Is GE Silicone II safe for marine aquarium use? - GTA Aquaria Forum - Aquarium Fish & Plants serving the Greater Toronto Area.

Cypher · 05-07-2010, 04:01 AM

Hey Everyone,

As the title states, I'm wondering if any of you know if GE Silicone II is safe for use in Marine aquariums? Any experiences or opinions? Share please. Thanks.

drknight · 05-07-2010, 07:09 AM

IMO unless it says that it is aquarium safe I wouldn't use it. Spend a little more and get one that's aquarium safe could save you alot more in the long run.

xbacala · 05-07-2010, 09:03 AM

I used GE Silicone I as lot of people recommended. Work great.
As long as it said 100% Silicone is aquarium safe.

conix67 · 05-07-2010, 09:59 AM

all silicone seal products say "100% silicone" I believe. Silicone II if I recall correctly are NOT aquarium safe, as they have additives for mildew.

Current products will NOT say aquarium safe even if it is. I heard this was because some legal reasons.

So you want something that does not have any additives such as mildew resistent.

Zebrapl3co · 05-07-2010, 11:23 AM

Yeah, I think all GE II are mildew resistant and the chemical is bad for your fish.
Ge 1200 series is the best kind of aquarium silicon you can get.
Try contacting John (sugarslidder), he used to carry alot of them. It's next to impossible to buy this from the stores now-a-days.
http://gtaaquaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14218

Riceburner · 05-07-2010, 11:31 AM

Window and door Silicone I is fine. Blue and white tube.

ameekplec. · 05-07-2010, 11:40 AM

Check to see if it is mildew or mold resistant. If it is, then it's not safe for aquarium use.

Cypher · 05-07-2010, 01:03 PM

Hmmm... I need black silicone. Thanks for the replies, will have to stop by the hardware store to see if they got GE silicone I in black.

wildexpressions · 05-11-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cypher

Hey Everyone,

As the title states, I'm wondering if any of you know if GE Silicone II is safe for use in Marine aquariums? Any experiences or opinions? Share please. Thanks.

I have used GE type I & II for windows and doors many times over the years although I no longer do and do not recommend them. It simply is not as strong as many other options. In a pinch I'd use it on tanks under 30 gallons but I'll never use it one over that.

In response to the poster that said as long as its 100% silicon it is safe that is not true. Silicone is a compound made up of a variety of silica based materials and the ingredients vary. That is why we have 100's of products designed for 1000's of uses and yet all are 100% silicon.

Below is a list of the ingredients that may or may not be present in the various Type II's and the range of percentages by volume for those ingredients according to the Consumer Products Information Database
Chemical
Methyldimethoxy polydime-siloxane 068037-58-1 60-80%
Methyltrimethoxysilane 001185-55-3 1-5 %
Hexamethyldisilazane 000999-97-3 1-5 %
Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, silica reaction product 068583-49-3 10-30 %
Polydimethylsiloxanes (Silicon oil) 063148-62-9 10-30 %
Silanol/Siloxane polymers 068554-67-6 1-5 %

Momentive RTV 100 series, 800 series and SC1200 series are all far better products. All are avail in black and the last number indicates color

SC1200 is an excellent product that I have used a lot. It flows extremely smoothly and doesn't VOC you to badly.
Elongation 513%
Tensile Strength 480 psi

RTV103 is black & 108 is clear
Data sheet
Elongation 450%
Tensile Strength 400 psi

IS800
Data Sheet
Elongation 450 %
Tensile Strength 300%

SC1200 is sold as a construction sealant/adhesive and was available at Graingers

Construction Distribution Supply. They have outlets in Scarborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Ktchener and Barrie.

This dude posted a message is 2006 on PN saying he had it and when I contacted him in 2009 he was still selling the stuff maurisil@rogers.com He was great to deal with as well.

I'm not claiming to be an expert although I have used all of the listed products many times. I came by this information by talking to product engineers at Momentive which is the company that manufactures GE silicon products and by investigating what professionals use on the large commercial aquariums.

Cypher · 05-11-2010, 03:32 PM

Hey thanks for the reply and info wildexpressions. Have you ever used SC1200 for aquarium applications and do you know if its safe for marine organisms?

I know of the thread you are talking about in PN, I contacted the guy only to find out his prices are now 2x+ what they used to be. In addition to that if I have to drive to pick it up, I might as well mail order the stuff or go buy from a store and end up being the same amount of money. So no more savings getting from the maurisil guy any longer. Thanks for the suggestion though. But back to the original question - is SC1200 marine aquarium safe? Thanks again.

05-07-2010, 04:01 AM	#1
Cypher Devoted Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Milkyway Galaxy. Posts: 1,220 Feedback Score: (65)	Is GE Silicone II safe for marine aquarium use? Hey Everyone, As the title states, I'm wondering if any of you know if GE Silicone II is safe for use in Marine aquariums? Any experiences or opinions? Share please. Thanks.

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05-07-2010, 07:09 AM	#2
drknight Up-and-comer Join Date: May 2009 Location: Markham Posts: 69 Feedback Score: (0)	IMO unless it says that it is aquarium safe I wouldn't use it. Spend a little more and get one that's aquarium safe could save you alot more in the long run.

05-07-2010, 09:03 AM	#3
xbacala Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 85 Feedback Score: (0)	I used GE Silicone I as lot of people recommended. Work great. As long as it said 100% Silicone is aquarium safe.

05-07-2010, 09:59 AM	#4
conix67 Devoted Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vaughan Posts: 1,765 Feedback Score: (43)	all silicone seal products say "100% silicone" I believe. Silicone II if I recall correctly are NOT aquarium safe, as they have additives for mildew. Current products will NOT say aquarium safe even if it is. I heard this was because some legal reasons. So you want something that does not have any additives such as mildew resistent.

05-07-2010, 11:23 AM	#5
Zebrapl3co Devoted Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scrap Borrow Posts: 2,495 Feedback Score: (8)	Yeah, I think all GE II are mildew resistant and the chemical is bad for your fish. Ge 1200 series is the best kind of aquarium silicon you can get. Try contacting John (sugarslidder), he used to carry alot of them. It's next to impossible to buy this from the stores now-a-days. http://gtaaquaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14218

05-07-2010, 11:31 AM	#6
Riceburner Want a pic? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Markham Posts: 2,577 Feedback Score: (44)	Window and door Silicone I is fine. Blue and white tube.

05-07-2010, 11:40 AM	#7
ameekplec. Moberator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Downtown Posts: 7,081 Feedback Score: (115)	Check to see if it is mildew or mold resistant. If it is, then it's not safe for aquarium use.

05-07-2010, 01:03 PM	#8
Cypher Devoted Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Milkyway Galaxy. Posts: 1,220 Feedback Score: (65)	Hmmm... I need black silicone. Thanks for the replies, will have to stop by the hardware store to see if they got GE silicone I in black.

05-11-2010, 03:32 PM	#10
Cypher Devoted Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Milkyway Galaxy. Posts: 1,220 Feedback Score: (65)	Hey thanks for the reply and info wildexpressions. Have you ever used SC1200 for aquarium applications and do you know if its safe for marine organisms? I know of the thread you are talking about in PN, I contacted the guy only to find out his prices are now 2x+ what they used to be. In addition to that if I have to drive to pick it up, I might as well mail order the stuff or go buy from a store and end up being the same amount of money. So no more savings getting from the maurisil guy any longer. Thanks for the suggestion though. But back to the original question - is SC1200 marine aquarium safe? Thanks again.