Plywood Tank build

Discussion in 'Anything DIY related' started by Ruben Fitton, Feb 19, 2020.

  1. eros111

    eros111

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    I would leave for for at least 10 -14 days before i put water into that tank - but that's just me. Others might disagree.
     
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  3. OP
    Ruben Fitton

    Ruben Fitton

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    The paint has set for around 4-5 weeks already now, the wait is just for the silicone
     
  4. Logz

    Logz

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    Did you reapint/touch up around any of the joints? Or did the silicone come off easily?
     
  5. OP
    Ruben Fitton

    Ruben Fitton

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    The silicone basically just pulled off


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  6. OP
    Ruben Fitton

    Ruben Fitton

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    What I’m thinking of possibly doing is siliconing the glass, then painting over the silicone again, might work


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  7. Logz

    Logz

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    Not a bad idea, might also give a cleaner look to the finished product
     
  8. Barry Roux

    Barry Roux

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    Personally I think your silicone wont bond as silicone needs an smooth solid surface that wont flex much. Unless you sand the coat before the silicone. I would think of 2 options redoing in fiberglass and getting an smooth surface or do an aluminum frame around in and out using silicone as an seal. Similar to an o-ring in an canister.
    Did you only add class to an cut-out or the whole front panel. the whole front panel I would suggest so no specific pressure points.
     
  9. David Kusner

    David Kusner

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    What an Awesome project! Well Done!
     
  10. eros111

    eros111

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    What I meant was I would let the silicone dry for 2 weeks before I filled with water
     
  11. OP
    Ruben Fitton

    Ruben Fitton

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    Why for so long? As far as I know it completely cures in a few days


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  12. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    Im no tank builder but every tank I have had built, i have been told minimum 2 weeks and you must not smell the silicone anymore

    I have always allowed mine to stand for a month however, i do understand that in this case its only one panel but me being neurotic when it comes to tank builds, i would follow @eros111 advice....
    The irony is that some tubes actually say 48 hours..
     
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  13. Logz

    Logz

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    I think the 48 hour thing is more for items that aren't going to be submerged but may need to be water tight at some point if that makes sense. I also think its one of those where most people using silicone are just using it as a rough seal adhesive rather than on a fish tank.
     
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  14. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    Agree with you 100% but you would be surprised how many people fill a tank after 2 or 3 days
     
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  15. Blade

    Blade

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    Bostick and Den Braven cure at rate of 2mm per 24hr. Ben Bravens tensile strength is 3 times greater than that of Bostick.

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  16. David Kusner

    David Kusner

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    Is that 2mm thickness or lenght?

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  17. Blade

    Blade

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    That would be in thickness.

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    Last edited: Mar 6, 2020
  18. fux940510

    fux940510

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    I agree with Maria. I resealed and rebraced a tank a while back, left it for 48 hours, filled it up and the brace popped loose after a day. Rather safe than sorry
     
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  19. OP
    Ruben Fitton

    Ruben Fitton

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    Hi all, I know I haven’t updated you in a while, I have removed the glass and refilled 3 more times, kept leaking and the silicone tore away from the laykold.
    Do we decided to remove the laykold from where the glass and wood meets and paint epoxy over it, I am going to try put the glass back in this afternoon to see if it works.


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  20. pierreschoonraad

    pierreschoonraad

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    May I suggest, not sure if this will work though, router the position of the glass on the inside of the glass pannel to max 1/3 of the wood thickness. Don't paint. Pepare strips, length and hight of glass, like a photo frame and router excess glass thickness out of it. Don't paint.

    Lie box down on front side, place glass and position frame. Making sure everything fits snug. Mark outside edge of frame. Remove everything. Remove paint up to, and 1cm passed marked area. Using Denbraven black silicone, takes a bit longer than clear to set, attatche the glass. Make sure to cover as much unpainted wood as possible and to cover as much of it as possible. Don't forget glass edges. Do the same with inside frame. Attatch frame to front pannel with screws. This should give a good bond for the glass. Wait 48 hours then clean excess silicone from wood edges, where it squeesed out. Seal frames edges, on glass and wood, as well as where frames join. Wait 48 hours. Paint over unpainted frame with laykold. Make sure to paint onto glass for about 1cm.

    This might just give you the water tight seal your looking for

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  21. GaryG

    GaryG Fishohollic

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    Holding thumbs for this to work
     

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