when do you know that you need to re-calk a glass tank?

[shabreeson]

i noticed today that the tank i recently got for free has some algea creeping awfly close to a seem. it isnt that hard to peel off the glass in some areas.

[bsagecko]

you re-seal a tank when it leaks

[46FiatYamaha]

exactly, if it's not leaking I wouldn't bother with it

[dendro982]

Salt creep outside, at the bottom.
I wouldn't risk having the flood.

[THE ROOK]

If the tank is not setup yet, then it's easy & you'll sleep better.

A new razor, GE silicone 1 & some painter's tape is about all you need.

[shabreeson]

i think i'll reseal the parts were the algae is going towards the seem. at very leased it will give me 50 more years of durability on the sides

[ihavtats29]

you have to reseal the whole thing you cannot do just 1 part of it the new silicone will not stick to the dirty old silicone , just cut out the old stuff on the sides and bottom , get the sides as close to the top as you can,clean it off with some rubbing alcohol , tape it off so you have clean lines, and run 1 continious bead of new ge type 1 kitchen and bath, smooth it out and pull the tape out before it starts to tack up if you dont work fast enough the tape will pull the new silicone off with it, or you can do it with out the tape and let it cure for 72 hrs, then take a razor and trim off the edges. be sure not to cut in between the the glass where it comes together

[shabreeson]

how do I remove the plastic rim supports on top and bottom without breaking them? the plastic is old and brittle.

[ihavtats29]

you do not need to remove them , just remove the old silicone on the inside of the tank

[shabreeson]

oh, ok never mind i misread your reply, I will reseal the whole thing.
Thanks all!

[Richard Walston]

I just had my seal break on my 110. The back came loose from the bottom. It was a slow leak so I was able to get everything out before a total disaster. If you are not sure of your workmen ship or your ability to do it right you might be better off buying a new tank depending on the size of the tank. I know the $600 I spent on the new tank was worth my state of mind.

[ihavtats29]

if the tank is leaking then i would agree , but if the silicone on the inside is what needs to be redone then just reseal it, the only correct way to fix a leak it to disasemble the tank , clean all the edges very well , then reassemble the tank,