GE Silicone 2 Removal

Icewing726 · 04/17/2018, 08:52 PM

I have no idea how I messed this one up since I knew ahead of time to check aquarium safe but I managed to do it anyway. I covered my overflow teeth with GE Black Silicone 2 and now I'm trying to get it all off.

Questions:
1) I have no livestock and only a tiny bit of water has been exposed to this silicone (small pieces breaking free as I remove it and a very small amount of water splashing on it as I was adding it). Is all my water screwed, or can I just add carbon to the sump for a week or so?

2) How in heavens name do I remove all of the silicone from the overflow teeth? A portion of the teeth is wedged under a glass shelf and its very hard to scrape that area with a knife. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

3) Is complete removal necessary or will it be a non issue once I add the new pieces and new silicone?

4) Anyone want my tank? I swear its going to kill me long before any fish die... back to shimming...

thegrun · 04/17/2018, 09:08 PM

How long did the silicone cure before you added water? Even with aquarium safe silicone you should let it cure for at least a week, but 14 days is preferred, otherwise even reef safe silicone will leach chemicals into the water. You really want to remove as much of the GE2 silicone as possible, but tiny spots are unlikely to cause problems assuming it cured for a couple of weeks before you added water. If you didn't let the silicone cure I would dump the water and start fresh (after allowing the new silicone to cure).

Icewing726 · 04/17/2018, 09:19 PM

So to be clear the water contact came from when I was cleaning the excess and some water droplets that came directly in contact with the silicone ran down into the water. Also in the process of peeling it off a few pieces snapped sending what looked to be specs into the water. I have not run water over the silicone or submerged it.

Icewing726 · 04/17/2018, 11:16 PM

Sure, my basic question is how do I neutralize the threat.

mcgyvr · 04/18/2018, 04:29 AM

You are fine..
GE2 just releases ammonia during curing.. I can be used it just takes longer to cure vs the type 1 silicone (which is a vinegar cure not ammonia)
By the time your tank is done cycling the silicone will be cured and not a problem at all and any minute amounts of ammonia will have been processed by the bacteria in the tank into their less harmless forms..

billdogg · 04/18/2018, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

You are fine..
GE2 just releases ammonia during curing.. I can be used it just takes longer to cure vs the type 1 silicone (which is a vinegar cure not ammonia)
By the time your tank is done cycling the silicone will be cured and not a problem at all and any minute amounts of ammonia will have been processed by the bacteria in the tank into their less harmless forms..

^^^This^^^

04/17/2018, 08:52 PM	#1
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	GE Silicone 2 Removal I have no idea how I messed this one up since I knew ahead of time to check aquarium safe but I managed to do it anyway. I covered my overflow teeth with GE Black Silicone 2 and now I'm trying to get it all off. Questions: 1) I have no livestock and only a tiny bit of water has been exposed to this silicone (small pieces breaking free as I remove it and a very small amount of water splashing on it as I was adding it). Is all my water screwed, or can I just add carbon to the sump for a week or so? 2) How in heavens name do I remove all of the silicone from the overflow teeth? A portion of the teeth is wedged under a glass shelf and its very hard to scrape that area with a knife. Any suggestions would be welcomed. 3) Is complete removal necessary or will it be a non issue once I add the new pieces and new silicone? 4) Anyone want my tank? I swear its going to kill me long before any fish die... back to shimming...

04/18/2018, 04:29 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	You are fine.. GE2 just releases ammonia during curing.. I can be used it just takes longer to cure vs the type 1 silicone (which is a vinegar cure not ammonia) By the time your tank is done cycling the silicone will be cured and not a problem at all and any minute amounts of ammonia will have been processed by the bacteria in the tank into their less harmless forms.. __________________ Who me?

04/17/2018, 09:08 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	How long did the silicone cure before you added water? Even with aquarium safe silicone you should let it cure for at least a week, but 14 days is preferred, otherwise even reef safe silicone will leach chemicals into the water. You really want to remove as much of the GE2 silicone as possible, but tiny spots are unlikely to cause problems assuming it cured for a couple of weeks before you added water. If you didn't let the silicone cure I would dump the water and start fresh (after allowing the new silicone to cure).

04/17/2018, 09:19 PM	#3
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	So to be clear the water contact came from when I was cleaning the excess and some water droplets that came directly in contact with the silicone ran down into the water. Also in the process of peeling it off a few pieces snapped sending what looked to be specs into the water. I have not run water over the silicone or submerged it.