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Understanding Aquarium Silicone: How to choose the right one for your project
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- čas přidán 17. 08. 2024
- Not a week goes by that I don't see a post on social media asking this very question. With brands changing labels, wording etc... choosing silicone for your aquarium or vivarium project has gotten harder and harder.
I reached out to the manufacturers of several brands and got the true facts on aquarium grade silicone.
So today I'll walk you through the differences and help you choose the right one. Break through the myths and misconceptions we find all over social media.
Hopefully this will provide some peace of mind and help you in future projects.
Thanks for watching my friends.
Cheers!
Biggs
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @themadaquarist
I usually recommend the SCS1200 for aquariums larger than 30 gallons because of its superior resistance to tearing apart ... better to be safe than sorry for a few dollars ;)
I agree 100% Zenin
what you think its better then 100% gorilla?
I'm finishing the removal of the old silicone from a 75 gallon aquarium and will be applying the SCS1200 after I receive it from Amazon. I agree with you, spend a few extra $$$ on scenarios that could involve water leaking all over the place. Cheers!
This is great, I have a 40 gal I need to reseal and have a tube of GE 1. now I will get it done, Thanks Biggs!!!
Glad to be the provider of info to help you get the job done my friend
Another well researched, straight to the point video. Thank you Biggs
Thanks so much
on gosh
Thanks for the good info ‼️
Thanks for the information 🙏
Thank you Biggs for clearing that up for me as I was trying to figure this out
Thank you kindly
Which do you suggest I use to attach a submersible LED light to the underside of my plastic aquarium lid?
Great video, very good information. Just to confirm I need to silicone my corner overflow boxes in my tank. The GE 1 is good enough for that job? It’s a 180 gallon tank
Yes, thank he corner overflow won’t be a primary pressure point like one of the outside seems in which I would normally opt for the scs 1200
@@themadaquarist Sir i need your suggestions.
I'm planning to install spoiler on my car i20. I don't want scratches, drilling, clamps etc. So, can a silicone paste (used on car windshield) be used on spoiler so as to stick on the car? Will the silicone damaged car painting in coming days, months etc?
Very informative. Congrats.
I live in Brazil and I am planning on making an aquarium. However I've stumble upon one question: is it safe to use silicones labeled with antifungal/antimold? I didn't get to read it's composition, but I figure it might have some other substance in it that may be toxic to fish.
No definitely not, usually arsenic is the compound added to inhibit mild growth. Very toxic in an aquarium
I'm going to attempt to reseal my 55 gal. aquarium. I ordered the 1200 construction silicone because I wanted the strongest. Now I'm wondering if it's gonna be harder to work with. Any suggestions on what the easiest silicone to work with is for a noob like me?
Question, I'm making a cave with lava rock, is the ge 1 good to use? I figured when I'm all done ill wait a few weeks just to let it for sure dry but if you have any experience in that department and could maybe make a video or If you have one I'll find it, you did really good at explaining it, I almost got the 2 and then I kept researching and am glad I started with 1, it's such a gross feeling on your hands so I'm switching to a caulk gun now 😅
#1 is perfect even in colours if you prefer to make ‘blend in ‘ better. Let cure 24 hours and go to go.
The hanks for watching, enjoy!
Well I wanna stick rocks & wood together so my wood does float. I've tried glue & it doesn't stay. Which one will wrk?
Man I wish I read about the construction grade stuff when I built my 180. Had to re set the panels after 2 years because they were failing, but that may have been because I didn't keep enough silicone in the joint
Any input on how much silicone is needed between two panes that are set 90 degrees on each other? Never found a good answer or got input on what it should be
Great video, great information
Proper construction of any aquarium or reselling of an aquarium imo needs to be done with the aquarium
Panels fully dismantled and cleaned. The silicone between the panes is where the strength comes from not the smeared bead on the inside.
Think of it this way. Put a glob of crazy glue in the center of your palm then squish both hands together. Or place both hands palms up side by side but just touching. Then run a thin line of crazy glue where they touch.
