DIY aquarium repair

If you are seriously interested in aquaristics, then sooner or later aquarium repair may be needed by your containers. As a rule, damage to the glass joints occurs due to the fact that they were not sufficiently degreased during gluing. Moreover, this is observed in both industrial and homemade aquariums. When an aquarium starts to leak, many, especially novice aquarists, become desperate. It seems that it literally threatens disaster. I came across people who left the aquarium altogether due to fear of a flood in the apartment and in the universe as a whole. But if you look into this problem and the properties of the materials from which your aquarium is made, it turns out that the problem is not worth such anxiety. Modern aquarium silicone can withstand loads of up to three tons. Glass also has a huge margin of safety. It's not that bad.

It remains to figure out what to do if the aquarium is leaking along one of the seams.

Let's look at the situation in order:

As a rule, after the work carried out, the leak stops. If not, then the location of the water leak was determined incorrectly. In this case, you will have to re-search for the leak and then everything according to the scheme.

Much less common is the situation when one of the glasses burst for some reason. This situation is more difficult to cope with, but do not be discouraged. Next, I'll talk about how to deal with this.

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If you are seriously interested in aquaristics, then sooner or later aquarium repair may be needed by your containers. As a rule, damage to the glass joints occurs due to the fact that they were not sufficiently degreased during gluing. Moreover, this is observed in both industrial and homemade aquariums. When an aquarium starts to leak, many, especially novice aquarists, become desperate. It seems that it literally threatens disaster. I came across people who left the aquarium altogether due to fear of a flood in the apartment and in the universe as a whole. But if you look into this problem and the properties of the materials from which your aquarium is made, it turns out that the problem is not worth such anxiety. Modern aquarium silicone can withstand loads of up to three tons. Glass also has a huge margin of safety. It's not that bad.

It remains to figure out what to do if the aquarium is leaking along one of the seams.

Let's look at the situation in order:

Perhaps, water leakage is the most common breakdown. One fine day, the owner of the fish notices water on the pedestal, then it begins to drain onto the floor, and the wet spot becomes larger every day.

Leaks can occur for various reasons. When the aquarium is many years old, the sealant used to bond the glass wall joints (or glass and frame joints) loses its properties. It starts to crumble little by little.

It so happens that the owner of the fish breaks the tightness in some place, removing the overgrown algae from the glass with a metal scraper. Be that as it may, the leak has appeared, and it can be eliminated with your own hands.

First of all, it is necessary to determine the specific place where the sealing is broken. If the leak is in the upper or middle part of the aquarium, then you need to lower the level of the aqua and dry this place with a cotton rag.

To prevent the deterioration of the conditions for keeping ornamental fish, the tubes of the external filter should be lowered to the water level or, if an internal filter is used, put it on its side.

The place of leakage should be degreased with acetone, white spirit or alcohol from the outside (you should not work with toxic liquids on the inside), dry and apply a layer of special sealant.

After that, within 24 hours you need to wait until the silicone is completely cured, carefully clean the seam and only then raise the aqua level to normal.

In industrial production, special silicone glue is used for the manufacture of a frameless aquarium. Exactly the same must be purchased if a breakdown or violation of sealing is eliminated independently at home.

Silicone glue is a jelly-like mass that hardens when exposed to moisture in the air. In about 30 minutes, the mass polymerization takes place at the bonding site.

A day after working with such glue, the frozen mass is almost impossible to break, its strength becomes almost the same as the strength of the glass surface itself. This is achieved by the fact that the silicone glue contains silicon, which is also an element of glass.

Silicone adhesive sealant is sold in some pet stores and in almost all construction hypermarkets.

For example, sealants of the Soudal, Penosil, Titan or VIK Aquarium Silicone brands are safe for fish, perfectly withstand contact with the aquatic environment, and create strong seams. Such glue can be used for both elimination of leaks and full gluing. The same sealants are used to seal the cracks in the top cover.

As a rule, gluing is done when the glass is cracked. If the crack is small and located in the upper part of the container, then proceed in the same way as when eliminating a regular leak: the crack is sealed with silicone.

