JoandWilly Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Have a tank thats 85x46x36 thats made from 6mm glass it has 2 end braces but when i was filling it up the front and back glass bowed out and tore the silicon on the center brace... does it need a center brace or will it be ok without one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Quick answer JW... Yes... it needs the brace... especially if it is bowing. Empty the tank... clean ALL the old silicone from the split area ensuring you have a good clean surface when finished. Use a good reliable silicone recomended for aquarium use and reseal the joint. Leave for at least three days before filling. Hope it goes well. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandWilly Posted November 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Hmm i had just siliconed the center brace in 7 days ago with shelleys, selleys (spelling) silicon.. the one safe for aquariums so i'll try silicon it in again and see what happens... might have accidently blasted it with the hose when i was filling ti up for the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Hmm i had just siliconed the center brace in 7 days ago with shelleys, selleys (spelling) silicon.. .......... might have accidently blasted it with the hose when i was filling ti up for the first time. Not used the Sellys brand.. I use RTV Silflex Professional for Glass and Ceramics... by Fosroc.. but if you have just resealed it and it has failed... then chances are the joint wasn't clean.. or you left some of the old "loose" silicone still on the joint. Once it has cured.. the seal would stand up to even a water blaster... so I don't think that was the prob. Many of the hi-tech aquarium silicones today will seal and cure underwater.. like if you have a small leak... but in your case it is a structural defect.. and needs to be "fully" cured before you do a refill. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 3 days? I let silicone cure for a week... ah well, seems that Pegasus has given you all the info you need. Good luck with fixing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 Quite right here BK in "some" instances. 3 days? I let silicone cure for a week... Going by the size given, I would think three days would be fine.. however.. with a larger tank.. (Bigger fillets on the seams).. then yes.. a week would be a better option. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 RTV cures by combining with water from the atmosphere (that is why it will cure underwater). However, when it cures it becomes waterproof and therefore if you have too thick an area (such as a large gap between a partition and the tank) the centre part cannot obtain moisture and will not cure, leaving a potentially weak joint. If the tank is bowing I would tend to put a 50mm strap around the top. It is more effective and also makes for a good lid if you place it 6 -10mm down from the top and cut a piece of glass to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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