HOW TO: Reseal a leaking aquarium - TUTORIAL

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Everything you need to know about a leaking aquarium.
In this video I cover how to prevent leaks in your aquarium, when to reseal your aquarium and when to take your aquarium apart.
Clean aquarium ► • HOW TO: Restore an aqu...
Take aquarium apart ► • HOW TO: take an aquari...
Repair cracks ► • HOW TO: Fix BROKEN or ...

[@gregbleckler9308]

Half hour for a six foot tank! Ha! I'm 40 minutes in, 4 beers deep, one cut finger and I still can't get the plastic trim off.

[@roxyqueen5076]

LOL I know some of them are a bitch..I use SMALL PUTTY KNIFE TO GET IN THERE PRETTY GOOD AND JUST SLIDE IT ALL ALONG THE SIDES BACK AND FORTH TO LOOSEN UP THE OLD SILICONE AND GO TO THE EDGE AND START TO PICK IT UP AND OFF AT THE SAME TIME.

[@ste2577]

Amen to that Greg, glad im not the only one haha

[@alliyance]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@HWolfe]

Makes me glad I passed up that used 185.😳

[@Larry-rr6ko]

It took me 3 hours to get the plastic. Trim off. I have to get the bottom glass out and my fingers are shot... Heat gun is next

[@juanjosemontero3537]

2021 and I still use this. Thank you!!

[@makek5844]

Me too

[@bryanwilson9250]

Same

[@caewalker9276]

Welcome to 22. Still watching it

[@Javi.Montalvo]

@@caewalker9276 yessir

[@Javi.Montalvo]

@@caewalker9276 yessir

[@CopenhagenDreaming]

THIS is the content I'm on KZbin for! I found a small tank in the recycling room of my building, and the silicone is so disgustingly yellow and/or brown that it needs to be taken apart to become nice-looking. So I need to take it apart and put it back together again, and this is really helpful.

[@BrandonLittle]

Dude, every time I have an aquarium question I land on your channel. Thanks for what you do

[@markadams9401]

Very good sir! I got a used 90 gallon and realized it needs to be resealed, I was afraid at first but you have inspired me to do it right, thank you very much sir!

[@CooLin1stPlace]

Maaaan these old tutorial videos are so helpful.

[@haitham.mohamed]

Another great video for one the best people in KZbin . Great work . U always make stuff seem doable with your excellent and detailed explanations . You are a star

[@cshimi]

Just bought a monster 90 gallon, decided to reseal to know its safe. Has been empty and dry for who knows how long. Thank you for this video, still holds up years later

[@tristanrideout8423]

Hey i have a 4 foot 120 i just got i want to reseal also, did you remove the upper trim when you resealed it? How did everything go? thanks

[@cshimi]

@@tristanrideout8423 I didn't remove the trim, I just removed the silicone up to the trim. I don't fill my tanks to the brim, I usually leave at least a half inch or more between the surface of the water and the top of the tank. I've left water sitting in it for the 2 months its been resealed and it hasnt leaked

[@tristanrideout8423]

@@cshimi thanks I'm going to try and polish the glass at the same time I bought cerium oxide and going to attempt to remove tons of microscratches hoping it works out

[@zeb33369]

​@@tristanrideout8423hey, 👋how did the scratch removal go? Im aboud to try this myself

[@dimitrijekrstic7567]

Neither of you reported your results 😂 ​@@zeb33369

[@bryanbraley1038]

Just bought a used 150 gallon tank and am not sure how old it is. Your tips helped me make the decision to reseal it "on my time" and not wait for something to fail. I bought your book several years ago and always look for your videos when I have a question. You're a great asset to the hobby. Thanks for all you do.

[@sirspends-a-lot2861]

I watched this tutorial a few times before I began my project. It's a hexagon tank so I hope you can answer these questions. You mentioned to be VERY CAREFUL not to get your razor into the seam between the glass, but you didn't mention what TO DO if that actually happens. (Q: what to do if razor gets in this butt joint) Also on the hexagon tank there is a bead of silicone on the outside seam. Do I need to scrape this clean also or is this part of the don't mess with this in between the glass comment? I also see that you used acetone to clean up the seams after the old silicone removal, but I didn't see a part where you used something to clean up the acetone haze. When I cleaned up my corners I noticed a haze where the acetone touched. (Q:is that haze OK for the new silicone, or what did you use for the final clean up prior to taping it up?)

