BeerBorg

As some of you may know or have seen in the background of the pictures I post, I have a 120 gal. aquarium behind my bar and have Koi fish in it. I usually put them in my outdoor pond in the summer months

But I bring them into the aquarium when it starts to get cold.

Well I have a little problem that I just found..... my aquarium is leaking somewhere in the back. I bought this aquarium from a friend about 6 years ago, he got it from a doctors office but he never used it because he figured it was to heavy to put in his living room and it is heavy, but good in my basement. I'm going to transfer my fish into a plastic 55 gal. drum tomorrow and see if I can fix the aquarium. I really like my fish and had them for a long time and don't want to loose them.

Man I'd love to visit your place, Don. Love the koi fish.

Hope you can fix the leak! Worse case the fish live in a barrel all winter.

Bluejaye wrote:Hope you can fix the leak! Worse case the fish live in a barrel all winter.

That's what I'm thinking going to put the filtration system in the barrel and they will be ok - I just hope I can fix the aquarium because I like it and probably couldn't afford a new one like it with all the wood.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not pouring out (yet), just leaking. This is how much from last night, I've put newspapers down to try to soak it up.

it's already got the wood moldy, so if I can seal it back up this would be a good time to sand it all back down and re-stain it..

I didn't get the plastic barrel yet today, my neighbor has some but he is busy deer hunting and I don't want to bother him, and as long as it is just seeping I can go a couple more days........

Nice aquarium!

I don't think my fish are happy, I got a food grade barrel and cleaned it out tonight and siphoned some of the aquarium water into it mixed with fresh water. Will let it match room temp and tomorrow night put them in their new temp. Home. Drawed the water off to just a little bit below 1/2 way.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can fix your aquarium. Go to a store that specializes in tropical fish. They have some special kind of caulking. I have repaired aquariums in the past. I am sure they have stuff far better now than what I used over 30 years ago.

Ok, I know a lot of you folks won't be interested in my aquarium restoration project with this being a beer making forum so just pass this thread by if not interested. I am a DIY so this is why I'm continuing this post. While researching food grade/glass silicone sealant I hit on some beer threads, funny how hobbies and research come together. I have the tank drained, 40 lbs gravel removed and cleaned. Have been working on removing the old silicone sealer, somebody had done this before I got it, and the corners are heavy with silicone.

I'm following along, enjoying the posting and progress.

me to

Keep us up to date! I love to see wood working and progress. Can't wait to see it finished up, we love aquariums, always had them when we had kids to help care for the fish. I had them most my younger days living at home with mom and dad and am thinking of a large one when we get through remodeling this place. In a mall, 2 hours from us (Fargo, ND) they have a HUGE sucka filled with saltwater fish & coral. I always make it a point when we go there to spend time watching the fish.

Berryman, love the restoration. Painstaking as it is, I built aquariums before. It is sometimes like working on automobiles...patience helps. Thought my 55 gal was leaking and turned out to be an o'ring on the filter. Love the pics.
Joe

I'm in the tank peeling/cutting/scraping the old silicone off.
(sorry berryman doesn't look like a mermaid) but I think I had a few beers in me by this point....

All cleaned and taped

New silicone done

And now wait a few days before the water test.

a few days to drink a beer is a long time. savoring the flavor? hehe