"Aquarium Safe" silicon
"Aquarium Safe" silicon
Risking starting a flame war on this issue... I felt strongly enough to add my two cents. There's a lot of banter on the forums about SAFE silicones. I know, I spent a few days research it when the need came to reseal my 75 gallon. Long story short, I went to the source, GE, to inquire about the "Marine Life" safety of their product. As I recall, (it's been a while) they do not produce any product that is designed specifically for the marine or aquarium environment. The issue was that of a mildewcide that is added to their products. The concerns they had were not just during the curing, but the long term exposure in an aquatic or marine setting and the ability to it leach out. This risk can occur anywhere the silicone can make contact with the water, as in using it for securing baffles in a sump as well as anywhere in the main tank. The manufacturers will tend to take a very conservative stance. BOTTOM LINE: My sealant of choice was the Perfecto/Marineland Silicone Aquarium Sealant 10.3 oz Caulking Cartridge. Widely available at around $10 a tube, why would you risk potentially hundreds (thousands even) of dollars worth of your prize critters to anything less than a true marine safe product?? Marineland stated that there were no additives to endanger fresh or saltwater animals. Just my two cents...
