Lubricate Canister Filter???
- Thread starter xVitox
- Start date
YES. A Teflon based lubricant will not plastisize the rubber. Should be just fine. All the other recommendations are using light oils that will plastize the rubber. This will shorten the life of the rubber.
Wow I never thought being a greasy Italian person would ever pay off ^_^ yay for heritage!
I use silicone grease that I had from sealing scuba diving lights. You definitely do not want to use petroleum based lubricants like Vasoline as they will swell butyl rubber o-rings. I learned that the hard way. I used Vasoline on a paintball marker's o-rings, they swelled and softened the rubber then seized up the marker.
Here is link to the silicone grease:
http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-37/030045/Innovative-Silicone-Grease.html
In a pinch you could use something like mineral oil but use a very fine coat.
Here is link to the silicone grease:
http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-37/030045/Innovative-Silicone-Grease.html
In a pinch you could use something like mineral oil but use a very fine coat.
While Vaseline is a petroleum product that would affect petroleum based rubber, all O-rings, seals and washers are not made of petroleum but synthetic based which makes them impervious to petroleum and more importantly ozone which actually deteriorates petroleum products much more quickly.
Vaseline is small quantities is perfectly safe to keep o-rings, moving parts and gaskets from getting stiff and flat and is much safer. Vaseline needs to be replaced at each cleaning as most of it is consumed by bacteria over time as they love the stuff. But don't take my word for it, take a course in hazardous material properties and environmental release.
Vaseline is small quantities is perfectly safe to keep o-rings, moving parts and gaskets from getting stiff and flat and is much safer. Vaseline needs to be replaced at each cleaning as most of it is consumed by bacteria over time as they love the stuff. But don't take my word for it, take a course in hazardous material properties and environmental release.
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I don't mean to debate this topic, but Vaseline has the same effect on both natural and synthetic rubber. Will it make the rubber feel soft and pliable? Yes, by being absorbed into the rubber and acting like a plastisizer. So it will feel softer and look good, but I will repeat, it is not the right product to use to maintain that soft pliable feel for an extended period of time. You need to use Teflon, silicone or other non-petroleum based product. They are all biologically inert and will not have any effect on your little fishies. So either plumber’s grease, pool lube, and now I see we can include divers lube as well. If you wish to continue to use some of the suggestions above, so be it. I’ll continue using this stuff….especially on the one filter I have that is 20+ years old with the original rubber.
The comment about Vaseline haveing the same effect on natural and syntactic rubber is completely and unequivocally wrong. Also there is nothing wrong with useing silicon based lubricants in general however in a closed system like an aquarium or reservoir because it is not biodegradable there will be a build up over time because it cannot be naturally broken down by petroleum eating bacteria and anything that cannot be broken down can eventually become toxic just like silicone has been found to be toxic to the human body as we all know.
