Uncured Silicone

[celaeno]

an hour and a half ago, i put in my diy rock cave into the 10 gallon tank 3.5 days after siliconing it together.

before i did that, i noticed a faint smell of vinegar on parts of the cave where i had siliconed rocks together. i know that uncured silicone smells like vinegar and shouldn't be in contact with water while curing.

but will it resume curing now that i've taken out the cave and let it dry? how much longer should i wait?

 

[doresy]

Hi, first off, did you use aquarium-safe silicone?

 

[MojoDex]

presuming uve used aquarium silicone it shoulds be pretty much cured after 3.5 days i cant explain the smell but is it hard to the touch?

 

[doresy]

Again, assuming aquarium safe silicone, what is the diy cave made of as maybe a reaction has occured resulting in non-curing?

 

[MojoDex]

i wouldnt think silicone reacted with rock myself but i suppose it is possible

 

[celaeno]

yes, it is aquarium-safe silicone made by all glass aquarium. the rocks are red shale and beach pebbles.

 

[MojoDex]

shouldnt be a problem then, i figure worst u could do would be put it in a bucket over night and fill with water if its going to come apart one night will do it IMO

 

[gpgscott]

Thick sections of silicone take a long time to cure, silicone does not 'dry' the moisture in the air actually causes a chemical process to take place making the silicone cured. The fish tank safe thing is a sales gimmick to get you to pay more for the product any 100% clear silicone which has no other fillers is safe in the aqaurium. What has most likey happened is when you picked up your cave it flexed slightly and squeezed some of the thicker sections of the silicone which where not completely cured. wait another day then submerge it for a few hours in something other than your aqaurium and it should be fine. Scott

 

[celaeno]

wait another day then submerge it for a few hours in something other than your aqaurium and it should be fine. Scott

how would submerging it help if it still hasn't cured completely?

 

[gpgscott]

As I mentioned silicone requires the presence of moisture to cure. It will cure underwater. The problem with silicone is that in the curing process it releases an acid, this is the vinegar type odor you are describing. The acid in sufficient quantity is harmful to marine life, you will notice if you breath it in a confined area it will burn your mucous membranes. Dunking this thing in water will wash away the acid remaining from the lesser cured portions and should help accelerate the cure. Scott

 

[celaeno]

As I mentioned silicone requires the presence of moisture to cure. It will cure underwater. The problem with silicone is that in the curing process it releases an acid, this is the vinegar type odor you are describing. The acid in sufficient quantity is harmful to marine life, you will notice if you breath it in a confined area it will burn your mucous membranes. Dunking this thing in water will wash away the acid remaining from the lesser cured portions and should help accelerate the cure. Scott

but it specifically states on the back that uncured silicone cannot bond to a wet surface.

 

[gpgscott]

Correct, as I mentioned thicker sections take longer to cure, silicone cures from the outside in. The silicone directly on the rock surface is cured, that is why you can pick this cave up and it not fall apart, it is the thicker, 'globs' if you will that are still not completely cured and releasing the acid which is causing the odor. You can wait longer if you wish but I do not think it is necessary, you are handling the cave I am not but if it is cured sufficiently that you can handle it without it coming apart it is cured sufficiently to be submerged in my opinion. Scott