ratio

Good Luck and Hope this helps....... You can prob also find You tube videos on Glazing with Silicon

[Martini5788]

Ok I won't tape then. I'm not doing it myself, the guy that I got the tank from is redoing it for me and he has done a lot of tanks. He said
He didn't need me to tape but I was going to just because I've always read that. I have been using acetone, should I go get alcohol instead?

[Martini5788]

He's gonna be here in like half an hour, so I won't be able to run to lowes but I could get a small bottle of rubbing alcohol from the gas station

[anthonys51]

didnt you already have a tank break on you. just a though, you might want to stop buying old tanks in bad shape . as you found out the hard way its just a head ache

[Martini5788]

It doesn't leak. The inside silicone is dirty. So we are resealing it. No need to be a jerk

[anthonys51]

not being a jerk. i would think after i had a tank leak all over the floor i only by new ones. goodluck bye bye

[Martini5788]

My old tank, had a structural piece removed. And it was old, not that I knew that. This tank is maybe 5 years old and is structurally sound.

[anthonys51]

you trying to convince me or yourself. those that dont learn for history are doomed to repeat it.

[Martini5788]

I am stating facts. I posted that at the same time as your reply.

[anthonys51]

fact is a 5 year old tank shouldnt need to be reseal. i have a tank thats 15 years old and still looks mint. fact stop buying other people jink last message i am bored

[gone fishin]

I would go with Erica's advice.

[Martini5788]

Originally Posted by gone fishin

I would go with Erica's advice.

Yeah that's what I am gonna do. Not going to bother with the tape anymore.

[CStrickland]

I have only sealed bathtubs, so grain of salt. It can be really hard to get the new silicon to stick. The glass has to be very very clean and I don't think it will stick at all to other silicon. Theres a lot of conflicting info out there as to why, if the silicon makes a gas or something as it cures or reacts with the old stuff or whatev. Idk about all that, but I do know that I half-butted my shower and all the caulk came off in strings and I had to redo the whole thing properly (while cursing).

I'd be really sure you can't stand the old stuff before I did it. Good luck!

[gone fishin]

I hope you get the look you want. Caulking is definitely a learned skill LOL.

[CStrickland]

For real, practice makes perfect.

[Martini5788]

The old seams just had a bunch of dried
Coralline and on the outside edges of the interior seams it was pulling up in a few places, like 1 mm maybe, but it still bothered
Me. It was nearly
Impossible to get the stuff off though. And I was very careful not to alter the seam between the glass panes at all. I am waiting to pay the guy until it gets resealed and I am positive that it is completely safe to use.

[ericarenee]

i Really do know know how Silicone Reacts to acetone .It might or might not work... I would do a Good google search and you may find yes or no...

I just know from experience and working with Professionals who do that kinda stuff for a living... OF Course i have used Calk/ silicone and Other adhesives with my work as well.

Rubbing Alcohol i know is what the Pros use. If the old Silicone is not treated with alcohol the new Silicone will NOT Stick to it.. This i know from Experience Re SEALING Tub and Counter tops...

[Martini5788]

Ok, I have rubbing alcohol. I went and got some. So I should just soak the seams and rub them really good before the new bead is applied?

[ericarenee]

Originally Posted by Martini5788

Ok, I have rubbing alcohol. I went and got some. So I should just soak the seams and rub them really good before the new bead is applied?

Just clean them well with a Micro cloth that fibers will not Rub off.. Then let Dry.
As you apply the Silicone you can use the alcohol to help smooth it out and remove any that gets on the glass where you do not want it..
EVEN A Finger print can make the adhesive not stick to each other.. Its the OILS That is the issue not so much discoloration from dirt ..

[Martini5788]

Ok he just came and put a bead along the seams. It isn't super thick along the sides though. Is that a problem?

[ericarenee]

Originally Posted by Martini5788

Ok he just came and put a bead along the seams. It isn't super thick along the sides though. Is that a problem?

Should not be thick . I am not even sure it was actually needed at all to be honest...

I was just commenting on how i would do it .......

[Martini5788]

Ok I'm gonna stop panicking haha.

[davocean]

Anyone that builds tanks will tell you the only way to actually reseal a tank is to take it completely apart, clean and rebuild it.
I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, just a heads up for you or anyone else reading.
Hopefully the seams on that tank did not require being actually resealed and hopefully it lasts for you.
What you are doing is not much more than making it aesthetically pleasing, there is minimal structural gain at best, so as long as it looks good to you it's fine.

[thegrun]

Originally Posted by davocean

Anyone that builds tanks will tell you the only way to actually reseal a tank is to take it completely apart, clean and rebuild it.
I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, just a heads up for you or anyone else reading.
Hopefully the seams on that tank did not require being actually resealed and hopefully it lasts for you.
What you are doing is not much more than making it aesthetically pleasing, there is minimal structural gain at best, so as long as it looks good to you it's fine.

+1, if all you did was remove the silicone inside the tank and left the silicone between the the panes of glass you should be fine, but as posted above if you actually removed the full pane of glass you should completely reseal the entire tank, the joint between old and new silicone is VERY difficult to make water tight long term.