Can you use silicone....

islandcreation · 01/17/2008, 06:55 PM

I have an acrylic sump and it has a very small leak. I have some silicone handy, I'd be late going to a tap plastic due to all the traffice plus trying to get there in 6 minutes. So could I use the silicone to reseal the whole tank? Meaning to bed all of the corners just like a glass tank to make sure there are no other leaks that come into play? Thanks

am3gross · 01/17/2008, 07:02 PM

i am not really sure if it would be a permanate fix. you will have to wait until tomorrow for the silicone to dry so why not just wait until tomorrow and get some weldon and a piece of acrylic depending on where the leak is from and fix it that way?

Roy G. Biv · 01/17/2008, 07:13 PM

Silicone doesnt stick to acrylic well. It will just peel if you dont rough it up.

islandcreation · 01/17/2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by am3gross
i am not really sure if it would be a permanate fix. you will have to wait until tomorrow for the silicone to dry so why not just wait until tomorrow and get some weldon and a piece of acrylic depending on where the leak is from and fix it that way?

I'm bored and want something to do. Plus I have a whole tube of silicone sitting for the past 8 months so why not use it if it could fix the problem. Nothing big just asking if anyone has done this or even if its do able?

islandcreation · 01/17/2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pmolan
Silicone doesnt stick to acrylic well. It will just peel if you dont rough it up.

Will the silicone peel off with just water usage? Or does an individuals half to peel it off with force? Thanks

barjam · 01/17/2008, 08:06 PM

Silicon just comes right off of plastic particularly over time. The reason why it "sticks" to glass/silicon connections "ok" like overflows and baffles is that it sticks really, really well to glass and just binds the plastic in.

I removed acrylic baffles from an old glass sump a few months back.... I had had this sump for about a year. The silicon peeled right off the acrylic but was very difficult to remove from the glass.

islandcreation · 01/17/2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barjam
Silicon just comes right off of plastic particularly over time. The reason why it "sticks" to glass/silicon connections "ok" like overflows and baffles is that it sticks really, really well to glass and just binds the plastic in.

I removed acrylic baffles from an old glass sump a few months back.... I had had this sump for about a year. The silicon peeled right off the acrylic but was very difficult to remove from the glass.

So if there is no force trying to peel off the acrylic it should be fine, right? Based on plastic use like megaflows or even acrylic baffles the silcone used did hold up as long as there isn't a force trying to take it off. So it would be safe just to silicone the corner of the tank...?

01/17/2008, 06:55 PM	#1
islandcreation Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 412	Can you use silicone.... I have an acrylic sump and it has a very small leak. I have some silicone handy, I'd be late going to a tap plastic due to all the traffice plus trying to get there in 6 minutes. So could I use the silicone to reseal the whole tank? Meaning to bed all of the corners just like a glass tank to make sure there are no other leaks that come into play? Thanks

01/17/2008, 07:02 PM	#2
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	i am not really sure if it would be a permanate fix. you will have to wait until tomorrow for the silicone to dry so why not just wait until tomorrow and get some weldon and a piece of acrylic depending on where the leak is from and fix it that way? __________________ There are five things that you cannot recover in life: (1) The Stone...........after it's thrown, (2) The Word...............after it's said, (3) The Occasion......after it's missed, and ...(4) The Time.............after it's gone. (5) A person...............after they die Current Tank Info: 210 display, 75 gallon fuge

01/17/2008, 07:13 PM	#3
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	Silicone doesnt stick to acrylic well. It will just peel if you dont rough it up.

01/17/2008, 08:06 PM	#6
barjam Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,695	Silicon just comes right off of plastic particularly over time. The reason why it "sticks" to glass/silicon connections "ok" like overflows and baffles is that it sticks really, really well to glass and just binds the plastic in. I removed acrylic baffles from an old glass sump a few months back.... I had had this sump for about a year. The silicon peeled right off the acrylic but was very difficult to remove from the glass.