Which do you think would be easier to take apart? Lol
****Please don’t try this experiment!*****
i have a cpap mask and sometimes the silicon part and hard part separate , i hear i need silicon to fix glue it , buth i dont know what silicon to buy to repair it due i dont want to breathe it
Where can the scs1200 be found in Canada? It's $60 a tube on Amazon and no other stores like Canadian tire or the homedepot seem to have it. So far I have only been able to find the GE brand. I have to reseam a 75gal, what can I use that is easy to find? Will the GE be safe for building? Or should I use the SeaChem sealant/adhesive instead? Or is that just for aquascaping? How should people choose between other brands of silicone? Is there specific things we should look for on the label? How do I know which one will be strong enough to hold the water weight?
Yes, I’m in Canada myself, Manitoba and I purchase it locally at a pluming electrical wholesaler. This is a professional construction silicone so you will not find it available in box stores
So the new silicone 1 is safe for aquariums still?
Yes
Hey Mark great content very informative. Quick question, any suggestions for low odor black silicone ?
Al the highly quality silicones wouldn’t be low odour. Low odor may change the integrity of the product especially in this application.
No idea who Mark is lol
@@themadaquarist good to know. I have a tube of ASI black sealant from Amazon arriving later today, the only black sealant with a decent positive reviews I could find to reseal a 120 long. No idea who Mark is either, must've been a long day that day 😅
Very good, thank you. Been wondering what the "fungicide" in a lot of silicones was. I'd like to ask a not totally aquarium related question - could aquarium pure silicone be used to waterproof a wooden water tray (for under a garden bed table)? How well do you think it might do? Pros and cons?
Not really the right application for the product. Ideally I would recommend a two part epoxy product. Once cured it’s impermeable
@@themadaquarist Thank you very much.
Great information again- Thank You Sir!
Thank you kindly for watching my friend
In the process of redoing the seal on my 90 gallon tank,and finding out from some old school enthusiasts that larger tanks should never be attempted?!?
I could really use some help!
I’ve stripped the old seal(carefully),cleaned residue with acetone and taped it.
Was getting ready to put the new bead on when I had some friends blast me for attempting this.
I’m relatively new to the hobby(3 years),but I’ve always bought used tanks and restored them,my largest being 54 gallons so far.
Now I’m second guessing myself.
Please help!!
(I’ll be going with the SCS1200 if it’s a go!)
It’s all dependent on what you view as ‘resealing’ if all the panes of glass were not fully dismantled and laid out on the table then yes your friends are 100% correct.
Just taking away the silicone that’s on the inside but not between the actual panes of glass is almost equivalent of putting a tank together simply using tape.
Proper resealing would mean to take the entire tank apart to the original 5 panes of glass and starting from scratch. Especially bigger tanks.
Ok thank you.
Looks like I’ve ruined my tank,then.
I don’t have the space to pull all of my panels apart.
I’ve talked to someone in Toronto who builds tank that suggested using glass strips in the corners to bond the glass.
@@themadaquarist Actually that isn't true. You don't have to completely rebuild(take apart and put together) a tank. People often reseal (scrape off the old silicone from the insides of the tank and reapply it) for tanks that have sprung leaks. I have multiple tanks in the 100 to 220 gallon range that have been resealed years ago. My friend still has a 400g sitting in his garage that he and I resealed over 12 years ago. He bought it for $100 off craigslist because it leaked. Well, the GE silicone we used is still going strong.
Thanks for this knowledgeable video.Sir, I would like to know which type of silicon is good to paste glass to plastic or fibre iin wet area for waterproof bonding.please advice
Silicone no as it does not bind with most plastics well or any product with any wax content. You would need to find a specialty adhesive.
Sorry I’m not of much help
Momentive RTV103 is the best black silicone paste for aquariums.
Hi I was looking to buy an aquarium and the seller told me that he uses special aquarium silicone is that a thing or am I getting scammed
Most silicones won’t list for aquarium due to insurance purposes.
Construction ones often do and several aquarium
Manufacturers sell their own, aquarium specific.
