What is a silicone for aquariums and terrariums used for?

1. Assembly of the aquarium. It is very easy to find standard-sized aquariums on the market, but there are people who want a special assembly with specific measurements and decide to build their own aquarium. This is a task that we only recommend to professionals or very experienced people, because, if the sealing is not done in the right way, the pressure that the joint must withstand could cause it to break at any time. However, if you have the right tools and follow the steps it is not an excessively complex task.

2. Sealing and assembly of decorative elements. In the world of aquariums and terrariums, the aim is to recreate a little piece of nature at home. To do this, we will try to place elements that allow the animals to feel at home. To achieve this, rocks and natural trunks are placed that can be glued together to create a whole and prevent them from moving over time. But what glue can I use in a fish tank? Besides using silicone you can also fix the decorative elements with a cyanoacrylate adhesive such as Instant Fix, which once dry will not be dangerous. Be careful and do not use any other adhesive because it could be toxic! It is also important that you know what kind of materials you are going to use for the assembly. Wood is found naturally in rivers and lakes, the tannins that it gives off give the water a slight amber colour and have beneficial properties for water quality, but you have to be careful with some types of wood, as resinous woods such as pine are toxic for the aquarium, and some rocks can be chalky and will increase the hardness of the water, something that you have to take into account for the type of fish you can introduce into the aquarium. To learn more about this we recommend that you seek help in aquarium shops or in specific forums.

3. Repairing a water leak in the aquarium Over the years the silicone that binds the aquarium crystals may have aged and started to lose water. You can save a lot of money by repairing the aquarium yourself, it is very easy if you follow these steps. To do a good job it is essential to empty the aquarium first, for this you will need a reserve aquarium to put the fish in while you repair it as it is not possible to make repairs in immersion. First of all, clean the surface to remove any dust or grease. You can put masking tape on the glass to make sure it doesn’t stain excessively and remove it before the sealant forms a skin. Place a bead of product so that there is a 1 to 2 mm joint between the windows. For the interior it is best to apply a triangular joint between 3 and 5 mm thick. Make sure you seal the joints where there are leaks and let the product dry for a week before refilling. Our silicone is suitable for both acrylic and methacrylate aquariums, as well as the more common glass aquariums, so you will have no problem with sealing in these materials.

How long does it take to dry the silicone for fish tanks?

The answer depends on environmental factors such as temperature or humidity, but generally the product is cured after 2 hours and takes 24 hours to dry. However, it is not recommended to fill it with water until after a week.

Is there a special silicone for marine aquariums?

One of the most common questions in marine aquariums is whether a silicone should be used specifically for saline environments, as some silicones do not behave very well in this environment and melt in contact with salt water. In this case our silicone has an excellent resistance to salt water so you will not have any problem.

Can I use a neutral silicone?

In the market there are many silicones and neutral sealants, some can be used in aquariums if they do not contain fungicides, however, being chemical compounds is very common that silicones have some additive to improve their properties in construction that can be toxic to aquatic animals. For this reason, when in doubt, it is preferable to ensure that the right silicone is used in each case.