[@blessedistheflame3813]

I'm about to try and do a hexagon myself. How'd it go for you?

[@bernardlemay9930]

Hey as a Canadian I've been following you for a while. But as I can see. You only answer to those that are paying you. I think I should ask my questions to someone who cares. Keep it up for your friends that are paying you you and I should ask my questions to someone that cares

[@garym4536]

Amazing! You provide so much valuable information and tips for what would seem to be a simple task. Just shows the enormous effort you put into your videos. I'm replacing the control arms on my Nissan Murano this week, can you make a video of how that is done? Kidding of course! Keep up the great work! Gary

[@thekingofdiy]

+Gary Muir (GRM Prod) haha! I get what your saying.

[@hallodude7024]

@@thekingofdiy Hi dude If i did it should i wait 48 hours and then Put Some water ?

[@RedfishCarolina]

Resealing a 46g bowfront today using this. Thank you for the EXCELLENT video!

[@carissajordan7757]

This video really helped, I bought a second hand 20 gallon tank for $5 and the silicone is so bad it's peeling off and I can almost remove it with my hand so now I'm about to go remove it and reseal the whole thing. Thanks, I had no idea what I was doing lol.

[@roxyqueen5076]

COOL LET US KNOW HOW IT CAME OUT..

[@billymacktexasdetective5827]

Used 20 gallon for $5, tubes of silicone $10 each. Plus all of the labor to strip the old caulk and recaulk? NO THANKS. A brand new 20 gallon is $25! I won't reseal anything smaller than a 55, it's simply not worth it.

[@Lizzifer7]

​@@billymacktexasdetective5827some people enjoy the process and working with their own hands to make something new again, reuse + recycle 😊

[@you0nlylivetwice]

Thank you always Joey for all your tips and help

[@tapewormsandstoplights2868]

The thumbnail looked like you were pointing a desert eagle at the glass. That is a bit more than just a leak

[@bluemanredmanwhiteman782]

Lmao

[@gaijillahimself908]

It really does XD

[@Pacer-]

Dang I was getting the trim off to get off the rim of my tank and the glass shattered.. 😮‍💨 thank god I was redoing a cheap 30$ tank and not an expensive one 😅

[@nelsonsiliezar3961]

I have a fish tank similar to the one in the video is been seating outdoors including harsh winters for 3 years. Should i be confident that by doing this It will be safe to use ? Or should i dump it in the trash?

[@bluemanredmanwhiteman782]

I think its better that you try to reseal it but if you cant, please dont throw it away, try giving it to someone who needs one and can reseal it 👍🏽

[@nelsonsiliezar3961]

@@bluemanredmanwhiteman782 well I’m confident I can do the process correctly. I just want reassurance that it can be done with a neglected fish tank.

[@redstone1999]

WOW !!! I did not know storing aquariums dry but in a cold/freezing storage was bad for the silicone (before seeing this video). I do have windows and steel roof holes sealed for decades without it lifting or seal compromised. I will be checking the seals, then fill with water (warm weather, of course) and let it sit for a week ( in a leak safe area in shed ). Will check on it daily or more to see if any leaks happen before emptying it and bring into house. I always keep a close eye for leaks on all tanks (new/resealed/used).

[@allisonbrizburk2217]

I’m looking for advice on resealing my bowfront, is there anything I need to consider when dealing with the seams of the curved glass?

[@WCxColosus]

What happens of i get the blade into the seam while I'm taking the silicone off?

[@andirosek]

If by any chance where I accidentally go into the seam a little (on the bottom/floor) what should I do?

[@pearlfromthepilot984]

Hi Andi, I've resealed aquariums before. As long as you didn't go all the way through it should be ok. Just put a bit extra silicone over it when resealing.

[@stupidsnek]

0:00 Intro and explanation. 3:00 Symptoms of a bad seal. 4:05 The basics of resealing. 4:44 Step one of resealing. 5:23 Deep cleaning the seams and residue. 5:42 Masking glass for sealing. 6:25 Calculating the amount of silicone you'll need. 7:19 Choosing what brand of silicone to use. 8:01 How to apply silicone correctly. 8:57 Curing times relative to thickness.

