Silicone

[Alanky]

I am planning on building a few small and medium sized caves for my aquariums. I was goging to use the stuff my LFS sells, but it is almost $6 US for a tiny little squeeze bottle! Where as the big tubes of silicone are just under $2 US. So is the regular silicone safe to use? I know I would probably let it dry for 48+ hours before I put it in and also soak it for a few days in a bucket of water. Before I do this and risk my fish/frogs lives I would like to know if it is toxic to them or not?

Thanks in advance!

 

[OscarCichlid]

Im not sure if it will be safe but i think another question would be... Will silicone (not made for tanks) hold underwater?? I would suggest going to thatpetplace.com and ordering a full size tube of aquarium silicone .. thats what i did..

 

[Alanky]

Thats true to. It may break down under water.

 

[jjsdad]

On any silicone you get it will say on the tube if it's safe for aquariums.

The stuff at the hardware stores usually is not but you may find one that is.

Good luck with your project

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

check out guarden centers.. you will find that green house glass silicon is cheaper and is good for aquariums.

check out bison silicon

Glass: Particularly suitable for joining and bonding glass, plexiglas (polyacrylic glass), glazed materials, plastics, enamel, metals, glass terraria, water basins, glass battery jars, shop windows, show cases and double glazing constructions. Type Glass-transparent is specially intended for aluminium-glass joints. For aquaria use type Glass-clear only.

 

[meatball]

I would suggest going to thatpetplace.com and ordering a full size tube of aquarium silicone .. thats what i did..

i live like 20 miles away from thatfishplace / thatpetplace. it rules. still havent tried the mail order fish tho lol.

 

[Aulonochromis]

Alot of people have used GE Silicone I (for windows and doors) successfully. Alot of silicone says "not safe for aquariums" for liabilty reasons.

 

[Alanky]

Thanks for all the helpful information so far! I was at the hardware store today reading all kinds of labels. Only found one thing that had "fish tanks" listed under uses. Then a few sentance down it says " Do not get on skin, do not breathe fumes for long periods of time" and goes on about how toxic the stuff is. It was some sort of epoxy putty. So I am doubting that one as well even though it says fish tanks. I may get these caves made some day.

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

all silicone is toxic and bad for the skin. but when it cures. the toxsisty comes out of the silicone. but the ones that say good for aquariums are checked for this. there are allot of other silicones and glue which are good for tanks but they havent been tested. To test and clear a batch of glue/silicone would be very expencive so they clear 1 type and say thate good for you....

My silicone i white. im looking for a brand that is clear.

 

[meatball]

haha, i bought some of that 100% silicone from the hardware store. aquarium safe of course, but hell i couldnt work with it for more than 10 minutes at a time, the chemicals smell almost as strong as pure ammonia. but anyhow i got my cave finished, and now my jaguar catfish is finally happy with his home

 

[faewyn]

I would make sure you use a good quality silicon, My tank has not be re-silc for 12 years Maybe its due for some more

 

[Adrinal]

Alot of people have used GE Silicone I (for windows and doors) successfully. Alot of silicone says "not safe for aquariums" for liabilty reasons.

yep.

I would not get window rather get stuff for kitchen sinks. n such... the stuff for human food areas should be safe for tanks (at least after dried)... the tank in my sig has about 3 cock guns full of goo on the back wall from gluing in pvc and rocks and gravel right to the wall before I set it up (btw the gravel didnt work but the rocks did for the most part)
Looks great at any rate.
Sorry that was more than 2 years ago so I cant remember what is what brand ... I want to do some more projects in the summer so If you do get some more info plz let us know.

 

[fozzy_wozzy_woo]

just remember that some silicon can be to strong and not flexible enough for aquariums. silicon must be able to flex.

 

[Alien_spawn]

haha, i bought some of that 100% silicone from the hardware store. aquarium safe of course, but hell i couldnt work with it for more than 10 minutes at a time, the chemicals smell almost as strong as pure ammonia. but anyhow i got my cave finished, and now my jaguar catfish is finally happy with his home

Your not kidding on that I've learn't today on my Tank background project, hours later it still stinks!!!!

 

[mrV]

If it's suitable, it's usually said on tube "Suitable for aquarium" etc... Some silicon contains compounds that prevents mould etc. to grow. Those silicon aren't suitable to tanks.