View Full Version : Silicone Question
What is the best Silicone to use to build all glass tanks? iv heard alot of talk about GE silicone 1 windows and doors but in another thread someone said its rubbery and soft and good for inside seams but not glueing the actual pieces together cuz it flexes. But in a diff post someone reseald a tank with Both GE I and this aquarium sealent
http://akamai.edeal.com/images/catalog3684/folder24579/img3039904med.jpg (javascript:openWin(lastvalue);)he said he couldnt tell wich seal was wich they both looked and felt and flexed exactly the same.
also what about GE II without Bio Seal of course is that any better then GE I it says GE I has Low shrinkage and GE II has NO shrinkage but alot of people prefer GE I still. anyone have any suggestions?
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jm1212
07-03-2007, 2:17 PM
just because they looks and feel the same does not mean they are made up of the same chemicals. i would go with the designated aquarium selant to be safe.
in other posts alot acutally iv heared GE I is the same as the all aquarium stuff and it is re packaged and sold for much more at aquarium stores and that GE I once said for use on aquariums but they took it off the packaging for them not being held financially responsible or something like that
pixl8r
07-03-2007, 2:24 PM
GE II has mold inhibitors so don't use that. Also, don't use the GE I for bathrooms, it also has the mold inhibitor.
Nolapete
07-03-2007, 2:31 PM
Silicone I doesn't have mold inhibitors and is safe to use. Silicone II should NOT be used as it does.
Silicone I can be used the same way as Aquarium Silicone. I have a 90 and a 75 that were put together with it. (I stripped them completely) That was over 5 years ago.
no GE II only has mold inhabitors if it has BIO SEAL written on the tube if u buy regular GE II windows and doors its fine
Nolapete
07-03-2007, 2:33 PM
no GE II only has mold inhabitors if it has BIO SEAL written on the tube if u buy regular GE II windows and doors its fine
I is fine NOT II
SAFEhttp://images.lowes.com/product/077027/077027050004.jpg
SAFE http://images.lowes.com/product/059028/059028006006.jpg
http://imageserver.geampod.kcbam.net/KBAMImagingServer/Scripts/resize.kix?FileName=http://kbam.geampod.com/KBAM/reflection/Assets/10084.jpg&Width1=40&Height1=200&Unit1=Pixels&Format1=png NOT safe see the white oval on the tube it says bio seal which is mold inhabitants this is GE II with bio seal
theres 2 different kinds of GE II 1 is fish safe the other wich bio seal isnt
Nolapete
07-03-2007, 2:41 PM
Nope, Silicone II is not safe. Notice is says 100% Silicone Sealant instead of 100% Silicone Rubber Sealant as the I does. There is a difference.
check out mosterfishkeepers.com and u try telling those people that used GE II its not safe when there tanks have been homemade with GE II and up and running with perfectly healthy fish for months n months n months n months n months do some research neo then get back to me http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif
Nolapete
07-03-2007, 2:50 PM
35 years of aquarium keeping is more than enough research and experience. I've resealed at least fifty aquariums with complete seal removal. My experience is supplemented by a friend who was an aquarium builder at a local aquarium manufacturer. While it may hold because it IS silicone, that does NOT make it safe. I'd rather not take that chance.
GE I and II are generally the same with the exception of the GE II that has bio seal wich has fungicides theres 2 DIFFERENT kind of GE silicone II there's
GE silicone II windows and doors and there GE silicone II windows and doors with Bio Seal
Nolapete
07-03-2007, 2:53 PM
If they are identical, then why on Earth would GE make I and II?
also GE 1 has low shrinkage and GE 2 has NO shrinkage same silicone basically unless u got an idiot who buys GE 2 with bio seal then he'll have dead fish lol
its made a little stronger then GE I cuz of no shrinkage
Nolapete
07-03-2007, 3:00 PM
The only reason to go with anything other than All Glass 100% Silicone Aquarium Sealant is to save some money. If you want to do it right, buy the product designed for the purpose. How many times do you plan on resealing your tank?