[@docmoorej]

Great tutorial. Way easier said than done. I just reseal Ed my 65 and it was a complete pain in the arse. I didn't have a huge tube of silicone so I had to use like 4 small squeeze packs. Stuff was like pushing play dough through a straw. One of the packs exploded cause I was squeezing it so hard. Guess we'll see in a couple days if I did it right. If not it will become a non aquatic tank for something hahaha. Cripes.

[@hillsideriots]

Do you have to put the top rim back on? Or can you leave it off after re sealing? Resealing my 180g. Thanks and love the channel

[@somethingstupid1920]

you posted this 4 years ago and its really helping me out today! thank you for the info! i now have a usable 37 gallon tank that I got for 10$!!! the seal is still fine, just the silicone needed redone

[@captainrobots1]

Got a used 10-gallon tank for free but not adding water but still should reseal it to make it look nice and also came with a metal mesh lid.

[@skylinevspec000]

What Joey says about age is worth paying attention to. I had a feeling my tank needed work but I was lazy. Randomly it sprung a leak, it was a very tiny leak but causes a weekend of chaos, replacing tank, rehousing the occupants and cleaning the mess. The leak was right on the bottom, the silicone was getting grayish, could get finger nail under it and it was 12 years old. Dont be lazy as it will cost you more work.

[@NYCityCichlids]

I might need this video soon. Thanks for the info, as always.

[@NYCityCichlids]

Now you should also silicone the top frame while the silicone is still fresh, right?

[@thekingofdiy]

+NYCity Cichlids You can silicone that back on when ever you like. The timing doesn't matter in terms of strength. If you wait till the tank cures, you will have to remove a bit of silicone from the seam for the trim to fit. If you dont wait, it will just slide on an push the silicone out of the way. Which you will have to clean up.

[@1997debbie]

+The king of DIY your a great teacher, always great work from you.

[@jamesmorrison8505]

Hey man great vid had a second hand tank filled her up leaked so found this vid .you saved me you saved my house 🏠 😌 🙌

[@manansala2oh1]

Do you have to remove trim to reseal the tank?

[@m3lonmillzz282]

damn now I gotta reseal my whole tank fuuuuuuu

[@vinniejudilla3921]

Thanks joey.. I knew how to do this but had to check with the king just incase!!

[@robertwilkinson7863]

Very concise and easy to interpret I followed your method and it worked a treat on my 100 gallon tank. Thanks so much.

[@ahmedkayani4724]

Hello I’m reluctant to reseal my tank and I really wanna know how long your tank lasted so please let me know

[@robertwilkinson7863]

@@ahmedkayani4724 4 years ago.

[@robertwilkinson7863]

I expect it to last to around 10years before I need to re seal again

[@ahmedkayani4724]

@@robertwilkinson7863 so it’s still going?

[@seyedaminkazemeini9797]

I just did this on my 20 year 40 gallon tank that started leaking yesterday. It's real simple and easy to do

[@brianbatten3664]

top info as always joey.. and ive just started reasealing my 5foot aquarium. So the nail polish trick helps me out there

[@nathanhenderson679]

Found this old gem!!! Thanks Joey. I've been watching you new stuff for maybe 1-2 years. Recently had a brand new 65 leak. Called manufacturer and they gave me a new one but didn't want the old one back. So now how can I fix the issue and get 2 aquariums!!! Thanks for the help here. I now know what to do.

[@jamesmarinelli2177]

Found a 40 gallon tank on the curb, no cracked glass, leaks a little on a corner. Just recently rained hard so I found this tank on the curb just before a day we had hard freeze. Thanks for making this video ! Ill let you know how turns out.

[@Xc31]

How did it turn out?

[@dreamster8264]

what a pigs ear I've made of mine, but so long as it keeps the water in the tank and off the floor I'm happy. Thanks for the informative video as always!

[@soggyfries4347]

This, sir, is why you're dubbed "King of DIY". Excellent info.

[@AGUILAR3]

I picked up a 120g, 2 40 breeders and a ton of 20 and 10g tanks for free during yard sale weeks and have given them all away because they all had shitty silicone. This just made keeping future finds much easier.