The most difficult case is when the glass surface is cracked vertically, horizontally or diagonally. You need to act immediately, as the aquarium water can squeeze out the broken glass at any time.

You need to immediately evacuate ornamental fish and other living creatures. If there is a spare dwelling for aquatic inhabitants (even of a smaller capacity), then the problem is solved quite simply: water from a faulty aquarium is poured into a spare one, the plants are moved to a separate container (a jar, for example), the soil is taken out.

You can start fixing the breakdown. If there is a thermal bag for transporting fish, then it is also suitable as a temporary dwelling for fish. As a last resort, you can use a regular three-liter glass jar.

Any aquarium can be repaired - tried and tested, and over and over again! The complexity and option of repairing the aquarium is determined by the nature of the destruction.

The first way. The easiest way is to glue the new bottom over the cracked one. And in place of cracks during gluing, apply a continuous strip of aquarium sealant to prevent leakage. Around the perimeter of the aquarium, flush with the new bottom, it is necessary to stick a strip of glass 4-5 cm wide (glass thickness 4-5 mm) - this serves as a reinforcement and provides an additional guarantee against leakage. Subsequently, the strip can be decorated by sticking a self-adhesive film or decorative tape on it, and it will not attract attention at all or look like something alien, rather, as if it was intended.

Pet shops or household chemical stores sell a special silicone sealant for gluing and repairing aquariums. Be careful when purchasing it, the packaging should say that it can be used for aquariums. You can glue them without draining the water, it is harmless to the inhabitants of the aquarium.For gluing, it is necessary to bring the sealant to the place of the crack, give it out and smear it with your fingers in the place of the crack.

Once the sealant has hardened (usually 24 hours), the excess can be gently removed with a razor blade. For several days it is necessary to observe the place where the crack was, as water may begin to seep. In this case, you need to repeat the procedure.

Method two. Put a patch of glass in place of the crack, which will overlap the entire damaged area .. If the aquarium flows along the seam, you will have to re-glue this entire seam. To do this, it will be necessary to clean the entire seam from the old silicone, since the silicone of the new adhesive does not adhere well to the old silicone. Then let the aquarium sit for 4-6 days. Then soak for a week (drain the water 2 times a day and refill the aquarium) and you can again place your fish in their usual environment.

Note! In case of damage to any of the walls of the aquarium, the damaged glass must be replaced completely.

The third, more difficult option - replacing the bottom - is a technically lengthy process, because half of the aquarium may need to be disassembled.

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Repairing aquariums is not very difficult, especially if these are small containers made of sheet glass with a volume of up to 100 liters. without curved surfaces.
If we are talking about a panoramic aquarium, where the windshield has a curvature, then if this glass is damaged, the repair becomes more difficult.

When repairing aquariums with a second bottom, there are also difficulties in separating the second bottom from the main one, since the silicone pillow (silicone that is poured into the center of the bottom, between one and the second bottom) is very difficult to remove, but with a certain skill this task becomes feasible. Moreover, tendencies and new technologies for gluing an aquarium, when the glasses do not stand on the bottom as a base, but, on the contrary, are glued around the bottom, it makes it possible to avoid pasting a second bottom and aquariums with a volume of up to 400 liters are glued with one bottom.

If a curved windshield is damaged, it is much more difficult to find a replacement for such glass. In all other respects, the repair technology is no different from the repair of an ordinary rectangular aquarium.

Damage to the aquarium that requires repair:

Understand if you noticed that the aquarium began to leak or there is phlegm on the seams. In this case, it is necessary to conduct a thorough inspection of the aquarium and find out the reason for the appearance of moisture.
This is done very simply. A piece of soft toilet paper is taken, preferably darkish, so that moisture is immediately visible on it, and gets wet (not carried out, namely, it gets wet with a paper swab), along the seams of the aquarium, to identify the seam that has begun to let moisture through.
Do not rush to rejoice if you see a point from the bark oozing water, it does not mean at all that it is in the aquarium against the place where you found it, from the outer groan of the aquarium.
In the manufacture of an aquarium, the technology of filling the corners of the aquarium with silicone (silicone "kerchiefs") is very often used, so water can penetrate under the silicone in one place, flow between the layers of silicone in the seam and flow out in a completely different place.
Therefore, the repair of the "wetting point" is very ineffective.

