Silicone drying time

JBuffetReefer · 05/23/2008, 02:56 PM

Well I just modified my sump for my skimmer. I have deduced that the reason I have not gotten consistant performance is because I had water level changes in my sump.

I decided that I needed to add a baffle to keep my water level consistant. I used a .93mm acrylic panel and silconed it in. The directions say that it doesn't cure for 24 hours and don't fill with water for 48 hours. Has anyone tried to add water sooner? I think my tank should be ok for 2 days but was hoping to start running it sooner.

The silicone I used was DAP made specifically for aquariums BTW.

Any thoughts?

JBuffetReefer · 05/23/2008, 05:33 PM

bump

JBuffetReefer · 05/23/2008, 07:43 PM

bump bump

Duff Man · 05/23/2008, 09:12 PM

If it's made for aquariums, I would follow the directions to be on the safe side.

JBuffetReefer · 05/24/2008, 12:10 AM

Has anyone ever tried using it sooner than reccomended?

918ReefCpl · 05/24/2008, 12:32 AM

One thing that we have read about but not personally experienced is that Aquarium Silicone does not readily bond to acrylics. Again can not personally verify this but have read several articles on this...most likely would fail in a pressure situation (i.e. corner of a tank...Does AGE use silicone to hold the reef ready tanks overflows to the glass? When we built our sump, we used glass on glass and during the 100'F+ days we had, leaving it outside for 24hrs dried the silicone well. Silicone skins usually in an hr and is fully cured within 24-48hrs..If you still smell the vinegar odor, its still curing.

JBuffetReefer · 05/24/2008, 12:51 AM

Well I never heard of that before. I'm not too worried about leaks since I am only using it for consant water level for my skimmer. As long as it can keep a consant level, I don't care if it leaks a little around the seams.

I would think that silicone is used to hold the overflows.

bdepp · 05/24/2008, 12:54 AM

i can personally attest to letting it dry. i had exactly the same situation 2 months ago. i filled my sump after 2 days and the seal broke in 2 weeks.

make sure that you use a good amount of silicon to seal against the acrylic and glass. silicon does not bond to acrylic well at all but it can be done. you might want to rough up the surface of the acrylic first before you silicon it.

JBuffetReefer · 05/24/2008, 12:57 AM

My biggest concern is the uncured silicone leaching into the water and killing the fish.

05/23/2008, 02:56 PM	#1
JBuffetReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 510	Silicone drying time Well I just modified my sump for my skimmer. I have deduced that the reason I have not gotten consistant performance is because I had water level changes in my sump. I decided that I needed to add a baffle to keep my water level consistant. I used a .93mm acrylic panel and silconed it in. The directions say that it doesn't cure for 24 hours and don't fill with water for 48 hours. Has anyone tried to add water sooner? I think my tank should be ok for 2 days but was hoping to start running it sooner. The silicone I used was DAP made specifically for aquariums BTW. Any thoughts? __________________ Pour me something tall and strong, make it a hurricane before I go insane. It's only half past twelve but I don't care. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank soon to be reef tank & 34 Gallon Reef Tank Last edited by JBuffetReefer; 05/23/2008 at 03:01 PM.

05/23/2008, 05:33 PM	#2
JBuffetReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 510	bump __________________ Pour me something tall and strong, make it a hurricane before I go insane. It's only half past twelve but I don't care. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank soon to be reef tank & 34 Gallon Reef Tank

05/23/2008, 07:43 PM	#3
JBuffetReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 510	bump bump __________________ Pour me something tall and strong, make it a hurricane before I go insane. It's only half past twelve but I don't care. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank soon to be reef tank & 34 Gallon Reef Tank

05/24/2008, 12:10 AM	#5
JBuffetReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 510	Has anyone ever tried using it sooner than reccomended? __________________ Pour me something tall and strong, make it a hurricane before I go insane. It's only half past twelve but I don't care. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank soon to be reef tank & 34 Gallon Reef Tank

05/24/2008, 12:32 AM	#6
918ReefCpl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 736	One thing that we have read about but not personally experienced is that Aquarium Silicone does not readily bond to acrylics. Again can not personally verify this but have read several articles on this...most likely would fail in a pressure situation (i.e. corner of a tank...Does AGE use silicone to hold the reef ready tanks overflows to the glass? When we built our sump, we used glass on glass and during the 100'F+ days we had, leaving it outside for 24hrs dried the silicone well. Silicone skins usually in an hr and is fully cured within 24-48hrs..If you still smell the vinegar odor, its still curing. Last edited by 918ReefCpl; 05/24/2008 at 01:23 AM.

05/23/2008, 09:12 PM	#4
Duff Man Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago's far NW burbs Posts: 629	If it's made for aquariums, I would follow the directions to be on the safe side.

05/24/2008, 12:51 AM	#7
JBuffetReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 510	Well I never heard of that before. I'm not too worried about leaks since I am only using it for consant water level for my skimmer. As long as it can keep a consant level, I don't care if it leaks a little around the seams. I would think that silicone is used to hold the overflows. __________________ Pour me something tall and strong, make it a hurricane before I go insane. It's only half past twelve but I don't care. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank soon to be reef tank & 34 Gallon Reef Tank

05/24/2008, 12:54 AM	#8
bdepp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 240	i can personally attest to letting it dry. i had exactly the same situation 2 months ago. i filled my sump after 2 days and the seal broke in 2 weeks. make sure that you use a good amount of silicon to seal against the acrylic and glass. silicon does not bond to acrylic well at all but it can be done. you might want to rough up the surface of the acrylic first before you silicon it.

05/24/2008, 12:57 AM	#9
JBuffetReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 510	My biggest concern is the uncured silicone leaching into the water and killing the fish. __________________ Pour me something tall and strong, make it a hurricane before I go insane. It's only half past twelve but I don't care. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank soon to be reef tank & 34 Gallon Reef Tank