Silicone - how long?

[Nerine]

Is it 48 hours? a week? how long do you let your silicone sit when resealing??

last time I did it, my tank sat for a month because I was too busy hahaha

but ....I just siliconed 2 tanks, and oy...what a smell! don't put your head right in the tank while doing it though on one had to...YUCK! my head still whirls from the toxic odor!

so yeah...two tanks redone...now they are outside drying....how long?

and here's another thought...how do you know it's gonna hold? LOL I'm going to put water in them while they are out there just to test, but I'm 99.999999% certain I did it right

[jimskoi]

48 hours.
It should say on the tube(if its aquarium silicone)

[Brent Shaver]

Most tubes are marked with a set and completely dry time.  I suggest that you give an extra 12 hours just to be safe, keeping in mind if it isnt right it isnt as easy as a peel and redo.

[Brine]

now they are outside drying

I wonder if they should be out of the direct sunlight....UV rays? I have no idea but it just occurred to me that might be a bad thing.

[Nerine]

well and the sun would keep it soft!! we have a huge covered porch, so they are in the shade, just can't keep them in the house or the cats would be in them!! and already had to fix a mess because someone decided to throw "Rosie" the stuffed bear in one haha

and well it is a fairly easy peel and re-do...I was just uber lazy and it took me awhile to get these done but over all, an afternoon of scraping and cleaning out and then 15 mins to find clippers and the gun!

I didn't use "aquarium" silicone as it costs too much per tube and I'd need a couple of those mini tubes! I just bought the regular GE tube...it USED to say aquarium safe on it, but they took it off the tube. that was discussed in another thread ages ago
Cost less than $3 to do each tank!

[JetJumper]

I didn't use "aquarium" silicone as it costs too much per tube and I'd need a couple of those mini tubes! I just bought the regular GE tube...it USED to say aquarium safe on it, but they took it off the tube. that was discussed in another thread ages ago
Cost less than $3 to do each tank!

I have used this stuff as well and it works well.  On the other hand, if you are needing to do this again I recommend going to Home Hardware.  They sell 3 tubes for $9.99 which specifically say Aquarium safe.  Just incase people didn't know.  Home Hardware isn't as popular as Home Depot / Rona / Lowes these days.. 

[Nerine]

I actually haven't ever used aquarium silicone for my tanks...I had a tube once, that I used to silicone rocks before, but other than that, have always used the GE stuff!! I've done a few tanks with the biggest being a 55 gallon...never again will I do something that large haha (or larger, ok I say that now, so kick me if I ever do it!)

It's not that bad of a job really...it's just a tad time consuming! and smelly!

[Saltcreep]

Re-doing tanks always makes me want french fries. As for the silicone, I always use the GE Silicone I too. The warning on the tube used to say 'Not for use on surfaces in contact with food, aquariums'. The last tube I bought a couple of weeks ago doesn't mention the word "aquariums" any more although it doesn't specify aquarium-safe either.

[Vincenzo.]

48hrs is best

its fine if its outside to dry. silicone and caulking is used outside all the time, its totally fine.

GE Silicone #1 (Window and Door) is what u want

GE Silicone #2 (bathroom one) is a NO NO. it has chemical in it for mildew

[Nerine]

exactly Vince! I think the bathroom one is a red bottle? I have a bottle of it somewhere, and it's red and black from whta I remember...we use that stuff elsewhere

I think they have to say no aquariums now...there was a reason behind that mentioned somewhere...probably because someone slapped it on then filled with water right away? who knows...I do remember a thread regarding this issue before!!!

I think it's the vinegar smell that makes one want french fries!! now I'm hungry thanks!

well the tanks have to wait till saturday anyways to be filled as I have a lot of other things to tend to first...the fish are in temporary homes of bins and buckets...I love my buckets

[johnrt]

I use GE SCS1200, either clear or black, from Centennial Glass Ottawa. It is about $9 for a tube. From the spec. sheets, it has much better glass bonding characteristics than the regular GE product. There is no mention of aquariums on the label or in the spec. sheets, but I understand that it is the stuff the big guys use on tanks.

From the Technical Data Sheets
GE SCS1200
Ultimate Tensile Strength 480 psi < higher is better
Ultimate Elongation 513% < higher is better. Even if the glass cracks (without chunks falling out in the middle) the edges will hold and water will leak, but less likely to be explosive.
May be used in food contact applications.

GE Silicone I
Ultimate Tensile Strength 120 psi < Strong, but not as strong
Ultimate Elongation 50% < more 'brittle', but not very brittle
No mention of food contact or aquariums. < No reports of RBSH*

* Real Bad Stuff Happening.


Clearly, many people have built large tanks using the 'weaker' Silicone I. It is cheap and easy to get and 120 psi is very strong, so there are few reports of 'interesting' failures and lots of reports of successes. So Silicone I seems to be truly - Good Enough (Tm).

GE SCS1200 is stronger but 2.5-3 times more expensive and harder to get. I use GE SCS1200.

[washefuzzy]

Way to go Nerine for taking on the daunting task which you've been avoiding. 

[Nerine]

yeah I've used GE I before...and several years ago it used to say Aquarium safe...though if I was doing a huge tank, I think I might use something stronger...though anyone know what grade is used in manufacturing ?

there used to be a thread all about silicone...and i think it should be set aside so it's easy to find haha because I know there was a lot of good stuff in there!!

[johnrt]

yeah I've used GE I before...and several years ago it used to say Aquarium safe...though if I was doing a huge tank, I think I might use something stronger...though anyone know what grade is used in manufacturing ?

Yes, GE SCS1200, see two posts up.

[Nerine]

ohhh I thought you meant that's what people use when they make big tanks!!

it's clear now!!