During the operation of the aquarium, very often, due to various reasons, chips appear on the surface of the glass. Whether the aquarium is bumped or skewed during installation, transport, etc. In any case, such glass must be replaced, the chip is not as deep as a crack, but nevertheless violates the solidity of the structure and poses a danger to the further operation of the aquarium.
When a chip appears on the glass surface, it is necessary to eliminate not only the consequence, but also to identify the reason why it happened. The glass was damaged either in the case of a banal blow.Either the internal stress of the glasses became so high that the glue “pulled” the glass, or one glass deformed the other.
Internal chips are much more dangerous than external ones.

It so happens that during the operation of the aquarium cracks appear, again it is necessary to strictly differentiate those cracks that have appeared due to inaccurate use of the product or due to improper manufacture of the aquarium.
In any case, it is necessary to replace the glass (glasses) when cracks are detected.
Sometimes the crack is not through and does not leak, the aquarists make the wrong decision about the further use of the aquarium.
But this is the most erroneous decision. The aquarium can no longer be operated.
The fact is that despite all its solidity, the aquarium is not a rigid structure. Thanks to the glue seams, the glass of the aquarium has the ability to "walk" within certain limits, if the aquarium were completely cast, then the operation of even a 30L container would be very problematic, due to the distribution of loads on the glass.
Therefore, if cracks occur and the cause is identified, it is necessary to immediately start repairing such an aquarium.

Modern aquarium sizing techniques sometimes involve increasing the structural strength by gluing in stiffeners at the top of the aquarium. I must say that some aquarium "masters" very often use stiffening ribs in order to reduce the thickness of the main glass, thereby reducing the cost of the aquarium, this is not true.
The thickness of the glass in the aquarium should be appropriate for its volume and dimensions. The required proportions and values ​​can be found in special tables.
With such violations, such defects very often occur:
- Full or partial peeling of the stiffener.
- Chipping at the joints of the stiffener or the main glass.
- Broken stiffening rib due to strong stress on the main panes.

For the manufacture of aquariums, glass of the M0 brand is used, which should not contain any bubbles, streaks and other external flaws. Very often, manufacturers save money and use glasses of the worst quality on front and bottom glasses. Which are not so striking, thereby reducing the cost of the structure, while making it less durable.
With regards to silicones. For the production of aquariums, aquarium silicone of suspended strength and increased adhesive properties is used. Silicone has its own shelf life, as well as temperature and time regime of operation.

If the above parameters are violated, the strength of the seams is significantly reduced.
Very often, in order to save money, manufacturers save on silicone using low-quality silicone, or even using glass mastics, which is fundamentally unacceptable.

Repairing an aquarium begins with identifying the reason for which this or that defect occurred.
Incorrect installation or start-up, manufacturer defect, inaccurate handling, etc.
In the beginning, it is the cause that is eliminated.
Next, drain all the water from the aquarium and dry the jar.
Depending on what the damage was, the actions during the repair will be covered.
When water seeps through the seam, it is necessary to use a blade to cut out the glass that borders on the seam, then clean it from the remnants of the glue as well as clean the seat. Reapply the adhesive and glue the glass back in place. By fixing it for a certain period of time.

Depending on the quality of the silicone on which the aquarium was glued, one can judge the advisability of complete disassembly and re-gluing of the aquarium, and not one seam,
If the silicone has not frozen, but has taken on a jelly-like mass, has not a uniform structure, but contains lumps, or other inclusions, or "dubs", then it is worth re-gluing the aquarium completely.
In this case, all the seams of the aquarium are cut with a blade, the glass of the aquarium is cleaned from the old glue, degreased and the aquarium is glued behind the new one.

