Silicon Cave

[fatmarley]

Greetings.

I have just finished cutting a piece of PVC pipe and I siliconed some rocks om it, covering about 80% of the surface area. My intention is to make a homemade cave for my Pulvers.

But this is where it gets tricky, currently I am residing in S.Korea and had to buy a Silicon product with VERY limited knowledge (since I can only read and UNDERSTAND 15% of the language).

From what I have gathered the Silicon is a "Bio" silicon and I am unsure really if it is safe for my Aquarium. What steps should I take to make sure no harm comes to my fish and plants, and if it is an unsafe silicon is there anything I can do to neutralize that?

If something should happen, what signs should I look for that would indicate that the Silicon is harmful and what is the general guidelines when introducing a product with large amounts of silicon on it?

Thanks.

[bryan]

Hi Marley(I'm uncomfortable with calling people fat, unless they're very bad drivers, then its Fat B!%$# or something)

You can try soaking it in water for awhile and maybe with some activated charcoal. Not sure if it'll work but makes sense?.

[XnSdVd]

Actually there's a simple solution some marine hobbyists might be familiar with. Stick your home made cave in the pump compartment of the tolilet bowl. That way everytime you flush whatever gunk is in the silicone is carried off.

Probably save you a few dollars on your water bill too.

[BFG]

Good idea! Try it.

[fatmarley]

I made the cave about 3 days ago and I have left it to cure since then, it still gives off an odor so I haven't done anything with it.

I tried to translate more of the bottle and I have figured out that it does have a mildew guard or chemical in the silicon.

I'm not overly keen on scraping everything of the PVC and starting over again, so is there anything I can do to neutralize the Mildew chemicals so they don't cause a mass genocide in my Aquarium?

[XnSdVd]

Patience my friend... or you could boil it.

[fatmarley]

You think boiling it will get rid of the harmful chemicals?

[celticfish]

hi marley,

i'm not sure how much your fish costs or how much you love them.
call me cruel but i think the best way to test is to put the caves into a small tank with cheap fish (but not too hardy).
the smaller the tank the better.
then run it with filters and fish for two weeks to be sure.

someone lost some zebra plecos when he put unknown silicon into his tank.
personally i think the risk of using unknown silicon is not worth taking...

[XnSdVd]

You think boiling it will get rid of the harmful chemicals?

Boiling would certainly speed the process. If i remember my chemistry correctly, most chemical reactions happen faster(reactants used faster) when heat is applied.

[Shadow]

will it disintegrade the silicon as well?

[XnSdVd]

No silicone isn't water soluble.

[Shadow]

ok, I was just wondering because usually heat will reduce the life of the sillicon, unless I'm mistaken.

[XnSdVd]

It will, but since the silicon on the "cave" is only meant to hold the rocks to it, the heat won't do anything beyond making it brittle.

[bossteck]

Why don't you take a pic of the silicon you're using? AQ has all sorts of talents , who knows, someone here may be able to translate what's written on the label of the silicon for you.

[celticfish]

bossteck,
what a wonderful idea!

[AA24]

DONT boil it.. coz thePVC pipe will distort.. might cause you to lose shape or delaminate the silicon..

I think the toilet trick is pretty good.. I have done some silicon work in my old tank before.. didn't seem to kill anything.. I believe that once it cures its pretty safe..

cheers

[fatmarley]

Turns out the Silicon has anti-fungicide that will cause a mass extinction much like the dinosaurs (in my tank).

So I tossed it out, and got different Silicon. Fingers crossed while I translate it.

[Shadow]

buy the silicon glue from aquarium shop, it should be safe. Logically shop owner should stock aquarium friendly silicon glue, I hope

[fatmarley]

Sadly they don't.