Tank leak, ****!

[grouper therapy]

Fish Scales2;617055 wrote: No stress from drilling.

I took apart a members tank that was leaking last week, oddest thing I have ever seen. THE BOTTOM OF THE VERTICAL PIECES OF GLASS WERE NOT SILICONED TO THE BOTTOM GLASS, it was only siliconed on the inside edge and the trim. What was crazy was that it ran for several years with no issues.

Amazing! Also I think some of them are placed on non flat stands with large gaps and over time the shear load pushes the flat vertical bottom down and the upper panel which is rigid ,due to being on it's edge, stays put. At this point the silicone between the glass releases but the cove glazing on the inside stretches then after continuous stress and being abused by magnets and scrapers finally one day gives way.
Your method of building large tanks on sight alleviates that possible scenario.:up:

 

[gnashty]

grouper therapy;617010 wrote: In all fairness you may be assuming to much, Some of these may not be tank manufacturers issue.

yup, mine was not a mfr failure - old tank and the silicone had been picked at, mag floated, and scraped for 10 years...