[@amorel4542]

Joey: “what you don’t want to do is get the blade in between the two glass panels, thats the seam” Me who already accidentally did that: 😐

[@NinjaSushi2]

Keep us updated.

[@mzgoreXx]

How do you get the plastic trim back on?

[@xxissatlxx9621]

Hey @king of diy do you think GE silicone 1 is good enough for a full rebuild on a 60 cube? People tell me it’s not going to hold seal long, what’s your opinion?

[@joshuacalixto5559]

Just got a 55 gallon for 25$ it was leaking tho I just resealed everything by myself took forever hopefully it fixes the problem

[@joshnelson3689]

Did this work? Just curious 2 years later I’m thinking of buying a 65 gallon for 20$ that’s leaking lol

[@Sticky_Ricky]

So the black trim isn't necessary on say a 29 gallon aquarium? It doesn't have an impact on structural integrity of the tank?

[@SailTimeHouston]

Howdy Folks, I am new to the forum so forgive me if this post has been covered before. If so please direct me. I have a forty gallon Oceanic Hex. I recently tried to set up after it had been sitting empty for several years. Since setting up a couple of months ago, it has busted several seems. Upon close inspection, noticed that one of the six sides is not in full contact with the stand. The base of the stand and the majority of the stand is level but one of the boards is sagging and no longer makes contact with the tank. The gap is minuscule (about one or two mm) but I suppose that must be enough to cause the seems to give way??? I have resealed the aquarium four times now using good quality silicone but it only seems to last a few days to a few weeks. Oddly it is not always the same seam that starts leaking each time. I have read that putting Styrofoam or rubber between the tank and stand can resolve these problems? Can anyone shed some light on what type of foam or rubber to use? How thick? where can I acquire? I know it sounds petty but this tank was meant to be a show tank in my living room so aesthetics are very important. For further information, the tank is glass and does have a plastic rim around the bottom which does elevate the bottom glass off the the stand by about a 20 mm. Also, you mention to be careful not to get razor blade in to the actual seam... oops. What do i do it that happened?

[@fourlegsandatail7882]

Hi Joey my tank leaked last night.. just watched your video to know how to do it... thank you

[@youngmango4508]

Hey bro! Love your channel and all your informative videos. I was wondering after i re-silicon my 55Gal aquarium, do i neeeed to have the black top border frame? Theres no center brace. I just like the aesthetics of frameless. Lmk what you think

[@m3lonbzooted]

Well this is going to be a challenge with a tall 75 gallon especially considering I’m 5’5

[@NinjaSushi2]

Rip

[@unknowndrift2367]

My 30 gallon has been aged I don’t know how old my fish tank is but I removed the exposed silicone glue and the when I look at the 2 panel of the glass it look like it was going to fall apart because they are not sticking together. What should I do? I need your help?

[@MadCowOnFire]

Fantastic video, answered all my questions. Thank you!

[@erikbeeman8486]

So this isn’t my first time using silicone, have used it a lot in remodels and construction. However it is my first tank reseal. I don’t know how it’s possible to have the old silicone scraped out In less then a hour. I have about 5 hours in scraping and cleaning the old silicone out of my 65. My fingers are raw, and it’s a huge pain. I just kept getting more and more out, maybe I was to meticulous. But i heard you want it all out, so I followed instructions. Trying to get tape lines level and even was also a pain, maybe 30 minutes. Putting down new silicone and smoothing was easy, just gotta work with somewhat of a quickness. Will I do it again, maybe. Worst part: getting all the old silicone out

[@takiyagenji9202]

i need suggestion of what brand shoul i use for silicone? also why u did not mention talent also require for reseal thank.. huhu .you so pro...

[@oneofthosepeople2101]

Thank you sir, Answered all my questions.

[@JamesTessari]

Hi Joey, I purchased a 65 gallon Aqueon tank brand new about 3 years ago and it started with bubbles appearing on the silicone about a year later so I decided to buy another brand new tank but this time I bought a 65 gallon Seapora and its been about a year and I'm finding the same bubbles are forming on the silicone. I have only a few Pearl Gourami's, Cori Catfish and a snail. Would you have any suggestions as to why this would be happening?

