Has your glass aquarium sprung a leak? All is not lost yet… here’s a relatively easy way to fix a small leak in your tank.
Most leaks happen at the joints — where two panes of glass meet. If your glass aquarium is leaking from a crack in the glass itself, you might have an easier time just getting a new aquarium!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A felt tip marker, like a Sharpie.
- Razor blades (the kind without a handle).
- Paper towels or a soft cloth.
- A residue remover like acetone.
- A tube of 100 silicone sealant.
- Conditioned/prepared water to refill your tank.
Start by finding the leak. This might take some experimentation on your part — try pressing a dry paper towel along the joint that’s leaking and see if you can get an idea of where the hole is. Use your fingers to feel for the leak.
When you find the source, mark it with your felt tip marker. Then empty the tank to below the mark — so the leak stops. It’s going to be hard to fix a leak if water is still running out of the gap. If the leak is low in the tank, you may want to move your fish to a quarantine tank or a holding tank until you’re done.
Clean and dry the area around the leak, then use a razor blade to scrape away the existing silicone. Clear away a space about one inch around the source of the leak. Use the acetone to clean the scraped area — just be careful to not spill any acetone into your tank. Fish have very porous skin and any chemical can be dangerous to their systems.
Let the spot dry, then apply the silicone sealant — make sure you choose a sealant that is safe for aquarium use. Read the label to be certain. Be sure to work the sealant into the joint! Let the silicone cure for at least twelve hours (or follow the instructions on the sealant). Refill the tank with conditioned water and see if the leak has stopped.
If the leak is still there, try repeating the process to seal the inside of the joint, too.