I Almost Nuked My Tank with This

[WatDatThing]

I recently made a large frag order. I decided to make my own frag rack using materials bought from local hw store. The glue I used was GE 100% silicon.
I installed the rack before bed. The next day, I went to work. When I got home from work, all the palys were closed up. The mushrooms shrivelled up. Over the next 4 days, the Duncan, frogspawn and hammer tentacles stopped extending. My ORA red planet stopped glowing and the trunk was turning white. Snails fell off the glass/rocks landed on the sand bed up side down. They made no attempt to turn over.
Today is day 6. The palys has started to open up again. The duncan, frogspawn and hammer shows better extension. None of the snails died. The red planet is not as white, but it still doesn't glow. The mushrooms have not shown any recovery yet.
The fishes, 2 BTA, Maxi carpet and carnation anemone were unaffected.
It was my careless mistake for not reading the label​ entirely. The silicon I picked up was Silicon II instead of Silicon I.
To correct the problem I made several water changes and added more carbon into the cannister filter. I didn't remove the frag rack though.


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[Potatohead]

It looks like that one has a mold inhibitor. You need the other one.

 

[mcgyvr]

You didn't state how long you let the product cure and approximate bead thickness..
Thats whats important..

In general its more about the issues with uncured product vs anything stated to be in it..
Which BTW reading the MSDS sheets there is nothing really added specifically intended to make it more "mold proof" but rather in the nature of the silicone being acetoxy or neutral cure variety.. Neutral cure is more "weatherproof (read mold proof) /better adhesion,etc.." vs the other..

Point is both can be used.. BUT ensuring its fully cured is whats important.. And type 2 can take a longer time to fully cure vs type 1

 

[WatDatThing]

I didn't let it cure. I let it dry for an hour.

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[nereefpat]

You didn't state how long you let the product cure and approximate bead thickness..
Thats whats important..

Yep. Sounds like silicone was applied, then added to the tank. Until that stuff cures, it is quite toxic. Give it a few days, or better yet a week or more depending on the size of the glob, to cure next time.

 

[mcgyvr]

I didn't let it cure. I let it dry for an hour.

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Bingo.. Thats EXACTLY/100% why you almost nuked your tank.. :eek2:

 

[WatDatThing]

Bingo.. Thats EXACTLY/100% why you almost nuked your tank.. :eek2:

So if I let it cure, it is OK to use? I probably won't want to risk it again though.

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[mcgyvr]

So if I let it cure, it is OK to use? I probably won't want to risk it again though.

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yes.. BUT (big BUT) note that cure time for that type can be weeks or more..
In general type 1 "should" cure in less than a week given a 1/8" or smaller bead size..

I'd bet you are using the wrong "stuff" anyways.. Silicone is NOT really a "glue".. its a sealant.. While it has some adhesive properties its really not intended for "gluing" parts together unless those parts are glass..
If not glass there are MUCH better products to use..

If you let me know what "materials" you used I can recommend a much better product to use..

 

[WatDatThing]

What do I use for acrylic? The frag rack was made of acrylic sheet from HD

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[mcgyvr]

What do I use for acrylic? The frag rack was made of acrylic sheet from HD

Most definitely not silicone for acrylic..

In a pinch (but don't) you can use any plastic epoxy (kind of messy and not really the best) and other "glues".. super glue can work

BUT the "best/proper one" is weld-on 4 (for properly prepped flush joints) or weldon 16 when "gap filling" is needed. There are others.. 40,etc.. that are better but for a hobby/consumer 4 or 16 is what I would recommend.. And for you 16 for sure..
Here.. $8 shipped in 2 days (assuming prime account or trial)
get that..
https://www.amazon.com/SCIGRIP-1031...UTF8&qid=1496429478&sr=1-1&keywords=weldon+16

There is this when you get more "serious" /perfectionist about acrylic fabrication
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JFPF0U...t=&hvlocphy=9009665&hvtargid=pla-343982566764

the 4 is used with a syringe for application as its basically a water like consistency.. But it literally melts the acrylic joints together.. and its referred to as "solvent welding"..

Those products are typically not sold at HD (but some hardware stores may have similar)..

 

[WatDatThing]

Thanks mcgyvr.

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[ericarenee]

when they say RAIN READY IN 30 minutes this does not mean cured... You have to let it FULLY CURE Before you can put it in the tank.... Any Silicon would have caused the same thing.. its deadly until cure.....


oops....

 

[mcgyvr]

when they say RAIN READY IN 30 minutes this does not mean cured... You have to let it FULLY CURE Before you can put it in the tank.... Any Silicon would have caused the same thing.. its deadly until cure.....


oops....

Live and learn for them...