In case of cracks and chips (hereinafter simply, chips) on the glass, you should also first determine what caused the chip, after identifying the cause, you can start repairing.
If a chip occurs due to carelessness during operation, then the glass is cut out, and a new one is glued in instead.

If the chip has occurred due to an incorrect distribution of loads, then in this case it looks at the geometric proportionality of the aquarium, the equality of 90 * angles, the presence of distortions, whether the glasses have the same dimensions, etc. then replace the damaged glass or re-glue the aquarium for a new one.
In case of defects associated with stiffeners, it is best to cut them out and re-glue them. For this, the stiffeners are cut and new ones are cut in place of them in the same dimensions, and, if necessary, from glass, thicker and wider. And they are glued onto a degreased base.
In this case, auxiliary tools are used, materials, scotch tape, clamps, etc.

Sometimes a leak will form in the aquarium. In a store, glass containers are expensive, especially large ones. However, you can glue the aquarium yourself and it will serve as a home for your fish for many years to come.

The cause of the leak lies in the damage to the gluing. Over time, the sealant that joins the glass at the junction loses its properties and becomes damaged. To fix the problem, you can do it yourself repairing the aquarium. If the aquarium has leaked, you need to make repairs after preparing the container for repair.

Move fish and aquarium inhabitants to a different container temporarily. If this is not done, the fish will experience stress due to the interference. It is desirable that the vessel serving as a temporary habitat be spacious. Place your aquarium plants there, or arrange them in a separate jar.

Add water from an aquarium that is leaking to prevent abrupt changes in parameters and not to disturb the bacterial balance of the aquatic environment.

Wash the repaired object inside and out with a sponge, and remove the soil. After that, dry the tank using paper towels.

After cleaning and complete drying of the outer part, an external examination is carried out. This is necessary to identify places that are leaking. The side joints between the glass panes most often require repair. To detect cracks, the reservoir is filled with clean water, a paper napkin or corrugated paper is applied to the outer surface of the glasses. The paper lasts for several minutes in each area. The leakage point will be found, even if the damage is not visually visible.

When repairing an aquarium at home, glass, through the entire surface of which cracks pass, must be completely replaced. When water is poured into a glass vessel, internal pressure is created, and even if everything is stuck and nothing leaks, the glass will burst sooner or later.

If the cracks are small, they can be repaired with a sealant. Without draining the water, mark the places to be repaired. After making sure that all problem areas are marked, drain the water.

Do-it-yourself restoration is done by welding cracks or gluing surfaces with a special glue - silicone sealant. It contains silicon, which ensures durable bonding of surfaces. Glasses are often glued with this glue in the manufacture of frameless fish houses. You can buy sealant in hardware stores, less often in pet stores. A note on the packaging is required to indicate the suitability of the glue for the aquarium. For convenient application, enlist a special gun, it will allow you to better glue the new parts of the rectangular container.

When the surfaces are dry, clean the soaked sealant from the joints to be repaired.A knife or a nail file will cope with cleaning large gaps; a blade is suitable for narrow openings. This step will require skill and patience. When the old glue is removed from the glass, the surfaces are degreased with acetone or rubbing alcohol.

Don't ignore these steps. A common reason why an aquarium leaks even after renovation is a lack of attention to the preparatory work.

After completing the preparation, you can glue problem areas:

1. If glass is being replaced, prepare replacement material in advance. The glass panel can also be made of plexiglass. All joints and edges are abundantly coated with glue, then the new glass is installed in place of gluing and fixed with a rope. Wrap the tank vertically and horizontally. After an hour, repeat the operation.
2. If a leak forms at the junction of the walls, the sealant is applied along the seam and rolled inward with a knife or file. Spare no glue for a good result.
3. Spread the silicone over the seams with a damp sponge.
4. Wait until it dries completely, for this it should take at least a day.
5. When everything is ready, do not rush to launch the fish into the container. First, the aquarium is tested for adhesion quality. To do this, fill it with water and watch for leaks. If a leak occurs, the aquarium will need to be repaired again.
6. After high-quality performance of the work, the test liquid is poured out, the container is filled with old water along with fish and plants.

