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reef safe silicone?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by cowdust9, Jan 13, 2012.

  1. Jan 13, 2012 #1
    cowdust9

    cowdust9 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    i think there was some brand of silicone that you can get at home depot or something that you can use in your tank and i was wondering if anyone know's what that is? 
    Thanks 
     
  2. Jan 13, 2012 #2
    Killernights

    Killernights Inactive User

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    GE 1 will work, any silicone will work as long as it DOES NOT have any mold fightes in it. You want to get regular 100% silicone
     
  3. Jan 13, 2012 #3
    cowdust9

    cowdust9 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    ok thanks
     
  4. Jan 13, 2012 #4
    ninjazx777 Des Moines, IA

    ninjazx777 Experienced Reefkeeper

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    They were saying on RC that GE1 has a ne formula and its no longer safe. I recommend using momentive RTV108 (you can buy it at granger supplies) or a silicone specifically made for aquariums
     
  5. Jan 13, 2012 #5
    ninjazx777 Des Moines, IA

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    The easiest way to tell if a silicone is safe is if it says its FDA, USDA approved for portable water systems
     
  6. Jan 13, 2012 #6
    cowdust9

    cowdust9 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    ok thanks matt
     
  7. Jan 15, 2012 #7
    Kpotter2 North liberty, IA

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    GE no longer says Aquarium safe. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/sad.gif I looked ant they must have added it to stop people from using it for Aquariums.

     
  8. Jan 24, 2012 #8
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

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    IIRC it has always said this, even back when I was asking around over a year ago, so this is nothing new. I even have a tube that's over a year old that says "not for aquarium use" but I figured this was just like the pool filter sand at Menards, it's the exact same stuff you get at Leslie's (because that's what Leslie's told me) but they just didn't pay the extra $$ to get it 'certified' safe for pools.

    Good to know that I can't use it anymore. Especially since I am currently using a small amount on one tank dammit. Just to hold a small piece of PVC onto acrylic in a non-pressure location, but still, dammit.
     
  9. Jan 24, 2012 #9
    Kpotter2 North liberty, IA

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    5 and 10 years ago it always said Aquarium safe. I am not new to the hobby,but new to saltwater. I always used GE with my Freshwater and GE Tubes said OK for use in Aquatic environments or something like that. I think they just added the "Not for Aquariums" thing because of Liability reasons. I am not sure if I trust it or not. They may have changed the formula. I just bought the Loctite brand in a tube and it says right on it Good for Aquariums. Its 5.00 a tube, but that's not to bad for small projects.

    Kyle
     
  10. Jan 24, 2012 #10
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

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    Matt is this the thread you were referring to?

    http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2069256&highlight=ge+silicone

    I read it and it basically sounds like user error. Also that last comment by Acrylics is telling - 2 weeks minimum cure time!

    I could have sworn also that they changed GE I and GE II around a year or two back. Now I'm reading that you can use GE I or GE II for different applications (like glass or non-glass) and they make these with and without mold inhibitors.

    But Post #38 makes the most sense to me.

    I looked up the tech data sheet for the RTV100 series and it looks like it meets #2 and #3, but the MSDS doesn't list it as 100% silicone. Has 20-30% fillers in there. So I'll post on the RC thread and see what those guys say...
     
  11. Jan 24, 2012 #11
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

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    Ok the feedback is that GE RTV 100 series (102 white, 108 clear, 103 black) are all safe for aquarium use.

    I looked it up on Grainger and they list the GE brand but it is actually Momentive which is exactly the same. Gonna be getting some of these now!!

