# 20gallon tank springing a leak=bad **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [November 20, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794 "2005-11-20T14:03:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vrooom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vrooom/32/7198_2.png) [@Vrooom](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vrooom)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/1 "2005-11-20T14:03:40Z")
So my 20gal sprung a leak. While I was taking a nap. Trying to wrangle 7 angry fish while half asleep is not fun my friends. It’s an older tank that was passed down to me, and I guess I figured this would happen sooner or later, and should’ve known better the first time I noticed the silicone caulking was a little funky. Question: Before I try to mooch one of my pals into carting my carless ass around for a day: Where can I go about finding silicone caulk? Would a pet store have it? Or Home Depot or something? Yeah, I’m a girl, so excuse my cluelessness. And ya think I’d be better off re-caulking the entire tank? Is that iffy? Or should I just break down and buy a new one? How much do they even run anymore? Oh decisions decisions… Thanks for any input guys and gals. ---
**Author:** ![98SS10](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/98ss10/32/7288_2.png) [@98SS10](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/98SS10)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/2 "2005-11-20T14:07:26Z")
MOST any hardware store will have silicone, just make sure you get CLEAR silcone. ---
**Author:** ![Vrooom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vrooom/32/7198_2.png) [@Vrooom](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vrooom)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/3 "2005-11-20T14:10:38Z")
really? I was thinking purple glittery… lol… thanks mang ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/4 "2005-11-20T14:14:59Z")
Also make sure it’s aquarium grade, I know Petsmart and walmart’s pet section all have aquarium grade silicone. normal clear silicone has chemicals that can kill fish. ---
**Author:** ![1sik\_bmw](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1sik_bmw/32/7341_2.png) [@1sik\_bmw](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1sik_bmw)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/5 "2005-11-20T14:15:40Z")
maybe [http://www.nyspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4976](http://www.nyspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4976) or [http://www.nyspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4709](http://www.nyspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4709) ---
**Author:** ![Vrooom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vrooom/32/7198_2.png) [@Vrooom](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vrooom)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/6 "2005-11-20T14:21:31Z")
First one is too small for my territorial chiclids but nice setup. Second one, well…I live in Pittsburgh so either way neither of them would work out for me. But if Petsmart and Walmart carry it I think I’ll be okay. ---
**Author:** ![JEG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeg/32/7246_2.png) [@JEG](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JEG)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/7 "2005-11-20T14:24:42Z")
i got i think a 12 or 16 ga fish tank…if my mom doesnt care u can have it. ---
**Author:** ![ieatpaint](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ieatpaint/32/7311_2.png) [@ieatpaint](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ieatpaint)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/8 "2005-11-21T03:57:34Z")
make sure it is aquarium sealant. normal sealant will kill your fish, it has mildewcides that are one the surface and contanminate your water. you have to scrape all the old silicone out, clean the glass with rubbing alcohol, then reseal and let it sit for 2 days. it’s not easy to do, you have to be very careful. it might be easier to buy a new tank, 20 gallons aren’t that expensive. ohh, noseplugs or a facemask might be a good idea, the sealant wreaks horrible like strong vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/9 "2005-11-21T07:24:32Z")
hit up the ross park mall and plaza on mcknight. ---
**Author:** ![Vrooom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vrooom/32/7198_2.png) [@Vrooom](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vrooom)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 9:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/10 "2005-11-21T09:47:59Z")
> [@ieatpaint315](#): > > make sure it is aquarium sealant. normal sealant will kill your fish, it has mildewcides that are one the surface and contanminate your water. you have to scrape all the old silicone out, clean the glass with rubbing alcohol, then reseal and let it sit for 2 days. it’s not easy to do, you have to be very careful. it might be easier to buy a new tank, 20 gallons aren’t that expensive. ohh, noseplugs or a facemask might be a good idea, the sealant wreaks horrible like strong vinegar. Thank god you told me all that because I’m leaving for Buffalo Wednesday, so I don’t really have time for all that nonsense right now. I’m just buying a new one, screw it. ---
**Author:** ![Vrooom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vrooom/32/7198_2.png) [@Vrooom](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vrooom)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/11 "2005-11-21T13:30:06Z")
Got a new tank finally. $55.07 for a 20h and a 25lbs bag o rocks. Not too bad. But I had to drive around EVERYWHERE to find a stupid fish tank. Petco and Petsmart both had 20gallons…but as kits, that came with retarded stuff, all over $140…and NOBODY would sell me just a tank, sans fancy top and accesories. After 3hours of driving around I finally found a strictly fish pet store, thank god. Then, I’m really broke, and none of my credit cards would work. So luckily the man had some cash on him. Phew. What a huge ordeal for some stupid fish that were pawned off to me. ---
**Author:** ![mickdad246](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mickdad246/32/7274_2.png) [@mickdad246](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/mickdad246)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/12 "2005-11-21T13:31:17Z")
> [@Vrooom](#): > > Thank god you told me all that because I’m leaving for Buffalo Wednesday, so I don’t really have time for all that nonsense right now. > > I’m just buying a new one, screw it. then why not buy the millions that are forsale on this board???just a tip since ure commn to Buffalo… ---
**Author:** ![Juan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@Juan](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Juan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/13 "2005-11-21T13:36:22Z")
:tup: for getting a new tank ---
**Author:** ![ieatpaint](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ieatpaint/32/7311_2.png) [@ieatpaint](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ieatpaint)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/14 "2005-11-21T15:04:35Z")
you’ll be much happier in the long run with a new thank that you don’t have to worry about. you’ll be sooo stressed if you try to seal a tank, i woke up 2 times the first night i put water in my sealed tank. it’s very nerve racking… although i did a 75, which would have been a bigger mess than 20gallons. lol, especially with a business right below me, haha. lets see some pics when you get it up and running. ---
**Author:** ![chickenball\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@chickenball\_z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/chickenball_z)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/20gallon-tank-springing-a-leak-bad/4794/15 "2005-11-21T16:51:17Z")
The Fish Place in Tonawanda or Markheim Pets both should sell individual tanks…but yeah resealing requires removing all the previous caulking to make sure it’s seals properly