Nightmare aquarium recon project

Hi guys and girls

So, as many of you can remember, my Bonnie andClydes tank (convicts) was leaking bad.

So i ended up replacing

This


With this...



Now, to make a short story long, i tared the old convict tank down, took it outside to inspect it properly (its still outside ish)

And started cleaning it up, felt a loose bit of silicone and pulled on it, en raai wat... the whole tanks silicone came out one time. No word of lying....



The one pannel sommer came loose on the side...

When flipping the tank, i almost said beauty.... i found 2 more ish moments. Lekke crack on the one corner, and the plank that i bought the tank from 4 years ago covered an entire hole up with the same rubish blue silicone...

Now this was when i sat flat on the grass, lit a smoke and started thinking,,, today is dusbin day for Woodmere (Oak AVE.)

Then i thought, screw it, glass on this tank is a bit over a cm thick, im not chucking it out, i will rather try and be Mr FixIt...

So then we carried on...

Came inside, digged between my fish tank stuff and found my aquamend...



Patched where the hole was, and where the crack was,,, CRACK IN THE FISH TANK

So, left it over night, and that stuff is hard as rocks now...

Doubt the tank will leak on those spots...

Before patching...





After patching...



So now i have to silicone...

Will ask my mother in law to take me to silvertons or whatever the hardware shop is called this afternoon to buy the silicone and new silicone gun, as my old one broke.....

TO BE CONTINUED



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remember to let tank sit for a week at least once you finished with silicone to ensure it drys completely
would also serguest putting a sheet glass over the bottom cracks to make sure it is sealed properly

 

Jip, i was also thinking of that, but this aquamend is stronger than what the glass is, and i have used it prior to now, and it holds up amazing, but i will keep it in mind, thanks bud

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Think it will be fishless for a few weeks anyway, the filter that im planning on using is not cycled.

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Wanted to run it bare bottom, but it wont look good.

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Wow, you can be really glad the whole thing did not come apart.

 

Jip

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Last time I removed silicon from a tank I almost scraped my elbows off for 2 days.

 

Think i myst do inside and out just to play it extra safe

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good luck you cleaned it up nice

remember when you re silicone a tank the silicone between glass is most important

just some advice good luck with the work keep us updated

 

Thanks man. Silicone by glass is actually really good, is just the one side where i have to sort it. Will try and get in without ripping the tank apart

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Funny you should mention Alcolin ... I just used the QuikCopper on a very irritating crack on a valve on my solar geyser, stuff works like a charm, so I am pleased to hear about your use in an aquarium emergency.

Thanks for the post.

Later Ferdie

 

@f-fish if it wasnt so expensive i would have done the entire tank with it. Even though it wouldnt have looked nice but i think its stronger than silicone.

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Yeah - think about R80 a tube. Look I think it is fine for a fix .. but I would want the flexibility that silicone gives to secure panels.

Later Ferdie

 

Also true. Think i will buy rest of my supplies on Sunday.

Already know what the tank will be used for.

Buying angels on Sunday, but i do have another tank for them for time being

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UPDATE: fixed the one panel where silicone pulled loose, and yes, normally people dont do it, but i siliconed the outside of the tank too.

Will try and paint the background glass today, and will reseal the inside of the tank next week.

Will upload a pic when painting is done.

I just need some ideas from you guys regarding the bottom glass, as it will look ugly, but me wanting bare bottom...

Not sure what to do there...

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UPDATE: painted the back glass yesterday.


Before painting


Before final cote


From a different angle


The paint i used.

Just on a side note, i used this method on my convict tank too.



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Just resealed the tank. Will leave it to stand for a few days then do a water test

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Still has a single leek. Not as bad, but any leak is bad in my eyes. Sealed again at the problem area...

Dont think i will be using this tank inside anymore. Thinking of somehow setting up an outside tank with it.

Not sure weather i will be using the stand outside or not, or exactly how or what i will be doing but im sure i will come up with something in the end.

Thinking perhaps fancy goldfish tank, or perhaps outside planted tank, or a pond effect with some plants growing out the top.

Can even do a summer guppy and plant tank. But will see when we get there i suppose.

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Tada!

Done and no leeks or play in pannels. Shes solid.

Must get a polishing compound for outside glass. But tank just might go inside soon

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