[@rumelorbe6339]

Thank you for this video

[@amyjones9318]

sweeeet video keep it up joey good information

[@mostlymowiewowie2544]

I really wanna buy your Arrowana tshirt! Do you ship internationally? I live in the Netherlands

[@professionaltriathloncoach]

This video was great! Thanks a tonne.

[@mcmanuespinosa2794]

So, somebody gave me an almost new tank, with a corner unsealed, I watched this video a couple of times before doing trying to fix it and… everything went well until I started with the silicone… you said I had to be done in less than 19 minutes. Well, the silicone tube has the hole too small and I struggled the first 5 minutes. Then, I removed the nozzle and opened a bigger hole… it started working better and faster with some silicone pieces falling around the tank… I removed the tapes and realised that I put too much silicone… now I’m waiting 24 hours to test it and start from the beginning. It took me 2 hours approx in a 54 lt tank.

[@gabrielpline7490]

Did you just multiply standard (14’) and metric (6mm)? The hell?

[@bigi_111]

Gabriel Pline was thinking the same. That works out as less than 6 table spoons. Good video though.

[@maxhax-xb7ue]

Hmm about ten years, what about 35 year old tank?

[@anonymoose116]

I would def reseal it just to be safe. It's a cheap job and saves you from expensive damages

[@rolengoldslick9053]

used this to fix a minor split at the top of my tank was holding together just fine, its just that the very top couple inches of one corner had partly split and leaked badly this fixed it

[@slickrichard1049]

just read on the back of the ge silicone 1 and it says not for aquarium use and i already resealed it with it since you recommended it,, is it going to be ok? or toxic to my fish once i do put fish in it???? @the king of DIY

[@asinheaven]

Is the plastic frame integral to the structure of the tank? In other words, can a tank be used without the frame?

[@ME_ME.....................1.1]

hello love your channel i have a 46 gallon bow front tempered glass tank. what do i do if the bottom plastic frame is broken in one corner and the rest feels brittle? im in the process of re- sealing it at the moment. thanks

[@kingknockout787]

Well now I know what I did wrong thank u for the info now I can get my tank right: )

[@prestonagustin9395]

Just wanted to say Mahalo Nui Loa from Hawaii! I just got my 55 gallon resealed and water tested this morning after buying one cheap from someone selling it on Facebook. My turtle is in a bigger tank and is happily exploring his new bigger home! Next will either be a DIY canister or sump tank filter! Aloha!

[@beckersaquatics994]

This helps me so so much in 2021 LOL my 100 gallon tank will love this

[@NinjaSushi2]

How did it go?

[@thegatewalker6216]

Thank you for the info. My turtle tank of 9yrs just started leaking. I freaked out a bit but thanxs to ur vid im at ease. Looks like an easy fix.

[@NinjaSushi2]

How did it go?

[@paulchandler1047]

hi.. great vid.. i noticed in your vid that your tank has a hole.. may i ask what did you do to seal your tanks hole? coz i have 1 tank also with hole. thanks

[@thekingofdiy]

*Stay in touch:* facebook.com/UaruJoey

[@bigsmoke272]

The king of DIY hey man. I cracked my tank trying to get the black thing off, can I still use the tank? I was only gonna use it to breed

[@superd6199]

is it necessary to place back the black trim at the top of the aquarium? I have a 300 gallon glass aquarium and would like to remove the black trim for the new trimless style look. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks

[@chrismullins7554]

Is taking off the top brace necessary I tried on my 55 and it broke lol.i have a 112 I want to reseal but scared to break the top brace..any help is appreciated thank you

[@idedhica]

one of my tank has an air in the silicon, and it makes the water leach out a little bit.. should I remove all the silicon and reasemble the new silicon on that side or i just patch with the problematic silicone part???

[@chloegraham2431]

How do you replace the seam? My tank completely fell apart at the seams.

[@franzholten7685]

Much silicone do I need for a 197 x 85 x 61 cm with 12mm glass? I got 9 tubes with 300ml. Enough?

[@franzholten7685]

+Franz Holten, Not just reseal, but building!

[@dinglemccringleton]

GE silicon 1 window and door says not for aquarium use right on the back... Is that for their liability or what?