Nice to see some Canadian content!
I’ve just siliconed in some bulkheads in the bottom of my aquarium and didn’t realize that it was potentially unsafe. So I’ve come to CZcams for answers. I used GE silicone 2, 10 year mold free sealant. (ASTM, C920, Class 35).
I suspect I know the answer, but would you say I need to remove all of the bulkheads, scrape away the silicone, and start again? Or is it safe to use if I let it cure for a week or two?
Thanks
PS: the silicone will be under the substrate, and it’s a good sized tank - roughly 110 gallons, if that makes a difference.
Is it safe to use black silicone from them brands ?
You think a food safe high temp RED silicone would be fine in aquarium under water? I'm thinking YES because it's food grade. Looking at a tube of red from API silicone
Food safe no problem
Very good content in this video.Thanks for sharing.
What about the chemicals in this product,are they deadly for the fish?
For how long I need to let this silicone cure before I fill my tank with water?
Very kind thank you, ideally if new construction id recommended 48 hours before filling for the first time.
However regarding the chemicals it releases primarily ammonia so I have in the past (on a 750 gallon aquarium) made a repair under water while the aquarium was running full of inhabitants without issue. As long as the system was healthy and mature
@@themadaquarist Thanks a lot!
How long after the silicone has cured can I add water and fish?
Once fully cured in 24 your good to go
Thanks you!
Just wondering why GE says on their tube NOT RECOMMENDED FOR UNDERWATER/AQUARIUM USE?
Because of insurance policies primarily in the US.
The true construction grade silicones carry the warranties which you pay for up front as their are generally more than double the price
If the silicone feels pretty grippy and no signs of it getting whitish on the sides and bottom you think it’s good to go just got a 125 that was stored in a temp controlled storage unit just worried cause it’s an old tank and has been resealed since looks good but I’m not sure how much silicone they should have used I’ve only resealed one 45 gallon tank lot less water than a 125 thanks
I just upgraded to a 150 gallon tank. I had it delivered and added all the gravel and trees etc. We started filling up the water and then about a 1/4 of the way up we noticed a leak. Then i noticed water pouring out the left side of the tank. The company was really great to send a replacement tank. Now im a bit nervous about it leaking again. We are wanting to put an extra bead of silicone around the inside. Is that ok, to put an extra coat of it over this brand new tank?
I've seen some people say that it won't work, and others say its fine.
Adding the extra silicone honestly won’t serve any purpose. THe strength of the seal comes entirely from silicone that is sandwiched between the glass panes.
Aquariums are all 100% machine made now so imperfections can arise albeit rarely
@@themadaquarist ok thank you. I think in our situation, there were holes drilled in the bottom for the overflow box. But I asked if they could give me a tank without that because I don't use it. So they put a plate cover over where the holes would be. I believe that's where the silicone wasn't sealed well enough, and that's where the water started coming out. I guess it flowed to the left because that's where it all poured out. I guess I just want to make sure that doesn't happen again.
i need to use BLACK COLOR SILICONE that must be AQUARIUM SAFE... can black silicone be used ?
Yes many brands offer it in black
Sir i need your suggestions.
I'm planning to install spoiler on my car i20. I don't want scratches, drilling, clamps etc. So, can a silicone paste (used on car windshield) be used on spoiler so as to stick on the car? Will the silicone damaged car painting in coming days, months etc?
Sorry I don’t honestly know
Almost bought the ge window and door but it did throw me off with the 7 year mold free. So the ge slicone 1 is ok to use?
yes
Thanks for the video! Will the SCS1200, be the ideal choice to create a reptile hide made of slate?
Ok so if I use expansion foam ,roughly how many cans for a $150 gallon tank ?
