What silicone is safe for aquariums?

load1 · 04/17/2006, 08:39 AM

I need to glue a baffle in my sump. Went to HD and bought a 18x24x1/4 Plexiglas sheet. Could not find a tube of silicone that stated Ã¢â‚¬Å“aquarium safeÃ¢â‚¬Â. Many said not suitable for aquariums. Only one said nothing about aquariums, GE brand for Lexan and plastics in a red tube. What would you recommend?

TitansFan · 04/17/2006, 09:18 AM

I used GE Silicone II Window and Door
Don't get the stuff for the kitchen and bathrooms. It has mildew killer in it.

For what its worth I did the same thing as you. I now have a plexiglass sheet in my garge. It just did not hold as well with silicone as I wanted. I went with glass baffles.

RichConley · 04/17/2006, 09:20 AM

I've heard (but not verified) that all the GEIIs now have milder killer in them. You may want to go with the GE Silicon I Windows and Doors.

Like TitanFan said, stay away fromt he kitchen and bathroom stuff.

As to problems with plexiglass/acrylic and silicon, the main issue is that acrylic bends. Its not really an adhesion issue, its that they plexi warps under pressure, and pulls away from the seam. If you're not going to use thick acrylic, dont bother.

amitchell · 04/17/2006, 11:45 AM

I grabbed the kitchen and bath stuff by accident. How bad is it? Will it kill anything? I just used it for 3 baffles.

Jamescoop · 04/17/2006, 12:42 PM

Maybe, if there isnt a ton of surface area of the glue you might be okay. Its kind of like spraying windex in your tank,

how long have you been using it? You could always cut it off as much as possible and replace with teh GE II

Is weld-on reef safe?

afishyonados · 04/17/2006, 12:53 PM

i got a good idea how about using the all glass silicone- aquarium safe around 10 bucks for a big tube.

amitchell · 04/17/2006, 02:10 PM

Probably right. I was at HD buying other stuff.

RichConley · 04/17/2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amitchell
I grabbed the kitchen and bath stuff by accident. How bad is it? Will it kill anything? I just used it for 3 baffles.

I've got a 29 that I resealed with that stuff about 2 years ago. Its sitting in the back yard full of water and stagnant. Not even mosquito larvae grow in it.

04/17/2006, 08:39 AM	#1
load1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 13	What silicone is safe for aquariums? I need to glue a baffle in my sump. Went to HD and bought a 18x24x1/4 Plexiglas sheet. Could not find a tube of silicone that stated Ã¢â‚¬Å“aquarium safeÃ¢â‚¬Â. Many said not suitable for aquariums. Only one said nothing about aquariums, GE brand for Lexan and plastics in a red tube. What would you recommend?

04/17/2006, 09:20 AM	#3
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	I've heard (but not verified) that all the GEIIs now have milder killer in them. You may want to go with the GE Silicon I Windows and Doors. Like TitanFan said, stay away fromt he kitchen and bathroom stuff. As to problems with plexiglass/acrylic and silicon, the main issue is that acrylic bends. Its not really an adhesion issue, its that they plexi warps under pressure, and pulls away from the seam. If you're not going to use thick acrylic, dont bother. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

04/17/2006, 09:18 AM	#2
TitansFan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 1,364	I used GE Silicone II Window and Door Don't get the stuff for the kitchen and bathrooms. It has mildew killer in it. For what its worth I did the same thing as you. I now have a plexiglass sheet in my garge. It just did not hold as well with silicone as I wanted. I went with glass baffles.

04/17/2006, 11:45 AM	#4
amitchell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Yonkers, NY Posts: 45	I grabbed the kitchen and bath stuff by accident. How bad is it? Will it kill anything? I just used it for 3 baffles.

04/17/2006, 12:42 PM	#5
Jamescoop Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 55	Maybe, if there isnt a ton of surface area of the glue you might be okay. Its kind of like spraying windex in your tank, how long have you been using it? You could always cut it off as much as possible and replace with teh GE II Is weld-on reef safe?

04/17/2006, 12:53 PM	#6
afishyonados Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sumter, SC Posts: 459	i got a good idea how about using the all glass silicone- aquarium safe around 10 bucks for a big tube.

04/17/2006, 02:10 PM	#7
amitchell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Yonkers, NY Posts: 45	Probably right. I was at HD buying other stuff.