Need help with tank repair

budweisman · 01-08-2004, 05:24 AM

I have a 100 gals tank that I had for several years and would like to re-seal the inside corner, somebody told me that a 100% silicone is the one to use but when I read the instruction it is not recommended for underwater use, now I'm confused and don't know what to use, any help is greatly appreciated.

wooddood · 01-08-2004, 08:20 AM

go to a glass shop and ask them what they recomend.but im sure you can get it at lowes/homedepot or your lfs.

BigReepher · 01-08-2004, 09:31 AM

I think they just say not for underwater use for liability reasons. I personally use Aquarium Sealant made by DAP, it's basically just 100% silicone. As long as the silicone says 100% silicone and doesn't have any additives, I think you'll be fine.

ScottT1980 · 01-08-2004, 09:34 AM

Usually at a HD or Lowes, you will find two types of silicon, one that has a mildew inhibitor and one that does not. Get the silicone without the additives and you will be fine.

Also, you can smell it and I think the one with additives smells different that the 100% silicone (which smells like acetic acid or vinegar)

BoomerD · 01-08-2004, 09:44 AM

I did this stuff for years. As was posted, home depot, lowes or the LFS should carry a good silicone. 100% silastic silicone. Make sure that you don't get siliconeII..It has the mildew repellent additive, and is toxic. When you remove your old silicone, make sure you get all the timy pieces, use a single edge razor to scrape every last bit of old silicone from the glass, or you won't get a good seal.

Pro_builder · 01-08-2004, 09:55 AM

BoomerD is correct here!!! Use 100% silicone, and clean then clean some more. You will be fine. Once you get the bead, of Silcone in the corner, wet your finger tip and smooth the bead out, this will make it bond better to the glass and also make it look better.
HTH

01-08-2004, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BoomerD
Make sure that you don't get siliconeII..It has the mildew repellent additive, and is toxic.

Both silicone I and silicone II can have the mildew inhibitors. But both can be inhibitor-free as well. Silicone II doesn't hold well underwater which is why it shouldn't be used.

Silicone I ofen reads, "100% Silicone Rubber" and yes, it smells like vinegar. Silicone II reads, "100% Silicone".

budweisman · 01-09-2004, 12:45 AM

Thanks for your quick reply, I'll use a 100% silicone, I made some phone calls to a local store and they have a 100% silicone made specially for aquarium, O also made a call to DAP and they said the silicone I have in a blue tube is not safe for fish, anyway I would like to thank again everybody for their help/reply.

BoomerD · 01-09-2004, 12:58 AM

Jupiter, thanks for clarifying that. I had it pointed out to me by a friend that several of the aquarium companies also use SiliconeII for joining acrylic to glass. Apparently, it works better on the acrylic than the standard silicone.

Pro_builder · 01-09-2004, 01:26 AM

Boomer, you are right. Silicone II works better for bonding 2 different materials together.
Especially glass and Acrylic

01-08-2004, 05:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
budweisman Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2 View Gallery Karma Komment	Need help with tank repair I have a 100 gals tank that I had for several years and would like to re-seal the inside corner, somebody told me that a 100% silicone is the one to use but when I read the instruction it is not recommended for underwater use, now I'm confused and don't know what to use, any help is greatly appreciated.

01-08-2004, 08:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	go to a glass shop and ask them what they recomend.but im sure you can get it at lowes/homedepot or your lfs. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

01-08-2004, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
BigReepher Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 474 View Gallery Karma Komment	I think they just say not for underwater use for liability reasons. I personally use Aquarium Sealant made by DAP, it's basically just 100% silicone. As long as the silicone says 100% silicone and doesn't have any additives, I think you'll be fine. __________________ I'm not a doctor but I'll take a look.

01-08-2004, 09:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,484 View Gallery Karma Komment	Usually at a HD or Lowes, you will find two types of silicon, one that has a mildew inhibitor and one that does not. Get the silicone without the additives and you will be fine. Also, you can smell it and I think the one with additives smells different that the 100% silicone (which smells like acetic acid or vinegar) __________________ My Tank

01-08-2004, 09:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	BoomerD is correct here!!! Use 100% silicone, and clean then clean some more. You will be fine. Once you get the bead, of Silcone in the corner, wet your finger tip and smooth the bead out, this will make it bond better to the glass and also make it look better. HTH __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

01-08-2004, 09:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,632 View Gallery Karma Komment	I did this stuff for years. As was posted, home depot, lowes or the LFS should carry a good silicone. 100% silastic silicone. Make sure that you don't get siliconeII..It has the mildew repellent additive, and is toxic. When you remove your old silicone, make sure you get all the timy pieces, use a single edge razor to scrape every last bit of old silicone from the glass, or you won't get a good seal.

01-09-2004, 12:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
budweisman Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for your quick reply, I'll use a 100% silicone, I made some phone calls to a local store and they have a 100% silicone made specially for aquarium, O also made a call to DAP and they said the silicone I have in a blue tube is not safe for fish, anyway I would like to thank again everybody for their help/reply.

01-09-2004, 12:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,632 View Gallery Karma Komment	Jupiter, thanks for clarifying that. I had it pointed out to me by a friend that several of the aquarium companies also use SiliconeII for joining acrylic to glass. Apparently, it works better on the acrylic than the standard silicone.

01-09-2004, 01:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Boomer, you are right. Silicone II works better for bonding 2 different materials together. Especially glass and Acrylic __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

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