silicone dry time

[sheepdog43]

Ok, I patched a small hole in a section of my sump between dividers, do I really need to wait the full time or should a few hours suffice?

May seem silly but I would like to get this sump back in place.

 

[itZme]

I would wait at least 24 hrs before adding any water. Probably should be more like 48-72hrs cure time but if you have to push it I think 24 should suffice.

This is just my opinion and there will probably be others with differing opinions.

 

[hllywd]

I'd give it 24 hrs...

 

[BlakDuc]

You need to give the chemicals in the silicone time to evaporate into the air. Otherwise, they are going into your water.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10590759#post10590759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GrandeGixxer
You need to give the chemicals in the silicone time to evaporate into the air. Otherwise, they are going into your water.

Not only that + let it sit in water for 24 hrs to make sure you are not leching some kind of poison back into the system.

 

[rsw686]

I waited 24 hours when I siliconed the baffles into my sump using GE Silicon I. I wouldn't try to stick it back in sooner.

 

[rustybucket145]

wow, guess I've been playing w/ fire..... I've always allowed it to 'kinda' dry to touch, definately not 24hrs and definately not dry all the way through..... Heck, did it last weekend with some acrylic frag racks. Siliconed them and they were back in the tank within a couple hours. I've never noticed any side effects to any corals, fish or inverts.... Was I just lucky?

In a sump or 'pressure' situation I can definately see the need to let it dry..... but if not load bearing is there anything that can hurt?