Mtlreeffreak's 10 Footer. Let the games begin!

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by Scythanith

Also, when concept builds your tank request ZERO bubbles in the silicone on the visible edge between the two pieces of starfire glass. The other edges don't matter as much as I assume they will be concealed.

I emailed them with this Request.
this is the reply i got:




Not sure where that idea came from but it is almost impossible due to the way we build for strength

We use spacer to form a 1/16 gap between the glass contract to give the silicone the strongest bond, but due to this when the silicone cures it traps the moisture in the seams and that can cause bubbles to form


The only way to not have bubble is to remove more silicone between the seams so less moisture is release but you get a weaker seam

[Scythanith]

I agree Wardog! Mtlreeffreak, that was an option (that I didn't know about until after) when I bought my tank. I could be wrong, but I swear someone local to me ordered their tank specifically with no bubbles and paid extra.

[Scythanith]

Plus, plenty of tank manufacturers construct tanks with no bubbles in the silicone and they are perfectly strong.

[WarDog]

I understand Dave's reply in regards to seam strength. Alternatively, you could go with black silicone which should help make the bubbles less visible (if any)... or perhaps Concept should be looking for a different silicone than GE SCS1200. Every Concept tank I have seen with clear silicone has bubbles, and its always bugged the hell out of me.

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by WarDog

I understand Dave's reply in regards to seam strength. Alternatively, you could go with black silicone which should help make the bubbles less visible (if any)... or perhaps Concept should be looking for a different silicone than GE SCS1200. Every Concept tank I have seen with clear silicone has bubbles, and its always bugged the hell out of me.

im going black silicone ..

[dave_C]

Originally Posted by WarDog

I understand Dave's reply in regards to seam strength. Alternatively, you could go with black silicone which should help make the bubbles less visible (if any)... or perhaps Concept should be looking for a different silicone than GE SCS1200. Every Concept tank I have seen with clear silicone has bubbles, and its always bugged the hell out of me.

Oh Warren we have tried

have tired the Momentive RTV108 series(more expensive and really never saw any difference between the two)

Aqueon silicone no where as strong as the scs1200 from GE

Looked into a new UV instant cure silicone but they are not available in north america yet and let's not even talking about cost lol

What we have found from over the years is that over the winter months there is less bubbles the occur in the silicone making us come to a conclusion temper and humidity play a role in the forming of bubbles.

So yes there is away around the bubbles issues but there would also come with cost associated with it, having to build a large room to house 10 96x48 and 2 120x60 build tables and have a way to lower temp and increase humidity would not be cheap. I guess all I am saying is if we are at around the same price as red sea tanks or the elos tanks could we compete with them.


Having a perfect tank cost money and I am not sure if it is worth us trying to archive that compared too what we are offering now and yes black silicone hides a lot of the imperfection with the manufacturing of the tanks.

One last thing, if you seen any of our tanks you will realized that most of the bubbles happen on the bottom seam and the reasoning is the bottom glass is cut smaller then the sides allowing us to square the tank better but also happens to have a thicker silicone seam. More silicone equals more chances of bubbles forming on that seam

Hope that helps

Thanks Dave

[DKoKoMan]

Black silicone definitely helps with the bubbles. I am really happy with the way my seams look with the black silicone as it really cleans the look along with the polished edges.

[WarDog]

Thanks for the explanation Dave, and sorry to Reeffreak for hijacking the thread. Lol.