Self created leak?

Polypnewbie · 05/21/2017, 08:24 PM

I'm not sure what the terminology is, but I have concerns over the sealant/silicone that comes already applied lengthwise in the corner walls of aquariums.

I had decided to switch my saltwater 20 gallon acrylic tank to a freshwater tank. I emptied it out and it stayed empty for 2 weeks. There was a lot of coralline algae left that did not go away on its own. It was a struggle to remove it. I had to flip the tank down onto each side and put in enough water to cover each side to get the algae off. During one of the flips, I noticed water seemed to have leaked out a bottom corner. Afterwards, I realized that I had taken some of the lengthwise corner sealant/silicon off while scraping the tank, as well as from along the bottom too.

Any advice on how big a problem this will be? Should I just buy a new tank? If I try filling it with water and seeing how it leaks, I'm not sure how capable I'll be at putting new sealant on the parts I accidentally scraped off. And I'm worried even if I seal it properly, I'll manage to do something like use the wrong type sealant that will cause harm to fish. I have no experience with how to deal with adding new sealant.

I've taken pictures of the parts I accidentally scraped off; I'm not sure how clear it is unless it's zoomed in on. I couldn't get my phone to take better pictures. (Plus I always fail to post them so they're upright)....

But any help would be appreciated!!!!!

Polypnewbie · 05/21/2017, 08:31 PM

Additional pictures

Polypnewbie · 05/21/2017, 08:32 PM

Picture

Polypnewbie · 05/21/2017, 08:34 PM

Another picture

ca1ore · 05/21/2017, 08:35 PM

Glass aquarium, not acrylic? Most likely water just got on the outside of the tank. If you're worried, you can get a new 20 for $20 during Petco sale.

mcgyvr · 05/22/2017, 05:47 AM

The silicone seal on the inside of a tank really only serves to protect the seals between the glass edges.. Provided that your razor blade/scrapper did not touch/harm the seal between the glass edges then you should be totally fine..

You need to determine if its leaking though or you just splashed water on the outside..
So fill it up outside and check it for leaks over a period of 24 hours or so..

But as stated a new tank is SUPER cheap..

05/21/2017, 08:35 PM	#5
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Glass aquarium, not acrylic? Most likely water just got on the outside of the tank. If you're worried, you can get a new 20 for $20 during Petco sale. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

05/22/2017, 05:47 AM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	The silicone seal on the inside of a tank really only serves to protect the seals between the glass edges.. Provided that your razor blade/scrapper did not touch/harm the seal between the glass edges then you should be totally fine.. You need to determine if its leaking though or you just splashed water on the outside.. So fill it up outside and check it for leaks over a period of 24 hours or so.. But as stated a new tank is SUPER cheap.. __________________ Who me?