Heya,

I have an odd shaped tank.. it's shaped a little like:

/¯¯¯\

|____|

as seen from the top. At the widest points the tank measures 620mm wide x 570 tall x 390 deep.

On the saturday morning just gone, I filled it with 95L of water (roughly..) and only just now (monday night) noticed that at the seal at the middle of the longest panel of glass where it meets the bottom panel, the glass has moved out a bit - and isn't sitting flush atop the bottom panel. It's bulging outwards.

as if it wants to burst open to flood my bedroom floor.

The tank is totally made of 6mm glass.. I'm just wondering if you think it's a good idea that i just leave it, get the tank re-sealed/assembled from scratch (if yes, any recommendations on where?), or are the dimensions of this tank just completely messed up and i shouldn't keep water/fishes in it?

cheers.. hope this is understandable?

If you haven't emptied it yet, do it now

Hi Vimmer, I think 6mm is pushing it a bit with this size - however your message implies the galss is fine its the silicone thats failing.

How old is the tank? Might be most cost effective to re silicone.

either way, immediate (tonight!!) action required if you dont like risks - reduce the water level. Even 25% will make a big difference. 50% plays it safe till you find alternative home for fishies while fixing their tank (could take a week tho!)

Hard luck mate - had it happen to me too and I know its not nice!

hah, Cheers guys. I kinda knew i had to empty it before it decided to empty itself..

It's empty now. I didn't have any fish or plants in it yet - i was going to get them on payday.

The tank is second hand.. the silicon does look a little worn out - i "patched" it up with some store bought silicon when i got it, but i think it does need to be pulled apart and reassembled. I got the impression that the previous owners didn't have problems with it - but they had it sitting around outside before i took it, and then i had it sitting empty in full sun for a about 4-5 months too - that would degrade the silicon a bit? I may have not taken enough care moving it around the house - that'd stress the seals a bit too i'd imagine.

In a couple weeks when i have a bit of dosh, I'll find someone who will re-glue it relatively cheaply hopefully, i am a poor student after all. And if not, i'll probably keep frogs or something else in it.

Blah.. At least i have much practice in filling and emptying a tank now.

thanks again for the input.. now it is time for bed.

If it has failed in one place, the lot is in need of repair.

Strip it down completely and start again.

A tube of silicone from mitre10 or similar will cost about $14, you'll ned a gun to apply it,(they're cheap).

But the main thing is to clean ALL the old silicone off before you even think of starting to reglue.

NOTE the way it was assembled for the correct place to put the glue.

Assemble in a well ventilated area as the fumes from the glue are hazardous to your health.(burns the lungs out).

Alan 104

silicone is on sale at mitre 10 at the moment, $10

(just to share the info)

if you are not too sure about re-siliconing it yourself,why not take it into peter ,at port nicholson glass.

hes great with fishtanks,they are the main part of his business...and hes alot cheaper than most other glass outfits.

14 petone ave,unit 4A.....phn: 939 9030.

Newt

wicked, $10.. you guys know my price range.

I have heard the name 'Port Nicholson Glass" pop up a bit here, so I might consider it. I'm not so sure on the correct way to repair a tank.

Thanks a lot for the advice though! Y'all rock.

Just make sure you get the right type of silicon, there are two types so make sure it is maked for aqurium use. (Some also have mould inhibiters in them as well which is bad for tanks).

Maybe adding a gusset along that edge on the inside. Maybe just get a strip of thick glass (10mm maybe) and seal it down to the base so it's edge adds support to the side. I Think I'd get a razor blade and remove old excess silicone there first so that you have more glass surface to bond too.

Damo.

if you are not too sure about re-siliconing it yourself,why not take it into peter ,at port nicholson glass.

hes great with fishtanks,they are the main part of his business...and hes alot cheaper than most other glass outfits.

14 petone ave,unit 4A.....phn: 939 9030.

Newt

Would he be able to fix a problem such as this?

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/glass- ... t9626.html