Tank leak

[Trustyworm]

I have an aqueon 75 gallon tank and it is leaking on the bottom black part of the tank. Will putting silicone on it be good enough?

 

[rtparty]

Silicone won’t bond to old silicone. If it’s leaking from a failed seam, your only option is to tear it down and reseal or get a new tank

 

[UncommonSense]

Will putting silicone on it be good enough?

Sadly, no…

The silicone between the glass panes is structural, and cannot be repaired by laying new silicone on the interior of that seam…

Unfortunately, this tank is compromised and should be broken down at this point…

I recommend a large brute trash can or bin as a holding tank while you work out a replacement system, this is a proven way to maintain your livestock between tanks!

How old is the tank? — these seam failures are often due to age, or incorrect tank support!

 

[Biokabe]

No.

Silicone requires dry surfaces and hours of time in order to cure. If it's actively leaking, your time is limited. As in, you might only have hours before that leak increases from a slow drip to a complete failure. I've had it happen to me (same brand of tank, incidentally).

You're in for a long, painful weekend. If you hope to save anything, pick up some Rubbermaid bins, transfer your water to them, and start breaking everything down. Leave the sand in place, but take everything else out of your tank.

 

[BryanM]

You can try clamps or strapping to slow/stop it temporarily, but otherwise yeah, this is a tear down fix situation, sadly.

 

[Trustyworm]

Sadly, no…

The silicone between the glass panes is structural, and cannot be repaired by laying new silicone on the interior of that seam…

Unfortunately, this tank is compromised and should be broken down at this point…

I recommend a large brute trash can or bin as a holding tank while you work out a replacement system, this is a proven way to maintain your livestock between tanks!

How old is the tank? — these seam failures are often due to age, or incorrect tank support!

It’s only been like 8 months

 

[Trustyworm]

Silicone won’t bond to old silicone. If it’s leaking from a failed seam, your only option is to tear it down and reseal or get a new tank

It’s leaking very slowly but there isn’t any other way? Can’t I use like flex seal on the outside to patch it?

 

[UncommonSense]

It’s only been like 8 months

Hmm… if the tank was new when you started, this is like an issue of support, then!

I had this happen to my first tank (60g tall) when I set it on a lumber shelf with no support at one end…

The tank was sitting on a twisted surface, with ~450lbs of water in it… one side seam slowly started ripping apart…

 

[UncommonSense]

It’s leaking very slowly but there isn’t any other way? Can’t I use like flex seal on the outside to patch it?

There is no good way to even attempt to patch this tank without completely draining and cleaning it out…

I’ve spent many years contemplating this problem, even going so far as proposing the use of a “cofferdam” for repairs…

The tank literally needs to be broken down to glass panes, and rebuilt from scratch to reliably repair this issue, and that is no small feat…

 

[FUNGI]

As unpopular as it is, you can apply silicon over old silicon.
https://metrosealant.com/will-silic...Af-PP#will-silicone-sealant-stick-to-siliconeThe only real way to re-apply a new silicon layer would be from the inside, and it needs to be dry...which means water, and any sand etc in the immediate are needs to come out..if you are at this point, you might as well just get a new tank.

 

[FUNGI]

just FYI. You have limited lifetime warranty on the tank.
Flexseal will not really work....just delays the leak. You would have to spray the Flexseal all the way around the tank.

 

[UncommonSense]

The only real way to re-apply a new silicon layer would be from the inside, and it needs to be dry...which means water, and any sand etc in the immediate are needs to come out..

And this is before we even take into account trying to hit a target humidity for a week straight to get a proper cure, and good strength characteristics within the silicone!

Then, there’s the actual structural seam below the patch work which is still peeling itself apart after being compromised… it’s a mess!

 

[FUNGI]

And this is before we even take into account trying to hit a target humidity for a week straight to get a proper cure, and good strength characteristics within the silicone!

Then, there’s the actual structural seam below the patch work which is still peeling itself apart after being compromised… it’s a mess!

Don't get me wrong....I agree the fix isn't worth the hassle. Easier just transfer all into containers and get a new tank.

 

[Trustyworm]

Don't get me wrong....I agree the fix isn't worth the hassle. Easier just transfer all into containers and get a new tank.

I might feel stupid now because I figured out it wasn’t the tank . It’s my hang on the back refugium leaking water and dripping to the bottom.

 

[Biokabe]

I might feel stupid now because I figured out it wasn’t the tank . It’s my hang on the back refugium leaking water and dripping to the bottom.

Well, better to feel stupid now than to drain your tank, buy a new one, submit a warranty claim and then be denied because your tank was actually fine. =) Is your refugium leaking from a seam, or is it splashing out for other reasons?

 

[MegabiteOG]

I might feel stupid now because I figured out it wasn’t the tank . It’s my hang on the back refugium leaking water and dripping to the bottom.

That’s a great problem to have! I was just going to ask if you were sure the leak was from a seam or something else. Happy for you.

 

[vlangel]

I might feel stupid now because I figured out it wasn’t the tank . It’s my hang on the back refugium leaking water and dripping to the bottom.

Boy, am I glad to hear that because I also have an Aqueon 75g tank that I just recently set up about a month ago! I have always had good luck with Aqueon tanks but good companies can go through an exchange of hands and not be good anymore. Anyway its reassuring that the tank is sound!

Sorry about the HOB fuge but hopefully that is an easy fix. Definitely easier than a tank transfer!

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I might feel stupid now because I figured out it wasn’t the tank . It’s my hang on the back refugium leaking water and dripping to the bottom.

wow - glad to hear it

 

[FUNGI]

I might feel stupid now because I figured out it wasn’t the tank . It’s my hang on the back refugium leaking water and dripping to the bottom.

Awesome.......easy fix!