At what point do you stop trusting your tank?

[Dale]

Too bad you don't live near me Kryten - I'd buy it off of you "cheap"

I've resiliconed many tanks over the years with good successs, though I've never had the need, or desire, to take the internal silicone out as Buk_A_neer and Rikko suggest. Once you mess with those seams it is a crap shoot and there's no reason to assume that they have weakened. Tank leaks occur when there is a failure with the water contacted beads. This occurs because they are continously exposed to water and over time they weather and weaken. The bond between the panes is not exposed to air or water and lasts a very long time (unless stressed by moving or flexing as Rikko suggests). I don't think telling people to completely strip their tanks when they need resiliconing is really practical (IMHO)

Oddly enough, I am actually redoing a drilled 130G. right now that I've picked up for $50.

It is true that having someone else do it for you will probably cost as much as a new tank though. The labour is fiddly if you want to ensure a good seal by removing all the silicone but it really isn't that difficult. I guess I like to tinker (or may be I'm a little too scottish )

Here's a link where I describe the process
http://www.aquahobby.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=35335

Oh well, If you're ever passing through with that 130, you can always give me a call
________
vapourizers

[Buccaneer]

I have built quite a few tanks in the past and had to replace the side glass in my current 270G tank ... the garrote method works quite well for tank repair.

The reason to resilicone is if the sides have bowed it may have put stress on the main edge seals ... the inside seal is not for strength but to make sure the tank is waterproof

take it for what it's worth ... I have Scottish heritage too ( going back a long ways ) so maybe that is why I would resilicone it rather than buy a new one