What colour sealant?

[silverfly]

What do you think for my new tank? Clear or black?Thanks

 

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im kinda diggin the black lately.

Chris

 

[JRF]

I was told by my tank builder that clear will eventually yellow, may take 6 years or so but it will. So I went with black silicone..

 

[spleify]

I am kinda liking the black look on tanks too.

 

[silverfly]

Saw a custom tank made up in my LFS today and it looked really messy and the clear sealant was all over the place. Thats put me off going with them! How about these guys instead?http://www.wharfaquatics.co.uk/tanksgallery.htm

 

[luther1200]

I've seen tanks over 10 yrs old with clear silicone, and it never turned yellow.

 

[billdogg]

my 60 cube is 17, my 120 was used when i got it around 1988 - both with clear silicone. no yellowing (so far) but you never know.

I prefer clear. If you like black, then black it is

 

[silverfly]

Ilike both. The tank i saw which was a custom order looked messy though-not as clean as the ones made by the large companies. Would this clear silicone become invisible in water cos it seemed like alot of it was used?

 

[macreefster]

i like black as it hides algae growing on or under it better, but thats just my preference.

 

[reefconcepts]

I would think that JRF's tank builder must have had some experience with the yellowing as it doesn't seem to me the builder would care. To me black is the only way to go because algae does get under the silicone and you will "never" get it out. Over the years I have has several custom tanks build and my current one is the first I have with the black. By far a great choice. Some like Fords and some like Chevies but no one I know like algae under their silicone. My 2¢ worth.

 

[silverfly]

Good points there reefconcepts. I've been looking at the black finish and i'm gonna go for that too! Thanks everyone!

 

[reefconcepts]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14754943#post14754943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by silverfly
Good points there reefconcepts. I've been looking at the black finish and i'm gonna go for that too! Thanks everyone!

You have made the correct choice without question!!!

 

[luther1200]

I didn't mean to imply the builder was lieing, just stating I've seen tanks that were quite old with clear silicone hat never turned yellow.

Just out of curiosity, since I will be upgrading within the year hopefully. Has anyone else ever heard or seen clear silicone turn yellow??

 

[luther1200]

Bump.

 

[silverfly]

I had not heard this until i started the thread. Do you prefer the look of clear?

 

[luther1200]

I do like clear better personally. But I am not totally against black. I could see myself getting a tank with black silicone in the future. I just want to hear both sides.

I know with clear you probably have to keep it cleaner, and the black might hide some algae. Does anybody else have any pros-cons of the 2. Or is it really just an aesthetic thing.

 

[Dave Harms]

I don't think it's a matter of the silicone turning yellow... it think you just see the algae under it which gives the impression of yellow silicone.

 

[luther1200]

Has anybody had a tank up and running with black silicone for 5-10yrs, so we can hear how it holds up in comparison for a long time?