Sake curing time for my tank rebuild- advice please..

Hi everyone...

I know a lot of you build your own tanks.... please give me some advice

So the 2.2 that popped the bottom seam has been rebuilt and fixed

Was finished last Thursday and we collected saturday afternoon

Tank was completly stripped and following done

Bottom is now 30mm glass and bracing all around

The front glass was replaced as it was extremely scratched so while at repairing, I had new glass fitted
All seams( vertical seams along the sides) were also reinforced with bracing

Top was braced right around and braced accross

Overflow for sump was built in

My question.... please some advice... how long do I wait before its SAFE to fill the tank... After the disaster I guess Im neurotic...

I was told that by this weekend it would be fine... is the ok?


Thanks Guys..

 

Sorry for spelling!!!... SAFE curing time...

 

whats the glass thickness?

 

Bottom has 2 glasses of 10mm plus another 10mm layer of glass in panels also 10mm= total 30mm

Sides 12mm if im not mistaken... will double check

 

and full tank messurements 2.2 x 65 x70

 

If i'm not mistaken (and im not an expert) 24 hours is more than sufficient. I recently did a patch up with thinner glass and couldn't wait the full 24 hours.. Everything seems to be fine.

 

RPG and myself replaced his 1.2m Glass panel and the silicone was dry and ready for use in 24 hours. so yeah I agree with 24 hours

 

@MariaS agree with 24 hours like @Jacques.Andre said we changed a panel on my 4ft the Thursday evening and i
filled it up with water Friday to do a leak test and Saturday i transferred my water and fish from my 3ft into it and no problems at all

 

@MariaS

24 hours curing time is fine, so you are well over that period now, so safe. Im just surprised that the person who did the job for you didn't do the leak test before letting the tank go. I know I would have. No tank leaves my premises with out a leak test.

 

If the tank is going to be standing outside then yeah 24 hours to get some skin and some curing going. If you are going to leave it in your lounge once filled then I would go with 24 hours per mm of glass - esp on the side panels. Or until you can not smell silicone any more. Time will tell you can easily see when a tank is starting to tear on the side panels once it has been filled for a few weeks.

Later Ferdie

 

My large tank, 20mm glass sides, 30mm bottom, 24mm bracing, I left for a month from when sides went up, 7 days from the last bracing (top), filled 50%, left 24 hours, filled to 100%, never emptied it again.

 

Thanks to everyone for the advice.... I appreciate it...

I don't think I would have the confidence to fill a tank this size after 24 hours..... its 1000l water and 70 high... considering it was fully taken apart and done from scratch...
I would probably have a heart attack stressing before it was half way full!!!
@pHish_man, water leak test was not done due to transport arrangements but we have an agreement to that effect and it is someone we deal with and trust so if there is a problem, it will be sorted.

 

The tank was outside for 2 days and a bit... we brought it in yesterday and its in lounge now. Have had windows and doors open.
Tonight I cant smell the silicone much anymore...
I feel more comfortable with 24h per mm!!

Thanks.... I cant remember exactly how big yours is, think this is smaller. We going to start with all the pipe work etc this weekend so I am not rushing it and will I will definitely fill half way and let it stand for a day before filling.... I feel more comfortable that way!

 

3.6m, 80cm high, 2000l, you don't want to mop that up, and yes, after 2 months, I'm still nervous!

 

@MariaS ask the tank builder about the silicone that they used, what does it say about curing time. Personally, a tank this size I would let stand for min 2 weeks, then water test, then fill, unless there was a need to rush it...

 

There is a general rule, that each mm equals a day. (other factors, eg. weather, temp, etc. not considered). So taking your thickest piece of glass is 20mm, 20 days would be minimum before any water goes in. The reason for this is that the other layer of silicone can cure quite quick and slows down as it cures inside. Also if you do not let the inside fully cure, when you add water it might create air bubbles in the middle of the seam. I've been there and done that. Better be safe than sorry with such a big tank.

 

Even when fully cured silicone has a very low tensile strength, so I wouldn't rush to test partially cured silicone by adding a 1000l of water.

 

Yes... No!!!!... was bad enough when this one burst the side.... can just imagine yours!! Thank God for wet/dry vacuum cleaners, helped a lot
Jokes aside, the fish are the most important worry... dont want to go there again..

He didnt give me the name of the silicone, he just said it was strong and his recommendation when I collected was that I let it stand until this weekend which would make it 10 days on Sunday but because of the size ofthe tank and glass thickness I thought I would ask the experienced members with big tanks for their advice as well

 

The bottom is 30mm and sides I double checked, is 12mm

I am going to follow the advice you guys have given and let it stand for longer
As i mentioned, after what happened last month.... I dont want to take chances.... its not worth it!


To everyone, thanks for all the advice..

 

Sorry...Don't want to hi-jack this thread , but wanted to know about bottom panes , mine is 12mm thick with 100mm bracing all round , I added these two pieces 360x150 on the bottom glass...Did I do justice or a mistake by the extra bracing(tank is a 6ft 750L)