Tank seal

[newone]

OK I got a new 125 Gal tank that is three years old. But it spent one year in storage . do I need to worry about the seal?

Can I put a heavier seal over the old one ?

 

[scsinet]

The seal is probably fine.
Pick at one edge with a fingernail. If it tears and pulls away easily, you need to reseal. If it's still soft and elastic, it's probably fine.
You do not want to overseal... if you decide to reseal you will want to cut away the old seal and apply new seal.

 

[newone]

Is it best to do the whole tank if I decided to seal. or can I just do the sidesonly, the bottom seems to be ok. And why is it not good to overseal?

 

[scsinet]

I suppose you could do just the sides if you wanted to.
A seal's integrity is based not on the thickness of the seal, but on it's bond to the glass. If you overseal, unless you double the width of the seal (which will be ugly), you will have a smaller contact surface with the glass.
Furthermore, a tank's strength is based on the seal. In order for proper strength to be acheived, a solid adhesion must take place right at the corners. If you just overseal and leave a weak seal underneath, you'll be left with a tank that will hold water, but may come apart on you.

 

[newone]

Do I just cut out the old and add the new? Or do I need to take the whole tank apart?

 

[newone]

bump

 

[scsinet]

Just cut out the old and reseal. No need to take it apart.

 

[newone]

Thank you