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ravi
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Location: Chennai, India
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 Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:57 am Post subject: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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I am planning to construct a new tank and was researching on suitable silicone sealants. Wacker Chemie's sealants seems to be the most predominant sealants being used for glass tanks here in Chennai. Most "large tank" makers are using Wacker's ELASTOSIL 130 sealant for this use. However, the manufacturer lists this product as a general purpose grade sealant for sealing glass to other material, like in kitchen cabinets, etc. ELASTOSIL 121 is specifically is listed as being suitable for aquarium use. See http://www.wacker.com/cms/media/publications/downloads/6020_EN.pdf
ELASTOSIL 130 has anti fungal properties and listed as "ELASTOSIL® 130 is the professional general-purpose grade for all kinds of glazing, touch-up and repair work. It shows excellent adhesion to glass, aluminum and other non-porous surfaces.
"ELASTOSIL® 121 is an effective solution for applications that require extremely strong adhesion under water or need high mechanical strength. Examples include the construction of aquariums and objects used under water or under constant water pressure."
Alas, 121 is currently not available! 
I would like to know if anyone has used ELASTOSIL 130 for constructing a large aquarium, 500+ ltrs. If so, have you faced any problem with fish deaths or problems with plants. Also, any structural failures, sealant related or otherwise.
Also, please post your other makes "silicone sealant" experience for large tanks. |
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Madan
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Location: Bengaluru, India
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| Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:03 am Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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121 gives a little less working time 15 minutes than 130 which is 20 minutes.
Order 121 and wait is a good option. I used 121 for my 5 x2.25 x2 feet tank.
If glass is over 12 mm thick, wait for a week for complete cure, as this silicon
cures naturally to a depth of 6mm from air interface in 24 - 48 hrs. |
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Mortis
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| Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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| I have seen Corning Glass Sealant here in Mumbai |
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royalbijoy
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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Sorry to divert, but do you require some frame to get the glass together while applying sealant?
Or you just tie it all together to set it?Any pictures/tutorials on how to do it?
I have seen some western forums where they have pics. But they were like super expensive and they had all machinery to do it... |
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garothmaan
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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Here use this link to see how a tank is built-
Building Tanks |
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Nidhi
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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Hey garothmaan,
I have used the same procedure to do many tanks. But that's old school tech.. but good enough to get the hang of things.
I will be doing a 2 feeter in a few days, and will try to post the proceedings in the DIY section.. so watch out. |
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girlcookart
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Joined: Jul 22, 2012
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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| Nidhi wrote (View Post):
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Hey garothmaan,
I have used the same procedure to do many tanks. But that's old school tech.. but good enough to get the hang of things.
I will be doing a 2 feeter in a few days, and will try to post the proceedings in the DIY section.. so watch out.
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Eyes wide open for this one....goes on my list of diys for the near/not so near future |
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royalbijoy
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| Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:19 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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Wow. Fingers crossed.... (X)
I would be pleased if you could elaborate the steps, once you start doing it Nidhi...... |
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Nidhi
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| Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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Yes, It will be step by step..
I don't believe in just show casing the DIY and say.. look, this is what I can do!!!
But, It would be like.. This is how I did it.. |
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Mohammed Mudassir
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| Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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| dow corning is the best, from my experience |
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Nidhi
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| Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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| Any source in Bangalore for dow corning..? |
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Nidhi
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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@Mohammed Mudassir,
Dow corning 789 is available near my place.. is it OK.
GE-2000 is also available.. so any ideas which will be good.. |
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Linelogic
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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| I've tried GE a few times in the past 3 years , and I've found it to be reliable. |
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Nidhi
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: Best suited Silicone Sealant for Aquarium use |
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| Linelogic wrote (View Post):
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I've tried GE a few times in the past 3 years , and I've found it to be reliable.
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Thanks Prabhu,
I went through the manual of both the products at their web site, the GE-2000 seems to be better than the Dow corning-789.
Dow corning-789 manual has a warning that, it is not recommended for use in continuous water immersion applications.
GE-2000 has no such warning and says it is designed for good adhesion on glazed surfaces like glass, tiles etc.. |
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