I woke to a leaking Red Sea Reefer 350.

[Riggins44]

I awoke to a leaking Red Sea Reefer 350. After I drained, I found a bad front bottom seal. Do I need to replace the seal? or can it be fixed with new sealant?

 

[Sharbuckles Reef]

I awoke to a leaking Red Sea Reefer 350. After I drained, I found a bad front bottom seal. Do I need to replace the seal? or can it be fixed with new sealant?

In my opinion, the tank will need to be completely re sealed.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Get in contact with RedSea about the issue!

 

[littlefoxx]

Its red sea. No repairs possible really, thats what they are known for are bad front panels. Maybe they will give you a new tank… or buy a different brand. Sorry

 

[Tamberav]

I awoke to a leaking Red Sea Reefer 350. After I drained, I found a bad front bottom seal. Do I need to replace the seal? or can it be fixed with new sealant?

Replace the tank or completely reseal everything including between the panes and add a top and bottom euro bracing.

Red Sea has had many issues with leaks and some tanks completely draining all their water in minutes.

It’s not a tank you want to keep without reinforcing to and re doing it completely.

Be glad all the water didn’t exit onto the ground in minutes. Something is seriously wrong with their tanks.

 

[Troylee]

Remember the old discount tire commercials where granny threw her tire through the front glass of the store? That’s what I would do at the redsea headquarters with that tank!

 

[Doctorgori]

Fwiw in my case it took approximately 9 days from support contact to the truck dumping off the pallet.

Assuming you are under warranty, best to get cracking now…
If not under warranty best catch those end of year sales from Aquaforest or Waterbox or whoever

 

[littlefoxx]

Remember the old discount tire commercials where granny threw her tire through the front glass of the store? That’s what I would do at the redsea headquarters with that tank!

Lol same. I sold my red sea before that could happen to me

 

[Riggins44]

In my opinion, the tank will need to be completely re sealed.

Thank you! I purchased some aquarium sealant. and tips on how to go about this? I don't think that a bead on top of the existing seal will hold effectively enough.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Thank you! I purchased some aquarium sealant. and tips on how to go about this? I don't think that a bead on top of the existing seal will hold effectively enough.

There is no way to go about it properly that does not entail dismantling all 6 panels and fully cleaning them and starting over.

Fresh silicone does not adhere well to cured silicone. But, as others have mentioned, the bigger issue is that your failure is not an anomaly, it is a recurring issue that is likely the result of one or more design and manufacturing issues. Do yourself a favor and find a different brand of tank. There is no reasonable "fix".

 

[twentyleagues]

Thank you! I purchased some aquarium sealant. and tips on how to go about this? I don't think that a bead on top of the existing seal will hold effectively enough.

Multiple design flaws in these tanks.
Need to completely disassemble tank remove all silicone clean surfaces get more glass to eurobrace tank and reassemble.

 

[Riggins44]

I appreciate your candor, however, I have buckets and tubs of corals and fish etc. that need a home now. and besides, I don't have a few thousand to spend nor the time right now to set a new one up. so, any suggestions on how I can properly reseal this 350 in order for me to re group and decide what I want/need to do. any advise will be appreciated.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I appreciate your candor, however, I have buckets and tubs of corals and fish etc. that need a home now. and besides, I don't have a few thousand to spend nor the time right now to set a new one up. so, any suggestions on how I can properly reseal this 350 in order for me to re group and decide what I want/need to do. any advise will be appreciated.

I am sorry for your situation, but there is no way to "reseal" this aquarium. The bottom seam has lost its integrity and is mechanically failing. This is not a happenstance leak that can be smeared over to address another day. This is a mechanical failure where the bottom seam is pulling away from the tank. it is a result of a manufacturing and materials issue. It is not fixable. This is a known issue with these tanks and you are lucky it "leaked" instead of just letting loose.

Your best bet is to go to tractor supply and get a large 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank for $200 and use it as at tank until you can decide what to do.

 

[SpyC]

I appreciate your candor, however, I have buckets and tubs of corals and fish etc. that need a home now. and besides, I don't have a few thousand to spend nor the time right now to set a new one up. so, any suggestions on how I can properly reseal this 350 in order for me to re group and decide what I want/need to do. any advise will be appreciated.

Some folks already answered this question. You nees to completely dismantle the tank, clean all silicone off, and rebuild the entire tank. There is no fast or simple way to do this. It is also a very much 'do it the right way, or you will have the issue again' situation. The stand also needs reinforcement along the front panel. The stand sags there and doesn't support the entire bottom pane.

 

[twentyleagues]

100g rubbermaid stock tank is probably the best option. Then hopefully redsea warranty.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Thank you! I purchased some aquarium sealant. and tips on how to go about this? I don't think that a bead on top of the existing seal will hold effectively enough.

You would have to complete take apart the tank. Completely every piece of glass and get every ounce of old silicone off. This is far beyond the scope of anyone who hasn't done this with help. Just resealing the inside does nothing about a split seal

 

[Tamberav]

Thank you! I purchased some aquarium sealant. and tips on how to go about this? I don't think that a bead on top of the existing seal will hold effectively enough.

So you have to do it correctly which means you need to take to all apart and remove all silicone and re line it all back perfectly with clamps and not get bubbles in the silicone and have glass cut to euro brace the top and bottom because the exact issue it unknown but may be too thin if glass so reinforced it.

It’s a huge under taking.

If you don’t have experience or tools to complete re do the tank from the ground up pretty much… it’s not worth it.

You can not just put new silicone over old, it does not stick properly, you can not just silicone the inside edge, because the Red Sea failure is in the silicone between the panes, which is what holds it together, if you don’t fix it properly, the whole front could literally split open in a second and saltwater easily costs thousands of damage to the floors and walls quickly costing more than just buying a new tank.

 

[littlefoxx]

I appreciate your candor, however, I have buckets and tubs of corals and fish etc. that need a home now. and besides, I don't have a few thousand to spend nor the time right now to set a new one up. so, any suggestions on how I can properly reseal this 350 in order for me to re group and decide what I want/need to do. any advise will be appreciated.

You said the bottom panel leaked right? No way to re seal that, its a flaw in how they make the tanks. They usually burst and you have all your water all over in about 30 seconds. Really sucks but thats just as honest as I can get. Best see if its under warranty.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I agree with all that has been said about this not being an easy fix.

@Riggins44
I'm curious if you were aware of this design flaw before purchasing the tank?

 

[Stang67]

Anyone have the over under on how long g the "fix" holds? I'm going with 2 hrs, any takers?