In order to properly and accurately seal the joints, it is necessary to glue the cracks:

1. When choosing an adhesive, read the attached instructions.
2. After returning the aquarium inhabitants to the repaired tank, the compressor should be increased for 2-3 days.
3. When sealing the seams, you can accidentally stain aquarium glass, so the space along the seams should be covered with tape used when painting windows.
4. Having gained experience, you can carry out routine disassembly and replacement of the sealant to eliminate sudden leaks.
5. Make sure the fish have a spare aquarium in case of temporary relocation. It will be required when the main one is cracked, as well as in case of diseases, cleaning or spawning of fish.
6. Be very careful when using a metal algae scraper to avoid compromising the seal on the vessel.

With patience and perseverance, you will save money on the purchase of a new fish house and gain invaluable experience in repairing a glass vessel.

Do-it-yourself aquarium repair may be required if the sealant is carelessly handled, worn out or damaged. Undoubtedly, some aquarists throw away old tanks. Such actions are justified if the defect is really serious. For minor breakdowns, repairs are allowed.

Before repairing a damaged aquarium, do the following:

• Relocation of phenotypes is performed before leaking containers are restored. After all, it is problematic to carry out events with a filled tank.
• Vegetation, substrate and liquid are removed from the reservoir. Additionally, it is washed and dried.
• Safe materials and tools are used for repairs. Specialty stores sell everything you need.

Before repairing the aquarium, materials are prepared:

• Glass sheets. You can cut the canvas, which has the required parameters, yourself. For these purposes, glass cutters and other handy tools are used. The preparation of glasses for aquariums is also carried out by the relevant organizations.
• Sealant. For the treatment of seams, special compounds and gels are used. When selecting, it is clarified whether the glass is combined with the selected sealant. So, experienced aquarists use silicone.
• Solvent. Suitable for degreasing glass sheets.

How to tell if an aquarium is dripping? As an indicator, paper strips are used, which are distinguished by increased hygroscopicity, corrugated paper.

Before checking, the aquarium is cleared of vegetation, substrate, decorative elements with their own hands. The tank is washed and dried thoroughly on the outside and inside.

The container is filled with liquid. After that, paper strips are applied to each seam.

It is not difficult to establish that the exploited aquarium is leaking. A damp spot will appear on the piece of paper. It may take 3-5 minutes for the paper to come into contact with the seam.

Before processing the seam with glue, the remnants of the used sealant are removed from it. When selecting a tool, the characteristics of the clearances are taken into account.

A blade is used to clean the gap, which is 1–3 mm in size. Larger holes are cleaned with a knife or other sharp instrument. These procedures must be performed carefully so as not to injure your hands.

Before replacing the gel, silicone composition, perform the following procedures:

1. Carefully remove previously applied sealant. What if the gap is small? Treatment with a solution and application of the composition is carried out using a thin brush.
2. To obtain a smoother seam, the edges of the glass sheet are glued. Such actions are performed when painting the frames of window systems, a leaked product.

In order for the sealant not to remain at the joint, it is "pushed" into the seam with a thin object.

After 12-24 hours, the condition of the seams is checked again. A white piece of paper is used for indication. The absence of a leak indicates that all measures were carried out correctly. If the seams are leaking, then the above processes are repeated. In this case, it is very important to ensure that all elements of the tank are located correctly, accurately.

Prepared water is poured into the repaired tank after 24–36 hours. This period is required to remove toxic components.

Repairing an aquarium at home consists not only in restoring tightness, but also in replacing the glass on which cracks have appeared. Before doing all the work, you need to familiarize yourself with the steps.

The removal of the broken glass is started after thorough cleaning and drying of the tank.

If the glass is cracked in a frame type aquarium, the grooves are cleaned of silicone or sealant applied by the manufacturers before removing the grooves. To make it easier to disassemble the aquarium, use a nail file or a small knife.

How to disassemble the adhesive reservoir? For these purposes, cuts are made with a cutter, a sharp tool. Once you disassemble the tank, proceed to the next process.

Watch the video on replacing cracked glass.