Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
Emergency - need tank resealed
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
Is there anyone on here in the north Dublin area who can do it? Is it even worth resealing? Should I just replace it?
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Melander (Andreas Melander)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 797
- Thank you received: 140
It actually is not that hard to do, if you search youtube there should be plenty of step by step videos on how to do it which probably are easier to follow then written text.
If you don't want to do it yourself it could be worth calling some of the sponsors and see if they will do it for you.
Melander
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- davey_c (dave clarke)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 922
- Thank you received: 163

what size tank is it?.. may be definately worth doing or maybe someone that wouldn't mind the challenge could do an exchange if they had a good 1 around... i'd reseal it for ye but i'm in kildare but 1 word of advise look around before paying 20e for 1 silicone tube from sponsors

Below tank is for sale
my plywood tank build.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
So I'm going to need silicone - is it Tec 7 that I'm looking for? Any other brands that would work if I can't get that? I know it needs to be free from antifungal stuff but silicones vary in flexibility so I'd like to know what the most suitable ones are.
Do I need acetone, rubbing alcohol, etc? Anything I should avoid?
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Melander (Andreas Melander)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 797
- Thank you received: 140
I also use aceton to clean the surface, some masking tape to get the edges straight and a razor blade to take off any spillage.
Just make sure to test it when it's dry before you put all the gravel and stuff back in as it took me two attempts to get it right the first time.
Good luck with the sealing!
Melander
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- davey_c (dave clarke)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 922
- Thank you received: 163
i also use rubbing alcohol for cleaning the glass but i also have some acetone if ye need some
Below tank is for sale
my plywood tank build.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- davey_c (dave clarke)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 922
- Thank you received: 163

Below tank is for sale
my plywood tank build.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Cillian (Cillian Murphy)
-
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 103
- Thank you received: 4
Cillian
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- 086 8442267
- Posts: 2740
- Thank you received: 274
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- davey_c (dave clarke)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 922
- Thank you received: 163

Below tank is for sale
my plywood tank build.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Q_Comets (Declan Chambers)
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1026
- Thank you received: 156
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- JustinK (Justin Kelly)
- Offline
- Premium Member
-
- Posts: 519
- Thank you received: 70
Theres a few types of silicone that are suitable.
Woodies have one by Geocel, glazing silicone light green on label for example.
Tec 7 is only good for patchwork, it hasnt got the same grab as silicone sealant.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- CrustyCrab (Peter Biddulph)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 848
- Thank you received: 185
I use aquarium silicone (from a LFS) but perhaps there are cheaper options out there?
I also use aceton to clean the surface, some masking tape to get the edges straight and a razor blade to take off any spillage.
Just make sure to test it when it's dry before you put all the gravel and stuff back in as it took me two attempts to get it right the first time.
Good luck with the sealing!
Melander
Good advice Melander. Don't skimp on the Acetone, helps the silicone adhere better
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
Is nail polish remover suitable? I know it contains acetone but it contains a whole lot of other things too. Edit: the stuff we have in the house contains an oil. That's definitely out...
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- PompeyBill (Killian Walshe)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 214
- Thank you received: 16
Is nail polish remover suitable? I know it contains acetone but it contains a whole lot of other things too. Edit: the stuff we have in the house contains an oil. That's definitely out...
Just reading that I think I remember my girlfriend getting acetone in the pharmacy. She got it to remove her nail polish but it was not a branded nail polish remover or anything like that but a fairly big bottle with Acetone written on the front (as if it was pure acetone if that makes sense). Someone else may be able to confirm if this is ok to use or not but may help.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- davey_c (dave clarke)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 922
- Thank you received: 163
here's where i get my acetone which also sell the alcohol, assume its safe to post this considering sponsors won't stock it

stores.ebay.ie/AS-Composites-Ireland/Che...trksid=p4634.c0.m322
Below tank is for sale
my plywood tank build.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
Again, thanks all for the advice.

Please Log in to join the conversation.
- davey_c (dave clarke)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 922
- Thank you received: 163

just a small sugestion as i don't know circumstances but more frequent and larger water changes (at least once a day) will reduce your nitrates and keep them down

Below tank is for sale
my plywood tank build.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- stretnik (stretnik)
-
- Visitor
-
I dont know where you are on the resealing but if you want I can post this to you. It isn't expensive and the postage won't be expensive either.Stripping back the old seals, I'm finding it impossible to get it all off. I'm using a Stanley knife blade but it still leaves a thin layer of silicone behind. How can I get it off?
www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?BrandID=204&SubcatID=27
Another, probably better link.
item.mobileweb.ebay.ie/viewitem?itemId=271062762754
Kev.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- davey_c (dave clarke)
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 922
- Thank you received: 163

Below tank is for sale
my plywood tank build.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- stretnik (stretnik)
-
- Visitor
-
prolinehardware.ie/interface/archives/category/quilosa
Kev
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
With an 18 month old child running around here there is no way I have time for daily water changes but they are definitely going to need more frequent ones than they usually have. It's their regular water change day tomorrow though so they'll have a 90% freshening up then anyway.
Yet again, thanks all!

Please Log in to join the conversation.
- PompeyBill (Killian Walshe)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 214
- Thank you received: 16
Turns out they do stock it at pharmacies. There is big demand for it apparently for the shellac nails. I had to order it as it was sold out but it'll arrive tomorrow so I'll be able to get on with the job tomorrow night. Just as well because keeping these fish in the smaller temporary tank, even with 3 filters, is not satisfactory and my nitrate has shot up.
Again, thanks all for the advice.
Good stuff, glad we could help. When you mentioned nail polish remover it just popped into my head seeing the missus using it. Best of luck with the reseal
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- jwm (sean sean)
-
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 311
- Thank you received: 40
John
A person who surrenders when he is WRONG, is HONEST. A person who SURRENDERS when not SURE, is WISE. A person who surrenders even if he is RIGHT, is a HUSBAND.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
I have a juwel 70 litre tank, internal filter working if ya want a lend till yer sorted.
John
Ah that's very kind of you. The tank they are in at the moment is bigger than that and to be honest we've nowhere to put another tank even temporarily. Really appreciate the gesture though.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Melander (Andreas Melander)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 797
- Thank you received: 140
Melander
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- belueberry (E I)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 104
- Thank you received: 8
Any tips for bringing the glass back to its previous clear state? There is a film of silicone in some areas which makes everything a bit cloudy.
Please Log in to join the conversation.