ReSilicone a tank

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wrightme43

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Jun 30, 2004
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bowling green ky
I have been asked by a friend to fix a leak in his 1993 model allglass 60 gallon hexogon tank. I have repaired several rectangular tanks but never one like this. It has alot of flex in it because it is so tall and has no center braceing. One of the seams had split and leaked down about halfway. I drained it down to about 1.5 inches and took it off the stand. As it was coming off the stand it started leaking around the bottom as well. My plan is to cut off the bottom frame and clean it, cut off the bottom glass and clean it, reinstall the bottom glass with fresh new sili, and then and a extra bead to hold the frame to the glass. after all of that dries to cut the inside beads out and around the bottom inside and reseal the bottom then the sides up to the top. Then to put a new bead around the top edge. Has anyone ever done one like this. How did it work for you? If you think it would be best to junk it tell me, I may or may not do so. I believe replacing all the silicone is the way to go, because it was all put in the same day. Any experince would help me. Thanks in advance Steve
 
I think that the only way to really fix that thing is to take it completely apart, clean off all the silicone and rebuild it completely. It will be a pain, but worth it.
 
I agree, I wonder do they use a jig to build the hex tanks? I cant see myself holding 6 pieces of glass perfectly still and straight and using my caulk gun at the same time. Any advice would be great. Steve Thanks in advance
 
Before you tear the tank apart take cardboard or heavy construction paper and make a template. Then transfer it on to the plywood or your material of choice. You can make as many as you want but I would make no less than 3. 60 gallon hex is pretty big. Then you take your handy dandy cordless screw gun and start building a frame around your plywood with 2x2's or 2x4's or whatever is laying in the shed. Screws are important because you dont want to be yankin on it to get the nails out.
 
Short of a jig, as you assemble the glass , just use masking tape to hold the pieces together after you have pre-siliconed them on the outside. Once it's all together, then cut the silicone form the inside and resilicone.

good luck
 
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