uncured silicone toxic ???

cracker · Sep 30, 2016

Evening Folks, I think I screwed up real good this time. The skimmer section was leaking a little bit.
So I drained the section, rinsed well with fresh water and dried it out used a squirrel fan to dry for the afternoon. I then sealed with a healthy bead of silicone waited 24 hours and refilled. This was yesterday. Today everybody looked terrible ! I have one fish he was even hiding out. Mostly lps a couple of sps. so I did a 30 gl water change. The tank is 75 ,the sump 25 gls. so I did the water change another tomorrow and added an extra bag of carbon. I hope I didn't nuke the tank. Next time I will wait 48 hours !
So how toxic is uncured silicone? Now it did sit for 24 so it wasn't wet or anything. Anything I can do I haven't done? Thanks !

Sabellafella · Sep 30, 2016

cracker said:
Evening Folks, I think I screwed up real good this time. The skimmer section was leaking a little bit.
So I drained the section, rinsed well with fresh water and dried it out used a squirrel fan to dry for the afternoon. I then sealed with a healthy bead of silicone waited 24 hours and refilled. This was yesterday. Today everybody looked terrible ! I have one fish he was even hiding out. Mostly lps a couple of sps. so I did a 30 gl water change. The tank is 75 ,the sump 25 gls. so I did the water change another tomorrow and added an extra bag of carbon. I hope I didn't nuke the tank. Next time I will wait 48 hours !
So how toxic is uncured silicone? Now it did sit for 24 so it wasn't wet or anything. Anything I can do I haven't done? Thanks !

Hmm good question for members to refer too. #reefsquad

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 30, 2016

uncured silicone toxic ???
yes. kinda, Esp depends on the brand too. is your one of the reef safe ones? AS it cures it off gasses(i forget what,) and slowly dries.so now you curing it in thank so it cant off gas effiently so yes carbon in reactor ir high flow like over the top of the return pump., lots of extra air.
the times i've done i don't believe I lost anything.

cracker · Sep 30, 2016

Thanks Salty, Goes to show Ya . One can pay all the attention to water perimeters etc and one thing not thought thru can hang Ya up big time. All I needed to do was wait another day or so. The coral are looking a little better.it's been about 5 hrs since the water change. Hopefully tomorrow things will look better.

71xlch · Sep 30, 2016

If you smell vinegar it's still curing. When it cures it gives off acetic acid for sure. Not sure what else but on most labels it says it contains petroleum distalites as well.

RobBaglieri · Sep 30, 2016

I believe silicone gives off acetic acid vapors while curing. I read on a ste that makes dumps that it can take days to fully cure. What is a squirrel fan?

jsker · Sep 30, 2016

RobBaglieri said:
I believe silicone gives off acetic acid vapors while curing. I read on a ste that makes dumps that it can take days to fully cure. What is a squirrel fan?

squirrel fan type

RobBaglieri · Sep 30, 2016

jsker said:
squirrel fan type

Ahhh, had to Google that one. Centrifugal fan.

jsker · Sep 30, 2016

RobBaglieri said:
Ahhh, had to Google that one. Centrifugal fan.

You learn something new everyday

I am constantly Googling stuff.

cracker · Oct 1, 2016

It's abroken desktop fan attached by a belt to a large hamster wheel . It has 2 slave squirrels running it. You would be surprised how long they can run before collapsing . sorry I don't have a pic for You.

cracker · Oct 1, 2016

Ok , The corals are looking better today, and squirrels got a reprieve . I'm still doing another w/c today Freaked me out there and a lesson learned !
I'm surprised You Guys haven't heard the term squirrel fan. it's a common term down here on the Florida/ Georgia line. LOL

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 1, 2016

Most ingredients are no concern, such as the acetic acid. If it is a type with mold inhibitors, that is a concern cured it not, but worse uncured.

cracker · Oct 1, 2016

Thanks for dropping in Randy. I used GE clear silicone 1.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 2, 2016

Are you still having issues?

cracker · Oct 2, 2016

Hello Randy , So the corals are looking a little better today. I've done 2, 25 % water changes on this little under 100 gl system. I was hoping for better results today and will do another 25% tomorrow. They are looking much better but not what I was hoping for. Do You think GE silicone 1 is OK to use? I have used it many times with no issues.( I thought) . Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again

Myka · Oct 3, 2016

Lots of people use GE SCS1200.

I'm am too paranoid about the manufacturer changing the ingredients in the SCS1200 without letting us aquarium people know (aquarium use is off-label use). So I pay the extra $5 for the Aqueon silicone since I trust an aquarium company would be checking ingredients from their source. I think the extra few bucks is worth saving situations like the one you're in - you've already spent more than a few bucks just in salt mix doing all those water changes, not to mention the time that took you.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 3, 2016

Lots of people have used GE silicone 1 without apparent issue, but the curing might be an issue. In the future, GAC is a good way to remove many of the organics that might come from sources such as adhesives, sealants, paints, etc.

Myka · Oct 3, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Lots of people have used GE silicone 1 without apparent issue, but the curing might be an issue. In the future, GAC is a good way to remove many of the organics that might come from sources such as adhesives, sealants, paints, etc.

In 2012 there were several people on our local Canadian forums claiming GE Silicone I had caused issues in their tanks. I remember something about a formulation/ingredient change, but I can't remember the details.

RobBaglieri · Oct 3, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Lots of people have used GE silicone 1 without apparent issue, but the curing might be an issue. In the future, GAC is a good way to remove many of the organics that might come from sources such as adhesives, sealants, paints, etc.

Does GAC bind or trap these types of contaminants?

cracker · Oct 3, 2016

I would think the GAC would help remove chemicals from the water .
So today the corals looked the same as yesterday. didn't get a w/c in though. I could have waited weeks if I wanted to, just wasn't thinking.