Silicone: Black vs. Clear

[ganjero]

The black silicone will not look as the picture you have with tape, it won't catch you eye as much.

 

[St Pete John]

I think a lot of the appeal in the black silicone is that its not the normal look.
There are only so many custom touches you can add to a tank and thats a major one.

Still don't like the extra lines of the black silicon though, it frames the tank and rimless is in style.

 

[Ali :D]

Black all the way man, clear isn't even clear anyway and it does not stay that nice clean color over time. Be consistent with cleaning like it looks as though you have been and either one wont get tore up. Even your pics tell me black!

 

[St Pete John]

Rimless is an easy choice for me...

 

[hobbzz]

When will that happen? My tank has been running for a year and there isn't a spec of algae on the silicone and I've never cleaned it. My guess is the snails are keeping the silicone clean. Plus I have undetectable phosphates.

I'm not sure as it depends on a lot of factors. I was just pointing out the fact that in one line you said clear is good because it doesn't stand out, and in the very next line you said a con would be that algae will eventually grow on it (which would make it stand out). I agree with your "Con". Algae will eventually grow on it and make clear stand out. Probably slower if you have leds with optics, since less light will hit the seams.

 

[CuzzA]

I'm not sure as it depends on a lot of factors. I was just pointing out the fact that in one line you said clear is good because it doesn't stand out, and in the very next line you said a con would be that algae will eventually grow on it (which would make it stand out). I agree with your "Con". Algae will eventually grow on it and make clear stand out. Probably slower if you have leds with optics, since less light will hit the seams.

You're right. I should have worded it differently. I should say algae "may" grow on it. But for some reason I don't think algae likes the surface of silicone. And of course running a low nutrient system would probably prevent that and yes LED's aren't going to put a lot of light on the seams.

Maybe one day someone will develop a technique for a true seamless glass tank that's affordable.