Aquarium Safe Silicon

[Freenow54]

Is Aquarium safe silicon a scam ? If not which is best?

 

[14 foot reef]

Is Aquarium safe silicon a scam ? If not which is best?

Its not a scam. The main thing to pay attention to is 100% silicon with no antibacterial additives to it, mold inhibitors. There is no best, but their are clear leaders in the industry. Most high end aquarium builders will only do large builds using Momentive RTV100. I have been building large aquariums for many many years and I have tried a lot of brands. Some with catastrophic results. I will only use Momentive these days (Formally GE). I think most would agree with this statement. Yes its expensive, but not using it is a lot more expensive.

Adhesives and Sealants

Explore Momentive’s high-performance silicone adhesives and sealants for industrial, electronic, and consumer applications.

www.momentive.com

 

[Fish Fan]

GE Silicon I (<Roman numeral 1) is perfectly aquarium safe. Do not get GE Silicon II as that one has additional mold inhibitors.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-Silicone-1-All-Purpose-Windows-Doors-Exteriors-10-1-oz-Clear-Silicone-Caulk/5013443639?user=shopping&feed=yes?store=1817&cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-pnt-_-ggl-_-CRP_SHP_LIA_PNT_Online_High_Priority(A-D%2BPriority+Items+CL3)-_-5013443639-_-local-_-0-_-0&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21246186841&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W8_U1UUXC4pHQ_jUuxUssL3X&gclid=CjwKCAiA_dDIBhB6EiwAvzc1cE1IGHha5xRsgPn1w00h0Rc16O8AeyK-3u5Ud-01R0b_pGIK8cOzAxoCsT0QAvD_BwE

Good luck!

 

[Freenow54]

# ReefSquad . I tried to post this normally but I will do this as it has me concerned. Only sign of stress is dying frags or no groth over weeks. I wanted to dose All for reef but my readings with Salifert are way off not even on the chart. Alk 10.5 , Calcium above 500 , Magnesium above 1500 . What should I do don't like using Chemicals

 

[Malcontent]

100% silicone just means it's not a latex blend. The SDS will tell you that 100% silicone has many ingredients other than silicone.

 

[JTP424]

Its not a scam. The main thing to pay attention to is 100% silicon with no antibacterial additives to it, mold inhibitors. There is no best, but their are clear leaders in the industry. Most high end aquarium builders will only do large builds using Momentive RTV100. I have been building large aquariums for many many years and I have tried a lot of brands. Some with catastrophic results. I will only use Momentive these days (Formally GE). I think most would agree with this statement. Yes its expensive, but not using it is a lot more expensive.

Adhesives and Sealants

Explore Momentive’s high-performance silicone adhesives and sealants for industrial, electronic, and consumer applications.

www.momentive.com

Hmmm do they make a black version?? Or am I just dumb and unable to find it.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Here's the bottom line on silicones. There are two methods of curing silicone. One is acid cured (has an acetic acid smell) and the other is neutral cured (no noticeable smell). Both will be 100% silicone. The acid cured silicone (GE I as an example) cures relatively fast while neutral cured (GE II as an example) cures slowly. Now here's what's going to get me in trouble....both are reef safe if you give them enough time to cure. AND, that's were we have a problem. I have found aquarists are impetuous and can't wait to get their silicone project wet. I like to wait a good week for acid cured silicone while I'd wait two to three weeks, or longer, for neutral cured silicone. As already mentioned, acid cured releases acetic acid, and that's why you smell that vinegar odor. Neutral cured releases an alcohol (typically ethanol or methanol, but could be Acetone or MEK). And that's what I know about silicone! If you're in a rush, acid cured is your choice.

 

[DylanE]

This is what I use and have never had issues.

 

[Freenow54]

Amazon product

This is what I use and have never had issues.

no photo coming through

 

[DylanE]

no photo coming through

fixed, I guess it didn't like the amazon link

 

[edd59]

This is what I use and have never had issues.

all the money you have invested in your tanks and your looking to gamble and save 5 bucks instead of using whats made for the job. this^^

 

[DylanE]

all the money you have invested in your tanks and your looking to gamble and save 5 bucks instead of using whats made for the job. this^^

Edit: misread it. I agree with you, a couple more bucks to do it right.

 

[JTP424]

I’m not sure I understand why using aqueon silicon would be a gamble.

I think he may have been agreeing with your post? I think he was questioning OP on why they were questioning specific aquarium grade silicon :D

 

[DylanE]

I think he may have been agreeing with your post? I think he was questioning OP on why they were questioning specific aquarium grade silicon :D

Oh, gotcha. I missed the “this” at the end with that context.

 

[edd59]

sorry for the confusion, i did mean use aqueon and ge was the gamble.

 

[Fish Fan]

sorry for the confusion, i did mean use aqueon and ge was the gamble.

There's no gamble with GE Silicon I at all, I've used it for decades with no problems. That said, there are stronger silicon products to use if strength is a concern, but I've resealed whole tanks (up to 125 gallons) with GE Silicon I, no problems at all. The 125 I resealed is going on over 7 years of use now since being resealed. Of course, I've also been told that you shouldn't simply reseal tanks without completely separating the glass panels, so what do I know

 

[KStatefan]

# ReefSquad . I tried to post this normally but I will do this as it has me concerned. Only sign of stress is dying frags or no groth over weeks. I wanted to dose All for reef but my readings with Salifert are way off not even on the chart. Alk 10.5 , Calcium above 500 , Magnesium above 1500 . What should I do don't like using Chemicals

What should you do about what? Did you use silicon and it caused a problem?

 

[Freenow54]

What should you do about what? Did you use silicon and it caused a problem?

No sorry was posted wrong. The post is as written. I wanted to use All-For- Reef but did the required tests as asked. All the results are high. I did not use it Other than a water change over as I intend to do I don't know how to get things in line. The Corals ( frags ) are not looking good,

 

[Freenow54]

Nothing to do with Silicon use was not a Factor as Tests were done before use