Underwater glue

Dumaurier7 · Jul 7, 2016

Hi all , my aquarium is up and running but I have to remove ,resize and replace a glass partition in my sump for proper skimmer operation . If possible I would like to put it in with the system live ! Anyone know of a fast setting and sealing fish safe glue I can use ?

dbrewsky · Jul 7, 2016

Hello, I think you will find this solution to be impractical. To do it right, the panel needs silicone and must be dry for this to cure. Out of curiosity, are you having issues with the depth for the skimmer to operate? Can you put a stand in the adjust the skimmer depth instead of draining the sump to modify the baffle?

Dumaurier7 · Jul 7, 2016

Nope not enough room over the skimmer.

dbrewsky · Jul 7, 2016

If it were me I would tear down and rebuild the baffle and glue it back. You shouldn't be out of service for more than a couple days this way.

cromag27 · Jul 7, 2016

Take sump offline, use momentive rtv 100 series silicone, wait a full WEEK to cure.

Dumaurier7 · Jul 10, 2016

cromag08 said:
Take sump offline, use momentive rtv 100 series silicone, wait a full WEEK to cure.

Why such a long curing time ?would it be for bonding strength or animal safety?

cromag27 · Jul 10, 2016

Both. Silicone packaging may say otherwise, but that's for other uses. I know there is an "aquarium" silicone that supposedly cures overnight, but that's junk. I would never trust silicone after 24 hours and that particular silicone is just repackaged garbage, similar to (or the same as) GE type 1. momentive rtv is a commercial grade sealant and adhesive, I used it exclusively when I used to build glass tanks.

Schrecken · Jul 16, 2016

Dumaurier7 said:
Why such a long curing time ?would it be for bonding strength or animal safety?

I crashed my entire system by not waiting long enough for sillicon to cure. Total livestock loss.

Dumaurier7 · Jul 19, 2016

Wow! Thank you all for your replays !

Fin · Jul 19, 2016

I don't know what size your sump is, or how detailed it is, but one solution would be to just build another sump the way you want it. Let it cure properly and then just swap them out. Minimum down time for your system.

Dumaurier7 · Jul 19, 2016

Fin said:
I don't know what size your sump is, or how detailed it is, but one solution would be to just build another sump the way you want it. Let it cure properly and then just swap them out. Minimum down time for your system.

Yup, I am considering this option because I also want to change out / upgrade my pumps so I would need larger holes and bulkheads ,just don't know what I would do with the old one.