Things You'll Need
- Plastic scrubbing pad
- Razor blade aquarium scraper
- Paper towels
- White vinegar
- Razor blade, single-edged
- Silicone, aquarium safe
- Caulking gun
- Masking tape
Instructions
Restoring Your Old Aquarium
Inspect the aquarium's seals and glass panes. If the silicone seals are chipped, you will need to reseal the aquarium before you can use it. Minor chips in the glass can be filled with sealant. If the cracks go all the way through the glass, it is not safe to fill it with water. The aquarium will leak. Worse, the water pressure can break the glass. Check the aquarium for animal smells.
Clean the aquarium with white vinegar. Use a razor blade aquarium scraper to remove debris from the glass panes and a plastic scrubbing pad to clean the silicone seals. Rinse the aquarium thoroughly.
Fill the aquarium with water. Dry off the outside with paper towels. If you notice any leaks, you need to replace the silicone seals.
Repairing Silicone Seals
Cut into the silicone with the razor blade. Usually, it takes several passes with the blade to cut all the way to the corner. Avoid cutting into the joint between the two glass panes. Remove all silicone pieces.
Place strips of masking tape along both sides of the aquarium's interior edges. Begin with the verticals, then proceed with the horizontals.
Run a bead of silicone along the aquarium's interior edges, between the strips of masking tape. Allow the silicone sealant to cure 24 to 48 hours.
Remove the masking tape. Fill the aquarium with water to check for leaks.