[@hsshs35]

Thanks

[@StanLeeGhost]

i finally got to setting up my tank and it was leaking now gotta reseal it aaahhh

[@ruwenslyrosa1339]

how to remove calcium on a glass aquarium cloudy glass

[@angelaclements1244]

I know this is an old video but thank heavens I watched it. I so couldn't be arsed (sorry) to do all that lol. A new tank it is then. Found puddle around bottom hopefully slow leak as it's Sunday and can't get to shop till tomorrow. Got 5g bucket in case on standby

[@stephenrobinson5221]

How tubes of caulk needed to reseal a 125 gallon aquarium?

[@bforeman0410]

Wait a minute. . . Why did you even take the top off? Doesn't seem necessary.

[@borb2656]

Also curious about this question as I am in the process of resealing an aquarium. Can anyone chime in?

[@bforeman0410]

@@borb2656 I resealed my 75 and never took the top off. It has been doing great. The silicone I put on reached higher up than the original seal. Never had to mess with the rim.

[@cyborgrat]

Ragnar The Red good thing i saw your comment, i got a 72gal bow front...that trim looks tuff to mess with, without the risk of damage

[@ivoryqueen7000]

Great video! Resealing a tank isn't so hard... I have done this also! :)

[@luminoustrail7640]

Silicon smells like vinegar because silicon have acetic acid, this substance is vinegar. Another option for the acetone is isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol that normally people have in their home. Acetone and alcohol are organic solvents.

[@TheBigJimShow8376]

Should I put new silicone if my tank is pulling apart in the top left corner or just simply reseal it?

[@Redtailed78]

Good job, Can you do this on Juwel tanks that have a trim and brace fixed on?

[@bradackerman7850]

How about putting the glass frame back on silicon there too?

[@ihsnshaik]

You said 10 years or so to reseal aquariums? I have a 180 gallon bow front tank does it still apply. I've had it for that long. It's been running for that long and not stored. Does it still apply?? Thanks Joey I love your videos I never commented but I've been watching your videos for a long time now

[@thekingofdiy]

+ihsnshaik Of course it still applies. Silicone does not care what shape the tank is..

[@ihsnshaik]

+The king of DIY thanks Joey!

[@Brad12887]

But how do you get that top trim back on?

[@salimm76]

What should be the exact size of the panels to make a 55 Gallon. I know it is 48 x 13 x 21, please give the exact size of front panel, bottom and side panel, so that they all fit together. Thank you for your help.

[@cydneystrickland5570]

I really need to reseal leaking my 5.5 gallon but the only place I can do it is outside or my outside basement and it’s cold. I was wondering if I did it outside with colder weather if that would affect the silicone?

[@iliketofish6966]

i cant even say how much i love your videos, actually a year before this video was made you got me into keeping fish thank you! :)

[@MsGroovalicious]

Do you offer classes?

[@pecosR0B]

7 years after you made this video, a 10.1 oz GE top of the line silicone cost me over $13 yesterday at Home Depot lol question - how would you re-install the top frame? I have a lid that only works with the top frame - do you just apply silicon around the top and then set the frame on and wipe up any excess or use the painters tape?

[@baseballbacon3575]

Hey I am setting up a 5 gallon tetra tank. 3 fake plants and 2 decent hiding places. I was thinking about starting with a few sturdier tetras and the adding some neons and cardinals. 15 fish max at its peak. Any tips?

[@idcashflow]

any tutorial about acrylic aquarium Joey ? thx.

[@monteswift3931]

What holds the tank together after you remove the silicone?

[@dhrousseau]

The panels of an aquarium are attached in a two-step process. Step one is to apply silicone between the panels to form the seams (that's what will hold the tank together). Step two is to apply the seal like this video shows. The seal prevents water from leaking out, but the seam provides the structural integrity. That's why he says to be careful not to slide the razor in between the panels, because then you would break the seams and need to take the whole aquarium down, scrape out the seams and redo the whole thing from scratch.

[@Mittybarrity2]

I just resealed my 125 that was built in 2002 and it seems I got more on some places than others, is it ok to apply another coat of silicon once I let it dry completely?

[@Philobr]

Hi Joey, Hi, I got a 450 litre second hand tank. I filled it for 48 hrs and no leaks. BUT there appears to be a bubble (looks like a reflection of something inside glass) on the bottom seal of the tank. I pressed the seal but nothing happened, it didn't move, or get bugger. Any ideas? Is this something that just happens?