85g project

by **FishDogg** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:37 am

I gave my 135 gallon over 72 hours to cure before I tested it.

by **Riles** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:58 pm

umm 7 days

Thats what the instructuions say for aquariums.. has anyone ever done it for that long?

by **OinKY** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:45 pm

What did you use? Some of the "high grade" silicones use some rugged volatiles to keep them fluid.May just need to breathe those off to be 100% "fish safe"...why the 7 days.
Instructions are there for a reason,and manufacturers know their product,but most aquarium silicones I've seen say 72 hours.
Not the patient sort myself ::)

...Been known to test smaller tanks (like 10g) after 24-48 hours.

by **Riles** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:59 pm

its the only stuff available that i could find, it Selleys.

by **Paul** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 1:50 am

Selley's glass and aquarium? blue tube with a window? It can stink for a few days, I use it for all my aquarium stuff.

by **JohnL** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:12 am

When all else fails follow the directions.

by **OinKY** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 1:21 pm

Selley's glass and aquarium? blue tube with a window? It can stink for a few days,

The "stink" would be the volatiles gassing off.Once it's not noticeable should be 100% safe. Just base your testing on when the odors gone, because if it is then it's fully cured.

by **Paul** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:26 pm

It has the distinctive smell of vinegar. All acetic cure silicones have this smell, yes?

by **OinKY** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:02 pm

Even "purpose use" silicones like All-Glass have it or a similar smell.Point is that a silicone has to have an agent to keep it pliant and any 100% silicone will be safe once the agent is out-gassed as long as it doesn't have additives like anti-mold/anti-microbial agents (odd as silicone is mold/mildew resistant and not porous anyway).

by **Riles** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:13 am

yep its the blue tube. And yep it smells like vinegar. I kind of like it haha its been 5 days and the smells completely gone. is it worth filling the tank up a little to check the silicone job or just fill it fully up (no gravel) and leave it for a week to check for leaks?

by **Paul** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 6:18 am

If the tank is still outside, a 48 hour or so fill can't hurt. Might as well do it where it won't make a mess :buck:

by **Gerry** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 8:56 am

Paul wrote:If the tank is still outside, a 48 hour or so fill can't hurt. Might as well do it where it won't make a mess

agree

by **Riles** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:41 pm

its inside at the moment but i could probably take it outside. :fro:

by **OinKY** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:53 am

Your mom will thank you :fro:

by **Riles** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:16 am

just ended up rinsing the edges and then filling!
All gravel went in, then i treated the water and primed the canister again.. then heaters and airstones went in, light strapped on, and wa-lah! waited a few hours for water to treat and clear up, then added already cycled extra filter and driftwood that floated.... :buck:

spent ages trying to pin the buoyant wood with big rocks but finally got them all in satisfactory positions haha. Next came a few plants and some ornaments like breeding logs.30mins later, all fish were in! current stocking is:

1female keyhole
3female rams
2albino corys
1speckled cory
2male swordies
10neon tetras
1speckly molly fry(that thinks its a neon ahahahah)
Annnnnd ummm 10 BN's... ::)