quick question

[mikemartinez]

I have a skimmer that needs the bottom to be sealed but I don't know what kind of silicone to buy at lowes that's aquarium safe...

What do you guys use???

 

[commonstranger]

Mike read on the label and it should help you. Im not sounding like a smarta$$ I had to get some silicone and was lost too when I first went to get some. It should say water resistant on it and once it has dried Id say around 48hrs you should be good to go. Maybe someone with a little more knowledge than me will chime in though.

 

[poolkeeper1]

Any 100% pure silicone should be alright, but if your making a repair to acrylic you might want to use weldon and those have different #s for different applications! Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

 

[mltmtascp]

My husband used the aquarium silcone from Lowes to fix our acrylic sump. It has held great.

 

[rcmike]

If it is acrylic or any kind of plastic I wouldn't depend on silicone to hold it, especially if it isn't in the sump.

 

[mikemartinez]

It's for my ASM skimmer and it's going in the sump... for now I bought Silicone but I'm sure that the skimmer is made of plastic so I may have to rethink using the silicone...

 

[DMBillies]

Weld On #16 is pretty thick stuff. I think it is technically for bigger gaps (which might fit if you're fixing a skimmer). I had #4 (I think) before and it is incredibly volatile and runny (less viscous then even water really). It is a pain in the butt to work with unless you are trying to make really clean seams with really clean cuts for tanks and stuff.

There are a few places around Nashville that have it, the last time I got it, I bought it at api (www.advanced-plastics.com/)

 

[fallinapart]

Mike, my asm g3 had a BIG crack in the bottom when I got it, and I just sandpapered the bottom and the piece I cut to fit and used regular 100% silicone to seal it, put a brick on it while it cured and let it air out for 48 hours, and it is still water tight after a year and half. Of course even it not water tight it is in the sump anyway

 

[mikemartinez]

Thanks for your help guys... yeah norman my skimmer has a crack on the bottom too... I'll try to do what you did..

 

[NeveSSL]

As far as silicone goes, GE Type I (which does not have any mold inhibiting (IE, toxic) substances in it) will be your best bet. Its probably the exact same stuff they use in the one that has a higher price tag and says "aquarium" on it.

BUT, I would definitely agree with going with Weld On with acrylic.

Brandon