    RTV-108 http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/GE-Clear-Silicone-4UH12?Pid=search
    RTV-103 http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/GE-Industrial-Silicone-Sealant-4UH10
     
  12. Jan 24, 2012 #12
    Kpotter2 North liberty, IA

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    Turbo how can you tell they are safe? The links you provided I seen nothing and could find nothing that states this or are you going with whats in it? I am very interested in this. I also read that you can use PVC Cement for Plexiglas or Acrylic construction.Do you know if this is true. here is a Good read.
    http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/03/aquarium-silicone.html
    This is another choice and not a bad price...http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumSilicone.html#cat
    This is what I used last, but its 5.00 a tube. http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/cntct_silicone/overview/Loctite-Clear-Silicone-Waterproof-Sealant.htm
    I did go back and search Aquarium and it listed 108 silicone so maybe somewhere is says that. I just missed it.
    Kyle
     
  13. Jan 24, 2012 #13
    MJB Tanks Pleasant Hill, IA

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    I used ge1 to put the access pc on the front of my coast to coast. I read the label in the store but missed the new "not safe for aquarium" note half way down the tube. I saw 100% silicone and safe for incidental food contact (or something like that) and went with it. If it was 100% before and 100% now I don't know what could have changed. We'll see if I run into any issues down the road but I doubt it.

    I probably would have erred on the side of caution had I seen the note before but I do believe the liability issues involved and tend to believe that may be the reason for warning.
     
  14. Jan 24, 2012 #14
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

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    go the the RC thread in my post a couple up and then go to the end of the thread. I link to the MSDS and tech data sheets
     
  15. Jan 24, 2012 #15
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

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    Mike, the short answer is yes, it's a liability issue. If you read that RC thread, you'll see that it has been used for years and many swear by it. In fact, when I was looking up which to use for re-sealing a 37 I was told that it was fine to use even though it says "not for aquarium use" because it's food safe, and that's all that matters. So this person that started the thread did the wrong thing in that the used it to laminate a background onto the entire inside back of the tank, then let it sit for 3 days, and filled it back up and put fish in it. Acrylics on RC recommends 2 weeks cure time and that's for a baffle/joint. Sealing in the silicone in the center, where it is more difficult for the acetic acid to evaporate and allow proper curing, means this guy's job may have taken months to fully cure before it was safe.

    I think I told you to use the GE stuff and I still think it's safe, but the added issue here that I was not aware of is the 2 week cure time. With the BA overflow front cover, this is probably considered a more sealed joint than a butt-joint, so you might want to let it go another week, depending on the size of the bead you put on it. That's unless you already put water in it. The 72 hr cure time I always read about is the minimum cure time to test it to see if it holds water. I suppose that, just like acrylic solvent joints, the larger the joint, the longer the required cure time for safety.
     
  16. Jan 24, 2012 #16
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

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    Ok and Uncle just posted that Momentive bought out GE in 1996, so they are one and the same.
     
  17. Jan 24, 2012 #17
    MJB Tanks Pleasant Hill, IA

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    I used a single bead, and not a heavy one at that. As you know this wasn't really a structure joint. I'm guessing that after compression I had a thin layer that ended up about 1/2 to 3/4 wide. It cured for roughly 6 days. And yes, water is in....you'd be proud of how even the water flow is over the 3 walls.
     
  18. Jan 24, 2012 #18
    MJB Tanks Pleasant Hill, IA

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    Ps...I happened to find a squeeze tube of actual aquarium silicone a couple days later laying in the bottom of my stand from when I put the baffles in my last glass sump. DOH!!! It is still good.
     
  19. Jan 24, 2012 #19
    Kpotter2 North liberty, IA

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    The link don't take you to MSDS. It takes you to listing for the tubes. When I checked the MSDS its in Spanish. I can't seem to find the English version. The link I posted is for Loctite 100% silicone that is sold at Menard's and Lowe's. Also a link for the construction tubes or 10.2 oz tubes(11.00) of All Glass Sealent and another off brand(7.00) a tube. This is what I will get next time I am going to use a lot other wise the little tubes will do for me. But I am wondering about the other thing I read about PVC Cement being ok to use for Acrylic and Plexiglass. Any Idea if this is true Turbo.
    Great Thread keep learning a lot.
     

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