A leaky aquarium can cause problems, especially if the tank is large. Generally, the leak occurs in the adhesive layer of the aquarium and only a small amount of water is spilled. However, if you don't fix it, the aquarium will break down and spill more water. If the tank leaks, you need to fix it as soon as possible. By making preparations, using the right technique, and having the necessary equipment ready, you can easily repair a leaky aquarium.
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Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Aquarium
Step 1. Drain the aquarium water
Drain the water until there is sufficient space to clean and dry the area around the leak. You can drain the aquarium using a glass, bucket, or other container. If there is a leak at the bottom of the tank, you will need to drain all the water and remove all accessories from the tank.
- If there is a leak at the bottom of the tank, you may have to transfer the fish and aquatic plants to another container or tank while repairing the leaky tank.
- Remember, the patch used must be dry before refilling the aquarium water. Therefore, make a careful plan to keep fish and plants healthy.
Step 2. Remove the aquarium adhesive layer
Scrape off the old aquarium adhesive layer around the leaking area with a razor blade. You should scrape the silicone around the leaking area. However, don't scrape the silicon between the glass panes of the aquarium. In other words, all you have to do is scrape the silicon that is in the inner corner of the tank.
- If you're not draining the tank completely because the leak is at the top, make sure that none of the aquarium adhesive is dipping into the water.
- Sometimes, silicone is difficult to stick to the old adhesive layer. You may have to remove most of the old aquarium silicone and then apply a new coat of adhesive at the same time. Once you've drained the water, drained the tank, and removed the old silicone, replace the entire aquarium adhesive layer.
Step 3. Clean the leak area
Clean the leaking area using a clean cloth moistened with acetone. This can remove any remnants of old silicone and other debris from the leak area. Dry with a paper towel and then let it dry completely. You generally have to wait for 15 minutes.
By cleaning the leaking area, the new silicone can adhere perfectly. This way, the aquarium won't leak again in the future
Part 2 of 3: Patching Leaks
Step 1. Apply 100% non-toxic silicone patch on the leaking area
Cover the leaking area using a hot glue gun containing a silicone patch. After that, smooth the silicone layer using a wet finger or a special tool to spread the silicone. This is done so that the new silicone layer adheres evenly and covers the entire leaking area of the aquarium.
- Consult an aquarium equipment expert to determine the right product. When using silicone, make sure you use 100% non-toxic silicone. Also, make sure the silicone is non-biodegradable and does NOT contain fungicides.
- You may be interested in trying to patch a leak from outside the tank. However, patching leaks from inside the tank is more effective. Patching leaks from the inside can help the silicone to stick together more firmly. This is because the pressure of the water will “tighten” the new adhesive layer by pressing the aquarium silicone. When a silicone patch is applied to the outside of the aquarium, water will push the silicone away from the aquarium glass.
Step 2. Allow the patch to dry
Silicone takes 24 hours to dry. If the silicone is applied when the weather is cold and dry, you may have to wait 48 hours. By allowing it to dry, the silicone will adhere to the aquarium glass perfectly and there will be no leakage.
You can use a heating lamp or other heat-emitting device to help dry the silicone. However, do not dry the silicone at a temperature above 44 °C
Step 3. Observe the leak area
Refill the aquarium water until it touches the patched area. Wait for a few hours, refill the aquarium water, and then watch the leak area. After that, fill the aquarium water to the brim to pay attention to the leak area again. Watch the leaking area carefully, then wait a few moments to make sure that the water pressure in the tank is not leaking.
- Place a tissue on the outside of the leaking tank area and let it sit for a few hours. If the tissue is not wet, the area is not leaking.
- Have a towel and bucket near the aquarium in case the tank leaks again. By doing this, you can quickly re-drain the aquarium.
Step 4. Prepare the tank
All objects such as rocks, fish and plants should be put back into the tank when you are sure the tank is not leaking. Put the rocks in first before placing anything else at the bottom of the aquarium. Add the necessary chemicals to the water before returning the plants and fish to the tank.
This is a good time to make sure everything is clean before returning it to the tank
Part 3 of 3: Looking for Hard-to-Find Leaks
Step 1. Pay attention to the volume of the aquarium water
In some cases, one indicator of a leaky aquarium is a reduced volume of water. Although aquarium water can evaporate, drastically reduced water volume is generally caused by a leak.
If the aquarium leak is severe enough, the leaking part of the aquarium will be clearly visible. That way, you can find the leak point easily
Step 2. Pay attention to the wet outside of the aquarium
If the leak is not obvious, you can confirm that the tank is leaking when there is water on the outside. Even if there is only a small amount of water on the outside of the tank, this could be an indicator that your tank is leaking.
If you recently changed filters, placed accessories, or interacted with the aquarium, the outside of the tank being wet may be caused by these activities. Dry the outside of the tank and make sure that no water pools back. If the outside of the tank gets wet again, the tank may be leaking
Step 3. Observe the aquarium for any leaking areas
If you suspect that the aquarium is leaking, but the leak is not obvious, you should investigate. Notice the metal trim of the aquarium is separating from the glass, and the adhesive layer is sticking out. There are several signs that indicate that your aquarium is leaking.
Also, try to feel the edges of the aquarium. If there is a wet area, place your finger on the area and then move it up until it reaches the dry area. The top wet spot is generally the leak point of the aquarium
Step 4. Mark the leaking area
Once you find any leaky areas, or areas that might leak, mark them with a marker. By doing this, you can easily rediscover the area once the tank is drained and start repairing.
After patching the leak, most markers can be removed with glass cleaner
Step 5. Identify leaks that can't be fixed at home
Leaks in the aquarium's adhesive coating can generally be patched up easily. This is because these leaks are generally caused by a damaged silicone coating, and you can replace them easily. However, if the leak is caused by a cracked aquarium glass, it can be quite difficult to repair. Replacing an aquarium glass takes a lot of time, skill and effort. In general, replacing the aquarium glass can only be done by an expert.
