Aquarium Silicone

[ronj]

i read a thread today about what sealant was safe for aquarium use....someone, i can't remember who, said to buy silicone I, not siliconeII....why is taht??? i just bought silicone I to seal my baffles in my sump....i want to be sure this is the right stuff....it is 100% silicone rubber sealant

 

[Krish]

Not sure Ron, but this is the stuff I try to use as much as possible. When it came to putting down my PVC bottom is used this stuff as well under the bottom


http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?familyid=4114

 

[ronj]

i bought that exact tube today....i ran out after the first baffle..it was like $7....i bought this big tube that will do the whole job for $3...

 

[Krish]

Cool...I've seen them as well in the tubes that you load in a caulking gun here. I figure that is the safest way to go

 

[ronj]

if i would have seen a big one, that would have been nice.....

 

[mattseattle]

make sure it's Windows & Door Silicone I and you should be ok. I accidently bought the Kitchen & Bath Silicone I last time and it has an algae-cide in it.

 

[ronj]

thats the one i bought...silicone I... it is ok to use then????

 

[ronj]

well, i just used it...i could only apply it to one side of the three baffles that are together...there wasn't enough room to get the caulk gun in between the baffles.... i put a good thick bead of silicone on it to hold it

 

[mattseattle]

does it say GE Silicone I Windows & Doors on it? if so then it's ok to use.

 

[ronj]

that's what it says

 

[zoo_keeper]

Silicone II is used for automotive applications and stays kinda soft.

 

[liveforphysics]

I use GE silicone II door and window for all the glass tanks I build. Its slightly more expensive than silicone I, but from my own very basic testing, it holds a stronger bond with glass. With lexan, it absoulutely sucks, and with acrilic, its kinda so-so.

I've never seen any problems from from useing GE silicone II door and window.

 

[ronj]

i hope the bond on mine holds...i made the bead thick....it seems like it won't hold... i will fill it w/ water in a day or two and see how it does

 

[burning2nd]

I had this convo about 3 weeks ago, i did a lot of reseach and found out that Ge doesnt recommend any of there silicon's for home aquaium use,

Turns out they had a large law suit with a annomius puplic aquarium. something about a cheimical used in all of there silicon's for the harder agent.

I use permatex RTV, worked fine, i wish i would have saved that artical. i had the names of the chimicals that should not be in it.

but you can use bathroom stuff as long as it doesnt have antibacterial stuff in it.

i used a lighter on one side to hold the glass in place, but i had a local place cut the glass to fit for me, so all i had to do was wedge it in and seal it.

wasnt hard at all

 

[ronj]

well, i haven't heard anyone complain about problems from it yet....i hope it doesn't end up causing problems..i will take pics of my sump baffles in place and post them when i get home from the gym