New tank - silicone fail ?

jestronix · 10/19/2018, 07:42 AM

Hi guys,

After many months of waiting my dream tank has finally arrived . It's a large rimless tank with 12mm glass. On tank calculators it meets a 6.7 safety factor on 12mm glass. It's a 500mm high tank, so not a tall tank.

Here's a picture of the seam when the tank is full. This is only present on one corner of the tank. Top right corner.

This tank is on a steel stand and was levelled by the builder installer on the day.

The bubbles go away when the tank is empty. I can make the bubbles half appear again if I use my thumb and press hard.

I have contacted seller and he has mentioned the silicone has a very strong elasticity so it will change colour. He said he can do bracing for me.

Currently the tank sits empty while I wait, I couldn't sleep with it full.

Will bracing fix the issue? Should I be worried?

The tank is on foam, and the tank is dead level with no movement in the legs etc.

With bracing I'll feel a lot safer and predict the bubbles won't show up with more support.

Thoughts ?

What should I do ?

Silly clownfish · 10/19/2018, 07:49 AM

I have not noticed this occur on any of my tanks. 18 years is the longest that I recall keeping one in use and that tank was moved half full a couple of times (on stand). I only retired it when I did a complete breakdown and just figured for the cost of a standard tank it was time to replace.

I would at least brace it. Since it sounds like this is a custom built tank, personally I would demand that it be resealed.

pfan151 · 10/19/2018, 08:10 AM

I wouldn’t use it. Make them replace it. Bracing may work but I still wouldn’t feel good about a brand new tank with a known weak spot.

shred5 · 10/19/2018, 10:42 AM

I would bet that is a Marinelend tank..

Common problem with them.
I threw out one because I had drilled it first so warranty would not cover it.

you do not discover it till the tank is full too...

Was very common on their cube 93 gallon aquariums.

jestronix · 10/19/2018, 10:06 PM

My question is do they eventually fail, they may actually hold indefinitely ? All bar the risks and peace of mind ofcourse

jestronix · 11/11/2018, 03:57 PM

Fixed ! Euro bracing solved the stress point above, totally. 12mm glass had just enough flex over 1 m and 1/2 meter tall. i

OurCoralReef · 11/12/2018, 12:24 PM

Personally it looks like its separating from the silicone i would not risk it and tell the maker to redo the silicone joints

WVfishguy · 11/12/2018, 01:40 PM

I hope the bracing works. I had a 300 with a bubble in the silicon which was no where near as bad as that, and the entire end section came loose. I bought the tank used, and it lasted for years, until it didn't.

d2mini · 11/12/2018, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jestronix

Should I be worried?

Definitely.

jestronix · 11/13/2018, 08:41 AM

As mentioned above, tank is now euro braced with zero stress bubbles showing, the flex was too much before, even with 12mm glass. Goes to show how good eurobracing is, rimless is not an option for me ever again, way to much stress on the joints. I've check all corners and no evidence of any stress bubbles. next tank I'll probably go bottom euro too. I hate centre bracing, such a pain light wise. But it's probably the strongest

jestronix · 11/24/2020, 04:56 PM

2 years no issues , tank showed no more stress around this joint. Euro fixed the issue from a stress point of view.

10/19/2018, 07:42 AM	#1
jestronix Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 451	New tank - silicone fail ? Hi guys, After many months of waiting my dream tank has finally arrived . It's a large rimless tank with 12mm glass. On tank calculators it meets a 6.7 safety factor on 12mm glass. It's a 500mm high tank, so not a tall tank. Here's a picture of the seam when the tank is full. This is only present on one corner of the tank. Top right corner. This tank is on a steel stand and was levelled by the builder installer on the day. The bubbles go away when the tank is empty. I can make the bubbles half appear again if I use my thumb and press hard. I have contacted seller and he has mentioned the silicone has a very strong elasticity so it will change colour. He said he can do bracing for me. Currently the tank sits empty while I wait, I couldn't sleep with it full. Will bracing fix the issue? Should I be worried? The tank is on foam, and the tank is dead level with no movement in the legs etc. With bracing I'll feel a lot safer and predict the bubbles won't show up with more support. Thoughts ? What should I do ?

10/19/2018, 07:49 AM	#2
Silly clownfish Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania Posts: 488	I have not noticed this occur on any of my tanks. 18 years is the longest that I recall keeping one in use and that tank was moved half full a couple of times (on stand). I only retired it when I did a complete breakdown and just figured for the cost of a standard tank it was time to replace. I would at least brace it. Since it sounds like this is a custom built tank, personally I would demand that it be resealed. __________________ 75g mixed reef, 20g sump, ocelaris clownfish (20+yrs old), flame hawk, one spot foxface rabbitfish, green mandarin, Bicolor Blenny, Coral Beauty;30g sumpless with Spotcinctus pair with RBTA Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 20g sump, ocelaris clownfish (20+yrs old), flame hawk, one spot foxface rabbitfish, green mandarin, Bicolor Blenny, Coral Beauty;30g sumpless with Spotcinctus pair

10/19/2018, 10:42 AM	#4
shred5 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Waukesha , WI Posts: 4,998	I would bet that is a Marinelend tank.. Common problem with them. I threw out one because I had drilled it first so warranty would not cover it. you do not discover it till the tank is full too... Was very common on their cube 93 gallon aquariums. __________________ David Polzin

10/19/2018, 08:10 AM	#3
pfan151 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: FL Posts: 1,897	I wouldn’t use it. Make them replace it. Bracing may work but I still wouldn’t feel good about a brand new tank with a known weak spot.

10/19/2018, 10:06 PM	#5
jestronix Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 451	My question is do they eventually fail, they may actually hold indefinitely ? All bar the risks and peace of mind ofcourse

11/11/2018, 03:57 PM	#6
jestronix Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 451	Fixed ! Euro bracing solved the stress point above, totally. 12mm glass had just enough flex over 1 m and 1/2 meter tall. i

11/12/2018, 12:24 PM	#7
OurCoralReef In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: NY Posts: 363	Personally it looks like its separating from the silicone i would not risk it and tell the maker to redo the silicone joints

11/12/2018, 01:40 PM	#8
WVfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 677	I hope the bracing works. I had a 300 with a bubble in the silicon which was no where near as bad as that, and the entire end section came loose. I bought the tank used, and it lasted for years, until it didn't.

11/13/2018, 08:41 AM	#10
jestronix Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 451	As mentioned above, tank is now euro braced with zero stress bubbles showing, the flex was too much before, even with 12mm glass. Goes to show how good eurobracing is, rimless is not an option for me ever again, way to much stress on the joints. I've check all corners and no evidence of any stress bubbles. next tank I'll probably go bottom euro too. I hate centre bracing, such a pain light wise. But it's probably the strongest

11/24/2020, 04:56 PM	#11
jestronix Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 451	2 years no issues , tank showed no more stress around this joint. Euro fixed the issue from a stress point of view.