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View Full Version : Black Silicone - is this reef safe?

Neon Reefer
03/24/2010, 04:15 PM
On the advice of a fellow reefer I picked up some black silicone but upon
examination I see that this is a Silicone II product. I've been warned to
use "Silicone I" only but that came only in clear and white colors. I plan
to use the silicone to build an internal overflow box out of thin glass and
then attach it to the back wall. Any reason to be concerned? If so, is
there a black Silicone I available and if so what brand should I look for?
And where to buy it? Thanks in advance for the advice.

Here's the product I purchased. It's "new and improved" - now I'm worried!

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8711/1009155.jpg
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7154/1009157.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/4822/1009159.jpg
uncleof6
03/24/2010, 05:58 PM
Don't use it. Strongly recommend you go to Grainger, rather than Home Depot to get silicone for your aquarium. Use Momentive RTV103 or IS803 (both black.) Both Silicone I and II are not good products to use. The momentive silicones (formerly GE) are FDA approved for food contact, and are many times stronger, and more adhesive than the consumer grade silicones from home depot.

Jim
dadowd
03/24/2010, 06:00 PM
I always thought Silicone II had mold inhibitors in it and couldnt be used for aquariums.
Seeing Green
03/24/2010, 09:45 PM
Of the two Sil I is the one I have seen recommended. I have heard of folks using Sil II without problems, but its a matter of cost benefit. Why go cheap on it if you are going to drop 50+ dollar items in there. Hell the extra $$ for the silicone is cheaper than one more beer at a bar.
marioensf
03/24/2010, 09:55 PM
Don't use it. Strongly recommend you go to Grainger, rather than Home Depot to get silicone for your aquarium. Use Momentive RTV103 or IS803 (both black.) Both Silicone I and II are not good products to use. The momentive silicones (formerly GE) are FDA approved for food contact, and are many times stronger, and more adhesive than the consumer grade silicones from home depot.

Jim

His is from Lowes :D
uncleof6
03/24/2010, 11:02 PM
His is from Lowes :D

curses foiled again......

Jim
marioensf
03/24/2010, 11:09 PM
Grainger is the place to go, locally the black one has to be Special Ordered.
Big difference between "Sealer and ADHESIVE" peace of mind= couple more dollars/1 less beer
Neon Reefer
03/25/2010, 02:07 AM
Thank you all for the excellent feedback!

I won't use that Silicone II product and
will buy the Momentive product instead
from a store that luckily is 2 miles away.
Neon Reefer
03/25/2010, 12:59 PM
Got it! Grainger reluctantly sold it to me,
I guess they only do sales to businesses.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7077/1009160crop.jpg
uncleof6
03/25/2010, 01:41 PM
Got it! Grainger reluctantly sold it to me,
I guess they only do sales to businesses.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7077/1009160crop.jpg

Yeah, they are a little finicky about that, but most often they will do a courtesy sale, as long as the product is not a hazardous material. If you know a business, that has an account with Grainger, drop the name, and pay in cash, and no one will say a word.

Jim
Neon Reefer
06/05/2010, 03:31 PM
Unfortunately I had a problem with this product! The RTV
must have been sitting on the shelf for awhile because on
opening and after producing a good 6 inches of silicone
bead the tube plugged up and I was never able to push a
drop out after that - except from the back end! I returned
it to Grainger and they refunded me no problem.