Need advice on redoing silicone on a 120g rimless

Vushnick, I did just this recently. Let me find the thread on it because you will enjoy the reading im sure. I took alot of photos on it too. this was replacing the end panel on a 225.

Edit: there we go

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/replacing-end-panel-225-gallon-tank-91682.html

I removed all of the silicone from all the corners but left what was between the rest of the panes. I bought the black from Glass cages. make sure you tape up the corners so you get a nice perfect edge, and ive heard of folks using that edge tool for caulk from Home depot. If i were you, I would leave the bottom frame on, but remove the top. the bottom will help you align the glass. run you a bead on the bottom pane right at the frame, and then a bead on each edge of the end panels. then slide your front in and clamp it to the back on each end top and bottom. then go and redo the silicone in all the seams.

my best advise is to do all your prepwork properly. get all the old silicone off with a razor. I used a big 4" wide on that worked better than the 2" wide ones. then go over it with Acetone and then alcohol to make sure you have no residue.

 

Pickupman. Thanks for the link. How has it held up to this day? Any leaks? I don't have to worry about the trim since mine is the rimless style. I will try to take some photos of the tank tonight and some during the process. I already cleaned it out so it actually doesn't look so crazy in the before picture vs. after. Well, this process will save me a ton of work and time. If anyone else has any experience please chime in. Good or Bad.

Thanks again,
Vu

 

well, as far as I know it doesnt leak. i tested it and it held water tight and left it sit for a week with water and paper towels under the area to check for any seepage. saw none. it has since been sold off as I didnt need it. I plan to build a 100% starfire glass 1/2" cube out of the leftover glass I have. if you follow what I did and do a neat job of it, you wont have anything to worry about. just make sure you let it set for 3 days before getting it wet. since you are taking the front panel out, you may want to remove the top frame. take you a long flathead screwdriver and a rubber mallet to remove the frame. my frame was broken so I was not so neat about it, but if you take your time, you can remove the frame and re-use it.

 

Here are some photos I took today as I started the project. Ended up causing a few chips on the glass. Hope they don't cause any structural integrity problems later.

 

trying to get the other images to load too. Lets see if they show up here. Looks like only able to get one more to load. I wanted to show how pain stakingly hard it was to remove the front panel and how it looked after it was done. That's all. I will clean the edges now along with cutting into the existing silicone that is covering the corners on the overflow and bottom edges. I didn't see the bottom ones yesterday since water and debris were covering the bottom, but since the silicone is there I want to remove it to make sure the new silicone is pretty much one whole piece that covers all of the corners of the tank. I'm just trusting my instinct that this will be strong enough to prevent any leaks.

 

you will be fine. yes that silicone between the panes is a B*tch to cut apart. you almost have to work it a little at a time. took me about an hour to remove that end panel and it was cracked up badly.

 

"Since each existing seam is completely free of silicone except for the tiny 1/2 mm gap that holds the glass together would a new strip of silicone on top be okay?"

I would think so. Just make sure you have a nice consistent bead along the edges. I use a latex glove and stretch on the finger to get a nice smooth line. Plus you don't have cleanup on your hands

 

Make sure those chips aren't showing a cracking line. Glass will slowly crack (much like a windshield) if there is a sign. Dump a bunch of silicone on it and then cut to shape just to be safe.

 

Yes, where are those chips? that is important. there were some along the top edge of that tank I had. but they posed no issues.

+1 on the gloves. I used them. cause that crap will stick to you forever.

 

It really will. If the chip is on the bottom, I'd be a little more cautious. If it's on the top it's not a big deal at all since there's no pressure on that point.