GE Silicone Problems..

[Aquattro]

PSA: There have been several threads recently detailing crashes and issues with tanks after using GE I or II silicone to repair or build new additions to tanks. While GE I has historically been reef safe, and I've used it myself for years, there are reports that they are now adding a mildew inhibitor to this mix as well. This seems to be verified by the crashes reported.
GE 1200 is still highly recommended, as are several other products on the market at hardware stores, marked as "aquarium safe".

Please do a search here for threads detailing the problems and alternate products to use instead.
Alternatively, if anyone wants to post in this thread what they used and where they purchased it, that might make it easier.
Please, no discussions of issues with silicone, just what you used and where you got it.

Thanks.

[Borderjumper]

I've been using Adbond 005 100% silicone, its a green tube with the fish on the label. I get mine at Castle Building Center and I think Industrial paints and plastics and Ace hardware also carry it

[Aquattro]

If you're reading this after the fact, here is some useful info..

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

The mildew inhibitors are petroleum distillates. The only thing that will remove them is aspiration by a skimmer (basically "undissolving" them) and big water changes. They don't stick to carbon. The silicone may also be leaching ammonia if it didn't cure long enough. Add an ammonia absorbing pad.

. GE didn't even list the petroleum distillates in their MSDS until recently as they were a trade secret.

[sphelps]

Is there away to determine what is bad or good by the packaging or some other test? I recently used a small amount of GE#1 but it was from a tube I've had lying around for quite some time. I never saw any effects but would like to check if possible.

[Proteus]

I went and bought weather shield silicon which states aquarium safe on the tube. From home hardware for around $7

[MarkoD]

If the bottle says 100% silicone, it's safe to use.

99.999999......% or less is not safe to use

[007rick]

I used it to reseal my tank... no issues up and running two years now


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[The Grizz]

Why would anyone even think of using something that COULD cause potential problems. Just use what the tank builders are using and never think about it again.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by 007rick

I used it to reseal my tank... no issues up and running two years now


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by The Grizz

Why would anyone even think of using something that COULD cause potential problems. Just use what the tank builders are using and never think about it again.

I'll have to agree
A few 20s is money well spent to save the whole tank

Maybe Rick got lucky and bought some of the old silicone before they switched it over to the new mold and mildew stuff

[DSlater]

We just suffered some minor losses after resealing an old 20g with GE 1, used it in the past just fine. Over two days it damaged some soft corals and killed a small wrasse. CUC seemed fine so I threw the into a larger system.

What can I now do with the rock remaining? Can this be rinsed off in a saltwater bucket and thrown into the sump on our larger system or will the rock absorb the chemicals and release them again? Almost leaning towards bleaching the rock and starting over to be safe.