Bubble in Silicone - Marinland 60 gal cube

cerulea · 11/17/2017, 06:23 PM

I'd like some input on bubbles in silicone.

I am looking to purchase a rimless Marinland 60 gal cube tomorrow and have the option between two tanks. I'd like to know which of the two I should buy.

Tank one:
No pics. Has a few small bubbles between the glass in the top two inches on one side, one 1/8" bubble at the outside edge between the glass low on the same joint, and a few small bubbles at the outside edge between the glass on a bottom seam (over about two inches). The side panes are also not quite in alignment so there is a fair amount of silicone on the outside of the tank.

Tank two:
All panes are in perfect alignment, the silicone work is very neat with none leaking to the outside. But it has a single larger bubble on a bottom joint, between the glass on the INSIDE edge. The bubble is approximately 1/3 the thickness of the glass.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5jb48j30l7p3zqh/tank.jpg?dl=0

So which tank to buy? I'm leaning towards tank two, but the size of that bubble has me concerned.

Thank you

cerulea · 11/17/2017, 06:25 PM

Picture of tank two

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5jb48j30l7p3zqh/tank.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5jb48j30l7p3zqh/tank.jpg?dl=0

ca1ore · 11/18/2017, 08:13 AM

From a structural perspective, a few small bubbles are really nothing to worry about. You don't say if these are new tanks or not, but the picture suggest sloppy silicone work which I'd not accept in a new tank.

cerulea · 11/18/2017, 11:02 AM

Thank you for the input.

So you wouldn't be concerned with this bubble structurally?

These are new tanks. And the only two that I've found in my city. My only other option would be to start ordering in tanks. From what I've been reading Marinland's silicone work on these tanks is chronically bad to horrible so I'm not convinced that ordering a new tank will get me better results. Unless something has changed.

This is an inexpensive tank and the project doesn't warrant having a higher quality brand shipped in.

While I'm not in love with the silicone on the pictured tank it is MUCH neater than the other tank that has the smaller bubbles, the panels are in proper alignment, and there is no silicone on the outside of the tank at the seams, so.....absent a structural concern I'm inclined to go with this tank.

ca1ore · 11/18/2017, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerulea

From what I've been reading Marinland's silicone work on these tanks is chronically bad to horrible so I'm not convinced that ordering a new tank will get me better results.

If you mean on the cube specifically, I cannot comment. I've had many ML tanks, some older (Perfecto) some newer; silicone work is generally on par with any of the other mass tank makers. Personally I prefer the black silicone.

11/17/2017, 06:23 PM	#1
cerulea Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4	Bubble in Silicone - Marinland 60 gal cube I'd like some input on bubbles in silicone. I am looking to purchase a rimless Marinland 60 gal cube tomorrow and have the option between two tanks. I'd like to know which of the two I should buy. Tank one: No pics. Has a few small bubbles between the glass in the top two inches on one side, one 1/8" bubble at the outside edge between the glass low on the same joint, and a few small bubbles at the outside edge between the glass on a bottom seam (over about two inches). The side panes are also not quite in alignment so there is a fair amount of silicone on the outside of the tank. Tank two: All panes are in perfect alignment, the silicone work is very neat with none leaking to the outside. But it has a single larger bubble on a bottom joint, between the glass on the INSIDE edge. The bubble is approximately 1/3 the thickness of the glass. https://www.dropbox.com/s/5jb48j30l7p3zqh/tank.jpg?dl=0 So which tank to buy? I'm leaning towards tank two, but the size of that bubble has me concerned. Thank you Last edited by bertoni; 11/17/2017 at 07:39 PM. Reason: fixed links by removing IMG tag

11/17/2017, 06:25 PM	#2
cerulea Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4	Picture of tank two https://www.dropbox.com/s/5jb48j30l7p3zqh/tank.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/5jb48j30l7p3zqh/tank.jpg?dl=0 Last edited by bertoni; 11/17/2017 at 07:39 PM.

11/18/2017, 08:13 AM	#3
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	From a structural perspective, a few small bubbles are really nothing to worry about. You don't say if these are new tanks or not, but the picture suggest sloppy silicone work which I'd not accept in a new tank. __________________ 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

11/18/2017, 11:02 AM	#4
cerulea Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4	Thank you for the input. So you wouldn't be concerned with this bubble structurally? These are new tanks. And the only two that I've found in my city. My only other option would be to start ordering in tanks. From what I've been reading Marinland's silicone work on these tanks is chronically bad to horrible so I'm not convinced that ordering a new tank will get me better results. Unless something has changed. This is an inexpensive tank and the project doesn't warrant having a higher quality brand shipped in. While I'm not in love with the silicone on the pictured tank it is MUCH neater than the other tank that has the smaller bubbles, the panels are in proper alignment, and there is no silicone on the outside of the tank at the seams, so.....absent a structural concern I'm inclined to go with this tank.