silicone dry time?

M

mayjong

New member
hey all-
doing some silicone work in a new tank and wondering how long i need to let this dry prior to adding water. it will be fully submerged.

thanks!
 
mayjong said:
hey all-
doing some silicone work in a new tank and wondering how long i need to let this dry prior to adding water. it will be fully submerged.

thanks!
Click to expand...

I am having a custom tank built, and asked why he quoted me around 8 weeks to finish the job. One of the reasons is that he lets the silicon, especially on 1/2" thick glass, cure for about two weeks. He said he believes that it takes about this long to cure from the inside out!

-Mark
 
my tube of aquarium safe silicone says to let it cure for 48 hours. They say to put a 1/4 inch bead on the joint. Hope that helps.
 
Unless it's absolutely needed to add water more quickly I'd give it a week before adding water. I think the minimum is 48 hours but if you can get away with it wait a week.
 
If you read the tube, 48° is generally for. 1/4" bead. We usually use much more than that on seams, and our application is much more sensitive to the effects of inadequately cured silicone. I would let it cure at least a week. Preferably 2 to be safe.

Patience pays in this hobby.
 
okey dokey.
it will be semi structural, holding an interior backwall in the tank.
i'll wait at least a week then. any danger in leaving the tank that long with no water?
should think not. it will be in a hot garage... no direct sunlight
 
its depends wich work you do with silicone in your new tank. If you only use it to put an overflow or something like that, you can use it in 24-48 hours, but if you use the silicone to attatch all of the glasses, wait a few days to make a leak test.
 
It has nothing to do with being water tight - the time is required for full curing of the silicone so it doesn't out-gas into the water.
 
In my opinion.....(famous last words, lol) I wouldn't set the tank up right away, but I myself have done a leak test after 36 hours or so. That tank is still going strong after 2 years and 2 owners.
 
In case anyone knows, why would a week be any better then 48 hours? I would suspect it still cures the same submerged in water as it does in air. After 48 hours it is dry to the touch so who cares after that? So why would it matter after 40 hours. Doesn't make sense to me from anything but an overkill perspective to wait any longer.
 
fishgate said:
In case anyone knows, why would a week be any better then 48 hours? I would suspect it still cures the same submerged in water as it does in air. After 48 hours it is dry to the touch so who cares after that? So why would it matter after 40 hours. Doesn't make sense to me from anything but an overkill perspective to wait any longer.
Click to expand...

Take a 1/2" bead of silicone and let it dry for 12-24 hours. It will be dry to the touch but not dry in the middle and certainly not fully cured.

Why would you suspect that it cures the same when submerged in water?
 
sleepydoc said:
Take a 1/2" bead of silicone and let it dry for 12-24 hours. It will be dry to the touch but not dry in the middle and certainly not fully cured.

Why would you suspect that it cures the same when submerged in water?
Click to expand...

Because no air gets to it once it is dry to the touch. So why would it matter where it is located?
 
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