Can I still save this?

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WalkerLovesTheOcean

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this looks like the exact same tank I bought from a guy in Tustin, CA in 2017. Is the chip in the back left corner in the mid area?
Kind of in the middle. Could be in back left, yes. I got it in New York.
 

Sophie"s mom

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The chip wouldn't bother me, but you could also about the whole issue by moving the the in .25 inch when you reseal.

I've resealed smaller tanks, 55 being the largest. If there's a rim, you want to pull that off first. I'd run a razor down all the seams pealing the bead off the inside. Then cut all the way through the silicone bonding the two panes. Peal all the silicone of the glass. You'll want many razor blades for this. Then clean with rubbing alcohol. Tape off the glass so you will have clean lines when finished. Put a head on the bottom and all sides being bound. Id put one side fist then both ends, then the other long side. Make sure there are no gaps without silicone. Then runt he internal bead and smooth it out. Painters tape will help hold things together while it cures.

Serpa design has some helpful videos on the yous tubes.
I have heard of people using ratchet straps to hold all tightly together while curing. Don’t know personally, but I have heard this.
 

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What do you mean?

I am pretty confident in my ability to reseal. It's just redoing the seams that would scare me.
Instead of aligning the end piece with he edge of the long panel you could shift it in past the chip and leave a little overhang from the front and back glass.
 

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I have heard of people using ratchet straps to hold all tightly together while curing. Don’t know personally, but I have heard this.
I'd be afraid of squeezing the silicone out with ratchet straps. Not saying people shouldn't. I probably wouldn't stop in the right place.
 

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To rebuild a tank it is very easy, just very time consuming, patience is the key. The rims are hard to get off, but something like an Olfa knife helps. The most important thing is the glass must be absolutely clean. Also maybe part of the decision making process would be if the glass is tempered or not for drilling for the overflow. If it is, still not a deal breaker because you can get a new piece of glass. I think Melvb has a YouTube video out there where he visits the planet aquarium factory and you can watch someone build a tank. You can look for a a lot of helpful hints there. Also I just redid a 25g IM lagoon, you may get some info from that build thread. I would also just sand the chip a bit with a dremel to take off the sharp edge. Depending on the glass thickness you can modernize the tank by eliminating the plastic trim and eurobrace the tank.
Just some food for thought.
 
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WalkerLovesTheOcean

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To rebuild a tank it is very easy, just very time consuming, patience is the key. The rims are hard to get off, but something like an Olfa knife helps. The most important thing is the glass must be absolutely clean. Also maybe part of the decision making process would be if the glass is tempered or not for drilling for the overflow. If it is, still not a deal breaker because you can get a new piece of glass. I think Melvb has a YouTube video out there where he visits the planet aquarium factory and you can watch someone build a tank. You can look for a a lot of helpful hints there. Also I just redid a 25g IM lagoon, you may get some info from that build thread. I would also just sand the chip a bit with a dremel to take off the sharp edge. Depending on the glass thickness you can modernize the tank by eliminating the plastic trim and eurobrace the tank.
Just some food for thought.
Thank you!
 
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