Does this used tank need resealing?

[Lelegance]

Just got a used tank, the previous owner had it for about 3 years, and the front seams look like they weren’t very careful with the razor. All other seams look great except the two front one where it is lifting a bit. The part in-between the glass is fine, just the seal at the corner is beat up. Do I need to reseal them, and how?

 

[cdemoss01]

Definitely reseal. BUMP. I can't help with this. @TXReefer79 is good with DIY stuff though.

 

[Fish Fan]

Here's my reply to these posts. For years, like decades, I thought the right thing to do was to reseal the inside only of an old or damaged tank by scraping out the old silicon and reapplying new silicon. A manager at a pet store I used to go to when I was a kid told me that about every ten years you'd want to reseal a tank, so that's what I've always done.

I have since been told here on R2R by those "in the know" that this is ill-advised. I have been told that the correct way to redo a tank is to completely break it down, separate the panels, and basically rebuild it altogether.

Right or wrong, I have resealed a dozen or more tanks over the years, the largest was a 125 I did for a local garden center that has some fish stuff, I was friendly with the manager at the time. That was about 7 years ago, that tank is still holding water.

If you decide that you want to try to reseal this tank, I do have some tips and tricks I can share. If you decide you want to try to completely disassemble it, I have a trick for separating the panels. Let me know if you need anything I can help with here.

I'll add, that the silicon here does look quite worn, I'd probably not run this tank as is, and my bar for old tanks is quite high

Good luck!

 

[Lelegance]

Here's my reply to these posts. For years, like decades, I thought the right thing to do was to reseal the inside only of an old or damaged tank by scraping out the old silicon and reapplying new silicon. A manager at a pet store I used to go to when I was a kid told me that about every ten years you'd want to reseal a tank, so that's what I've always done.

I have since been told here on R2R by those "in the know" that this is ill-advised. I have been told that the correct way to redo a tank is to completely break it down, separate the panels, and basically rebuild it altogether.

Right or wrong, I have resealed a dozen or more tanks over the years, the largest was a 125 I did for a local garden center that has some fish stuff, I was friendly with the manager at the time. That was about 7 years ago, that tank is still holding water.

If you decide that you want to try to reseal this tank, I do have some tips and tricks I can share. If you decide you want to try to completely disassemble it, I have a trick for separating the panels. Let me know if you need anything I can help with here.

I'll add, that the silicon here does look quite worn, I'd probably not run this tank as is, and my bar for old tanks is quite high

Good luck!

The store that I work at has ~30 years of experience with large reef tanks, I can see what they recommend, and also see if they can either take a look at it or come and do it for me since I will never trust myself with a job like that. Thank you for your help, if I do have to do it myself i’ll ask any questions to you aswell!

 

[Fish Fan]

The store that I work at has ~30 years of experience with large reef tanks, I can see what they recommend, and also see if they can either take a look at it or come and do it for me since I will never trust myself with a job like that. Thank you for your help, if I do have to do it myself i’ll ask any questions to you aswell!

I think that's a good idea, let someone who's knowledgeable look at it in person

Good luck!