Nolapete
07-03-2007, 3:02 PM
If i remember correctly, all of the GE products, whether it be I or II, specifically say NOT for use as aquarium sealant. Their product literature definitely says that they will NOT guarantee the seal for underwater use.
a while back it did say for use in aquariums but they took it off the label so there not held responsible if anything bad were to happen
theres people that have ge tubes that say for use in aquariums
loaches r cool
07-03-2007, 8:33 PM
Many have used both types, and even the ones with the dreaded bio-seal. I've not personally seen anyone said that GEII or even the stuff with bio seal cause problems. There is recent thread on TPT about it at general-planted-tank-discussion/45034-ge-silicone-ii-help-lay-conjecture-to-rest.html (http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/general-planted-tank-discussion/45034-ge-silicone-ii-help-lay-conjecture.html)
the bio seal has mildew suppressant chemicals wich miake it not safe for fish or anything for that matter living in an aquarium but regular GE II i hear people say u can either build a tank with GE I or GE II seems to me that GE II just may be a bit stronger because of its non shrinking rubber and it also says outstanding adhesian and low odor where as GE I says Low shrinkage and excellent adhesian
well a friend of mine just told me that you can get GE 1200 in home depot which i didnt know i thought you had to order it off the net but now that its in my local store all my worries are gone GE 1200 is stronger then I and II and probobly even the all glass kind of silicone at pet stores seing as how they use GE 1200 for large tanks & skyscraper windows that stuffs gotta be strong and its safe :woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::w oot:
loaches r cool
07-03-2007, 10:02 PM
the bio seal has mildew suppressant chemicals wich miake it not safe for fish or anything for that matter living in an aquarium ...
I know what it is (well for the most part) my point was I've never heard anyone who has used it say that all their fish started dying. Did you try it? Did it cause problems? People just past a lot of second hand info around here without really knowing anything factual. I've seen several folks accidentally use the stuff with bio-seal, and miraculously it never caused any problems... not that I would actually recommend using the stuff though.
nope but theres people on here that used bio seal and there corals closed up and other people's fish got sick with using bio seal some havnt tho but with regular ge II no ones fish has gotten sick and they have had success in using it, ge II with bio seal has caused problems to some people but no probs in using regular II or I
well i went to home depot today and took a look at the silicone section and they didnt have the GE 1200 http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gifhttp://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gifhttp://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gifhttp://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gifhttp://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif so i drove over to lowes and was looking and i found the GE I windows and doors and i found BOTH GE II, there was GE II windows and door and right next to it was GE II windows and doors with BIO SEAL. so after studying i just grabbed the Bonus 4 pack of GE I windows and doors for $14. im kinda scared to use it tho lol do u think this silicone will do ok when i build my 78"x24"x18" all glass? o man i can just imagine the disaster.
http://images.lowes.com/product/077027/077027401202.jpg
think GE I will be ok to use and will it hold or should i return it and get the GE II windows and doors (WITHOUT the BIOSEAL of course)
or should i just return it and not use GE at all , is there anything better then GE I and II that i can pick up here right at lowes or home depot? like DAP or Dow brand?
J double R
07-04-2007, 8:30 PM
just get the stuff that's sold for aquariums(ie. AGA silicone).. if you don't, youre cutting corners at your own risk.
i have to order the caulk gun size off the internet my pet stores dont sell it in caulk gun size. but i know people have built tanks with stuff u can buy right at the hardware store so i was just wondering what they think would be best for a 6 1/2 ft long 2ft wide 1 1/2 ft tall tank that is sold right around local hardware stores
J double R
07-04-2007, 8:46 PM
i have to order the caulk gun size off the internet my pet stores dont sell it in caulk gun size. but i know people have built tanks with stuff u can buy right at the hardware store so i was just wondering what they think would be best for a 6 1/2 ft long 2ft wide 1 1/2 ft tall tank that is sold right around local hardware stores
use what you'd like, but i will NOT recommend anything other than what's made specifically for aquarium use.
someone built their 120g with Dow Corning brand
loaches r cool
07-05-2007, 3:34 AM
I seem to recal something about health related lawsuits regarding thier silicone causing them to go bankrupt...
(not that I wouldnt use them, just kinda ironic)
Hartzell
07-05-2007, 3:39 AM
I have 10 tanks (most of which house monster fish) all using Dow Corning silicone. They've been running close to 9 years now, and I've had no problems yet.
Jennewt
07-19-2007, 6:07 PM
For what it's worth, I have recently used "GE Silicone I Windows & Doors" to reseal an 29-gallon aquarium, and it is working well. The animals I keep in it are amphibian larvae and their live food, such as daphnia. They would be very sensitive to any chemical contaminants, but they are doing great.
I have always been reluctant to use a product that isn't specifically aquarium safe, but in this case I believe that the GE product is labeled "not for aquariums" because of labeling and liability issues, not because of any chemical issues.