Resealing tanks

[chris_todd]

What's it mean when the silicone is still quite tacky 24 hours after laying down the beads and smoothing them? Is it possible for silicone to go bad with time? I don't know how long ago I bought this tube of GE Silicone II.


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[Avatar]

Not sure except...

...it's too early to fill. High humidity? Poor ventilation? Cool temperature? Different formula? Good things take time? I'd give it a couple days myself and assume it'll be right.

 

[JasonC]

Sure it was GE Silicone II? I thought that was the one with the added anti-mildew compounds that were a toxic no-no in a fish tank? Hopefully you ment GE Silicone I?

 

[chris_todd]

Jason, your comment made me go look at the tube again, and it is Silicone II. That's OK, though, I'm turning this tank into a terrarium for Carnivorous plants, so it's probably better to use the II than the I.

However, on closer inspection, the tube did have etched on it "Use by 01/08", so it's four years out of date. Ugh. Guess I'll have to clean it off and go get a new tube from Home Despot.

 

[Hawkman2000]

Put a space heater in the tank, BE SURE TO SET IT ON LOW.

 

[chris_todd]

Turns out silicone should be used before its "use by" date. Bought a new tube of silicone, cleaned out the old stuff, ran new beads, and 36 hours later it passed a leak test.


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[JasonC]

Glad it worked out!