Sorry that I wouldn’t know. Depends on how you build, how thick etc… I didn’t keep track myself
I'm in a bit of a pickle & I wonder if you might possibly have a suggestion for me... I am helping out my niece, Sarah, who is from a military family & just finished her Freshman year at college in Pennsylvania, USA, & her family is stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Sarah desperately wants to be able to be with her family for her summer break, but she has a pet Rat, Coco & it is impossible to take Coco to Japan. I have agreed to keep & care for Coco over the summer, but I insisted that Coco have a larger, more adequate cage. The cage was purchased, but manufacturers don't do a great job with making sure cages actually match a rodent's needs, so I have had to do some modifications. The biggest one is that the base of the cage needs a deepish waterproof tray to cover inappropriate & dangerous wire grates, & to allow Coco's cage to have a deep layer of litter where she can burrow & potty... hence the need for the edges to be sealed.
Rats chew EVERYTHING, so 1/4" acrylic was cut for the sides of the tray; for the the bottom I cut corrugated plastic sheeting to fit. I had gotten an aquarium silicone on the suggestion of someone in an advice group for pet Rats, but after spending all day trying to get all the needed parts cut correctly, just as I was about to open the silicone to seal it all up, I thought, maybe I'd better check CZcams for some tips b/c I know silicone can be tricky. And now I hear you say the silicone sealant won't work on acrylic! So now I feel like I could just cry!!! DO you have any suggestions for NON-TOXIC options for sealing acrylic to acrylic, & acrylic to corrugated plastic sheeting? Coco is arriving in less than 2 days & I thought I was going to be ready... I feel so defeated. :(
[5.2.2023]
Most home supply or plastic manufacturers will sell proper acrylic ‘cement’. It’s not really a glue or adhesive of any kind. It ‘melts’ the acrylic so the pieces for a bind at the molecular level. Not proper way to truly ‘glue’ acrylic.
Sorry
@@themadaquarist TY so much for your prompt reply. Yeah, the needed combination of leak-proof AND non-toxic makes this a tricky ask. I ended up having to compromise the leak-proof part & did not use a sealant, but did assemble the tray with Gorilla tape on the outside corners of the acrylic uprights. I think what I will try to do is get one of those tiny triangular litter trays to put in one inside corner & hope Coco will learn to make all of her wet potty efforts there, so we won't have seeping under the upright components.
On the upside, Coco arrived this morning & appears to absolutely LOVE her cage! She played for hours, took a nap, & played for hours again! If she stays this happy all summer, I will be ecstatic! Thanks again for your response. Great job on this video, BTW! God bless!
[5.4.2023]
Can they be used for a wooden hamster cage to seal the joints if so which ones?
A wooden hamster cage imo would need to be sealed in some way prior.
The wood would absorb urine and rot as well hamsters could chew through it with ease.
If sealed in some way say with a two part epoxy then usually yes silicone would work but as long as the epoxy contains no wax content
I have the GE 10 year mold free silicone sealant. On the back of the label it says "Not recommended for underwater aquarium use or where FDA compliance is necessary ". What's that all about?
Do not use!!!!
The 10 year stuff has mild
Inhibitors added for use in kitchens and bathrooms. Highly toxic
@@themadaquarist well that sucks ! Thank you
Great video for information, thank you
Thank you kindly
@@themadaquarist you're welcome
Thanks for this!
Thanks for watching
Good stuff Biggsy. Were pretty lucky hear in Oz,the labels on our silicone let you no which one's are safe for fish 👍👊👌😊🇦🇺
can you purchase it at a home center and it will say safe for fish?
@@themadaquarist yes at bunnings,that's the name of our home centre. It actually says safe to use in aquariams and has a little symbol of a fish,they are about $20 dollars (Australian)for one tube and get this,the other similar looking one's say,not suitable for aquariams !
Question: I'm designing a piece of art that will house H2O, layered sheets of acrylic, fake plants, rocks, and tiny pieces of drift wood. The "box" will be approx. 12" X 15" X 1 1/2". There will be no living creatures in it. I'd like to add a bubbler and LEDs. To keep it from exploding, I plan on drilling a few small holes in the top for air to escape. It's been suggested that I use a mix of distilled water and "blue" antifreeze-to keep any "agents" from growing in the box-as it wouldn't be cleanable. The piece will hang from a wall and (again) not be cleanable. Do you think the above solution would work? If not, can you suggest something? Thanks.
