Fishbutt's 20L Reeforium

[Fishbutt]

let me know when you get up and running kristy i can throw ya a few frags.

Saweeeeeet!
Thanks Justin. I'll let you know. I have some plumbing and sump-making to do, so it might be another good week or so before the new tank is up and running. I have pretty much everything for it. I just need to find enough black acrylic to make a little overflow box... Lowes doesn't carry it but I heard Home Depot does. Do you know?

[jolson10450]

Saweeeeeet!
Thanks Justin. I'll let you know. I have some plumbing and sump-making to do, so it might be another good week or so before the new tank is up and running. I have pretty much everything for it. I just need to find enough black acrylic to make a little overflow box... Lowes doesn't carry it but I heard Home Depot does. Do you know?

cant say, i use a hang on back overflow. but alright just let me know, "take your time with it and do it right the first time" is the best advice you will ever hear in this hobby.

by the way what camera do you use for your pictures? i like the one of the emerald crab

[Fishbutt]

lol yes... I am taking my time. That's one lesson I've learned all too well. I could just imagine my tank leak at every seam on its maiden voyage... so I'm getting everything ready and taking my time in re-sealing it and adjusting the bulkheads and PVC.
The camera I use is just an old Sony Cybershot- my favorite camera ever. The 5.25 megapixel one was the best... but now I have the 12.2 megapixel one (actually I have two of them... gotta have a back-up) which seems slower than the old versions. They switched to a Sony lens too... instead of the Carl Zeiss lens... which was a downgrade in my opinion. Anywho, happy reefing! Talk to you soon.
Christy

[Fishbutt]

2-13-2011, Krylon Fusion, 100% Silicone, and lots of painter's tape...

So this weekend was it. I finally got around to re-sealing my 20L which was already drilled and had one coat of Krylon Fusion glossy black on the back wall (on the outside).
I had never silicone'd anything before... so I did some reading and decided that re-sealing my tank's 4 vertical corners would be safer than crossing my fingers and hoping the old seals hold. Mind you, the old seals have been agitated over the years with razors, so they were wearing quite thin. I hope this doesn't end up being one of those "it it ain't broke, don't fix it" projects. That would be disheartening.
Anywho.

So, I began by gathering my equipment:







Then I scraped my tank's 4 vertical corners clean of silicone, and degreased them with rubbing alcohol. I was cautious to remove every bit of silicone possible, as I've read that silicone doesn't adhere very well to old silicone.





Again, I had an audience:



I used WIDE blue painter's tape (Scotch) to tape my corners for nice clean lines. I made sure to get the wide version so I could be extra messy...



Heck yes those will be clean(ish) lines! Taping was an awesome idea- not my own might I add- I read about it somewhere. I guess masking tape would work equally as well as painter's tape.



Then I got messy...







I didn't know that in addition to the tip of the silicone tube needing to be cut off, a hole also needed to be punched. So before I knew it, I cut too much off and ended up using my hands to apply the silicone. Thanks gawd for wide tape and vinyl gloves!



The finished product wasn't as bad as I was expecting!





I also put a layer of silicone on the underside of the top rim, with hopes of preventing salt creep up and under the rim. Only time will tell how it works out. I'm waiting a few days for the silicone to cure, then I'll be filling her up! Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading.
Christy

[Sir Patrick]

Looks great! Nice reseal job!

[vittleking]

well done, should have water in it soon. If those watermelons don't make it let me know, I will get you some more. Your blenny is still doing great. He's a trip.

[Fishbutt]

Looks great! Nice reseal job!

Thanks! Let's hope that it holds water...

well done, should have water in it soon. If those watermelons don't make it let me know, I will get you some more. Your blenny is still doing great. He's a trip.

Hi Joe! I'm glad the blenny is doing well for you! The watermelons are really booming- they are so pretty and seem to be growing really well! The green digita has also grown at least 3X what it was! I can't wait to get everything back into the display tank... I'll keep you updated! Thanks again!