Which GE silicone?

[dave]

I've forgotten which silicone is tank safe? I need a couple of tubes
for a large tank I am building. Any help?

[NetMax]

"dave" > wrote in message
...
> I've forgotten which silicone is tank safe? I need a couple of tubes
> for a large tank I am building. Any help?

Which is safe? GE for windows & doors. But is it appropriate for
holding glass together?

GE also has an aquarium product line (check their site) which is good for
up to 5g, so at least you know it is not toxic, but it is not available
everywhere. The industrial versions GE said were safe to use were: GE012
(clear), GE12A (clear), GE112 (white), GE312 (black) and GE361 (clear),
but this is not advertised (use at your risk).

Mulco (Seco) said to avoid their 100% silicone general sealants as they
were not adhesive enough, and to only use their clear silicone which
would be free of herbicides. Any silicone which says it resists mould &
mildew will have herbicides and be toxic to fish.

I am using GE Silicone I, "for doors & windows", which I understand is
safe, but I am not using it to hold the aquarium together. For aquarium
construction, I would research buying on-line, caulking tubes of the GE
industrial versions I listed above. hth

NetMax

[jk]

I always thought that just about any of the common silicone tubes you'd
find at a hardware store were OK to use, and basically all the same. Am I
wrong?

--
JK Sinrod NY
Sinrod Stained Glass
www.sinrodstudios.com
Coney Island Memories
www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories

[Rick]

"dave" > wrote in message
...
> I've forgotten which silicone is tank safe? I need a couple of tubes
> for a large tank I am building. Any help?

you likely won't find this in a Rona or Home Depot but check you Yellow
Pages for a store that sells adhesives and pick up some GE construction
grade 1200 series. It is perfectly safe for aquariums and holds together
very well. Canadian Tire, "Mastercraft" brand clean silicone is also not bad
, just make sure you pick up the one that clearly states on the tube "safe
for aquariums"

Rick

[Mark]

Yes JK, that is wrong and many have killed their fish as a result.
Virtually any of the kitchen/bathroom silicons will kill fish in a
hurry. I had a tank given to me and killed everything I put in it
within 2-3 days. Then I found out the person had resealed the tank.
That's why he gave me the tank.....he couldn't keep anything alive for
more than a day or two. After I removed all the old silicon and
replaced it, the fish in that tank are doing fine.


Mark
http://www.cichliddomain.com


"jk" > wrote in message
t...
>
> I always thought that just about any of the common silicone tubes
you'd
> find at a hardware store were OK to use, and basically all the same.
Am I
> wrong?
>
> --
> JK Sinrod NY
> Sinrod Stained Glass
> www.sinrodstudios.com
> Coney Island Memories
> www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories
>
>

[jk]

"Mark" > wrote in message
...
>
> Yes JK, that is wrong and many have killed their fish as a result.
> Virtually any of the kitchen/bathroom silicons will kill fish in a
> hurry. I had a tank given to me and killed everything I put in it
> within 2-3 days. Then I found out the person had resealed the tank.
> That's why he gave me the tank.....he couldn't keep anything alive for
> more than a day or two. After I removed all the old silicon and
> replaced it, the fish in that tank are doing fine.
>
>
> Mark
> http://www.cichliddomain.com
>
>

I'm sure you are right Mark. Even after the silicone has completely
cured? What you are saying is that it is somewhat soluble, and I can't
imagine that. I've never seen it breakdown or melt even 20 years outdoors.

--
JK Sinrod NY
Sinrod Stained Glass
www.sinrodstudios.com
Coney Island Memories
www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories

[Rick]

"jk" > wrote in message
t...
>
> "Mark" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Yes JK, that is wrong and many have killed their fish as a result.
> > Virtually any of the kitchen/bathroom silicons will kill fish in a
> > hurry. I had a tank given to me and killed everything I put in it
> > within 2-3 days. Then I found out the person had resealed the tank.
> > That's why he gave me the tank.....he couldn't keep anything alive for
> > more than a day or two. After I removed all the old silicon and
> > replaced it, the fish in that tank are doing fine.
> >
> >
> > Mark
> > http://www.cichliddomain.com
> >
> >
>
> I'm sure you are right Mark. Even after the silicone has completely
> cured? What you are saying is that it is somewhat soluble, and I can't
> imagine that. I've never seen it breakdown or melt even 20 years outdoors.
>
> --
> JK Sinrod NY
> Sinrod Stained Glass
> www.sinrodstudios.com
> Coney Island Memories
> www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories
>

kitchen and bath silicone has chemical addititaves that prevent mildew and
mould. These leech into the tank killing your fish very quickly. Never use
kitchen and bath type silicones.

Rick

[Haywire]

What you need to look/ask for is the silicone used in curtain walls, it's
classified as a structural sealant and glazing. You'll want the ones that
the acetoxy process (smells like vinegar) and you should verify with the
manufacturer of the sealant how long it takes to FULLY cure, not just
develope a skim coat which you can touch.

At that point you may want or will need to run a fillet bead of regular
aquarium sealant along the joints.

My friend had though he got the right sealant to rebuild his 65G tank, he
had the regular sealant in a large tube. I knew that he needed the
structural glazing sealant and told him, sure enough he checked with a
local manufacturer and I was right. I'll send him an email to get the
product information he was told to use. So finally sitting through those
lectures has paid off.

"NetMax" > wrote in
:

> I am using GE Silicone I, "for doors & windows", which I understand is
> safe, but I am not using it to hold the aquarium together. For aquarium
> construction, I would research buying on-line, caulking tubes of the GE
> industrial versions I listed above. hth
>
> NetMax
>
>
>

[James Thompson]

> > Yes JK, that is wrong and many have killed their fish as a result.
> > Virtually any of the kitchen/bathroom silicons will kill fish in a
> > hurry. I had a tank given to me and killed everything I put in it
> > within 2-3 days. Then I found out the person had resealed the tank.
> > That's why he gave me the tank.....he couldn't keep anything alive for
> > more than a day or two. After I removed all the old silicon and
> > replaced it, the fish in that tank are doing fine.
> >
> >
> > Mark
> > http://www.cichliddomain.com
> >
> >
>
> I'm sure you are right Mark. Even after the silicone has completely
> cured? What you are saying is that it is somewhat soluble, and I can't
> imagine that. I've never seen it breakdown or melt even 20 years outdoors.
>
Use the ge silicone II - clear for windows and doors. It is much stronger
to hold your tank together. I built a 60 gallon tank with it and it is
doing fine.
The silicone I is not strong enough and the tank will split apart. You can
use the 1 for sealing a leak spot, but use the 2 for construction. about 5
bucks at lowes, etc.