Silicone will not bond with acrylic you would need to use acetone. It ‘melts’ he plastic to make a permanent bond.
Sounds like a rather unique project
@@themadaquarist Yea. I just discovered that. However can you respond to the (potential) algae concern? And yes, most things I do are pretty unique. I'm going to try to record what I make and post on YT.
@@leonardothefabulous3490 if exposed to light and oxygen algae will grow. However there’s products used to tint the water blue sold in agricultural
Places for dugouts etc… but hat prohibit algal growth. Or you could easily also use simple chlorine occasionally. My concern would be if it’s a somewhat sealed unit and you’ll have no access to ever clean it it could very well become an eyesore down the road.
@@themadaquarist What is a "dugout"? I'm assuming you're not talking baseball? And do you know the name of that product(s)? THANKS
@@leonardothefabulous3490 dugout is a massive farm
Pond.
The product I buy in Canada is called clear blue
Great info
Thank you my friend
Is siliconized acrylic latex safe?
Sorry but I have no idea what that would be
how about polyurethane type?
can i use it for aquarium glass?
thank you
I’m not familiar with its use sorry
But what is the easiest way to remove old silicone? I know someone who's tried multiple methods with limited success.
I use a thin paint scraper blade, there are two thicknesses, to cut the aquarium apart. I then use a brass wire wheel the clean off the silicon residue. Haters are going to say it scratches the glass, it does not. Keep the wheel moving or you may cause a black spot but I have seen any scratches.
@@kjaswift Thanks for your advice!
I agree with kjaswifts comments however if the section will be visible once complete and wish to not run the risk of possible scratches I’ve also used a plastic scrub pad with water to remove the remaining residue. This option requires a bit more elbow grease lol
I have the advanced GE silicone for windows and doors in black. Is this acceptable for a terrarium/paladarium?
Is it listed as mold free for 7 or ten years in the label?
Usually the he window and door stuff is perfect.
@Chris ‘ The Mad Aquarist ‘ Biggs Yes it does and it also says 100% silicone just like the Original GE silicone in clear
@Chris ‘ The Mad Aquarist ‘ Biggs Sorry if I'm replying twice I don't know if it the first reply made it through but to answer your question yes it does, the one I have says 10 and I know the original windows and doors say 7 so that's why I'm a bit worried. I know that the GE silicone for kitchen and bath is a definite no no but since I have the windows and doors, just the advanced version then I don't know if it's safe like the original one
Is This is safe for reptiles too?
Yes
Which one is better? SELSIL Aquarium Silicone Clear Sealant VS Aqueon Fish Tank Silicone Sealant
Sorry I’m not familiar with the first one but the aqueon one is sold branded for aquarium use so I would have no issues using it whatsoever
Great video
Thank you
Anyone have experience making a 40 gallon breede4 rimless and resealing? If not ima do it and give feedback
Do they make the SCS1200 in black
Yes
Where can you get scs1200?
My is called aqua mate aquarium sealant I live in Scotland uk
New subscriber
Welcome aboard
Canada wooooooooooooooo
Wooooooooooo
Thanks Dude
Lol
No links
This is rubbish, no apologies. You should never be using "silicone" to construct anything made of glass especially aquariums, in which case do not speak about aquariums and silicone in the same sentence. That's it.
lol
@@themadaquarist Laugh well, you don't care who takes your advice and ends with problems.
Perhaps you should educate yourself on the subject.
Having built 1000’s of aquariums from standard sizes upwards of custom 2000 gallons, consulted even larger builds at institutions.
Any professional glazier will gladly inform as to proper applications of said products.
@@themadaquarist My first aquarium was built at age 14 with the help of my uncle, l have built aquariums in UK, Nederlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, I am now 75 years of age, 76 in May, my education was excellent and am qualified to post as l did to warn others not to use 'silicone' to construct any glass aquarium using it. In Mid June this year l will be travelling to Marrakech to build an aquarium in a large hotel because l am still qualified.
@@CarlosAlberto-ii1li good for you