Updated 5/23/13

AQUARIUM REPAIR & SILICONE APPLICATIONS;
What Silicone to use and what not to use, Aquarium Repair (& leak identification), Aquarium construction.

Index;

• Silicone Basics
• Aquarium Applications
• Aquarium Repair
  Including;
  
  • Leak Identification
  • For an older tank that is starting to leak
  • For non structural corner chips
  • For broken plastic hinges
  • For loose or failed (loose) Center Brace
  • For MINOR cracks
  • For MAJOR cracks
• For DIY Aquariums
• Silicone Needed Calculation
• Summary

*Also how to use silicone to repair an aquarium (three different applications)
*DIY Aquarium Glass Thickness recommendations.
*YouTube Video demonstrating application of silicone for aquarium crack and hinge repair

SILICONE BASICS:

Silicone rubber is a unique synthetic elastomer made from a cross-linked polymer which is reinforced with silica. Its characteristics are such that it provides a balance of mechanical and chemical properties useful for bonding glass aquariums (not acrylic).
The basic formula is: Me3SiO(SiMe2O)nSiMe3

RTV Silicones (RTV= "Room Temperature Vulcanising") are the silicones commonly used for glass construction and is often sold in Home Improvement and Pet Stores (or online).
RTV Silicones consist of polydialkylsiloxane with terminal hydroxyl groups (groups made up of an oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom connected by a covalent bond), which are reacted with organosilicon (chemical compounds containing carbon silicon bonds) cross-linking agents. This operation is carried out in a moisture-free environment and results in the formation of a tetrafunctional structure (A chemical structure that possesses four highly reactive sites). Curing takes place when materials are exposed to moisture. Atmospheric moisture is sufficient to trigger the reaction, and thickness should be limited if only one side is exposed to the moisture source. Curing is also relatively slow, reliant on moisture ingress into the polymer which produces Acetic Acid vapors.

Different formulas and (combined with temperature and outside humidity) will affect cure time. Dow Corning, American Sealants, and GE have proprietary formulas (although Dow is often packaged under other brands such as All Glass & Aqueon Aquarium) that cure at an even slower rate as compared to some cheaper formulas, especially used in construction where this is not an important factor. This however is important for aquariums to have an even and slow cure time as I have used 100% silicones such as CRL that would cure too quickly resulting in a less than desirable bond.
Also some formulas such as GE Silicon II have a mildew inhibitor (which would be toxic to the fish).

100% RTV Silicone Rubber Sealant produces a flexible, durable weather resistant seal between similar and dissimilar materials; 100% RTV Silicone provides excellent adhesion to tile, glass, porcelain, ceramic, fiberglass, non-oily woods, plaster, painted surfaces, metal, many plastics, and rubber. It will withstand temperature extremes from -60°F. to +450°F. and is waterproof for freshwater or saltwater use.

It is noteworthy that plastic (which is made from oil) is not mentioned. RTV silicone is not useful for bonding acrylic aquariums and the oils within acrylic will eventually cause peeling away (lack of adhesion).

The bottom line is do NOT use silicone for repair of Acrylic/Plexiglass aquariums (or other acrylic applications)!

For Plexiglass/Acrylic aquariums you would need to use Plexiglass or PVC Cement (Glue) which works by “melting” the Plexiglass panels together. This is best applied with a needle applicator between the Plexiglass panels along with applying pressure. Silicone is often used after initial Plexiglass construction to provide more water tight seal along the seams of a Plexiglass/Acrylic aquarium, but this will peel after time (it can be re-applied) and provides NO strength for the actual plexiglass panels.
Silicone can also be used to form a seal where water pressure will push the glass panel against a surface that it would otherwise would not adhere well to (although once pressure is removed after initial filling, the silicone will likely not “seat” again in such an application where silicone does not properly bond).

AQUARIUM APPLICATIONS:

RTV Silicones are useful in the construction of glass aquariums and sealing the joints in DIY wooden aquariums. Silicone is NOT useful for acrylic aquariums as it will peel away over time due to the inherent oils in plastics.
Not all silicone formulas are the same, as stated earlier, Dow Corning, American Sealants, and GE produce a RTV silicone that cures at an even and slow rate necessary for aquariums.
Why is this important? Too fast a cure will not allow proper surface adhesion especially in important seams. It is also hard to work with in building aquariums and the person needs to work very quickly (usually too quickly) for proper aquarium construction.


Also you want to purchase pure 100% RTV Silicone as many (including ones produced by Dow Corning) have other ingredients for different applications such as fiberglass.

A good example of a silicone you do NOT want to purchase is Dow Corning Marine Sealant which I have actually seen recommended for aquariums! This product is great for fiberglass hulls of boats however it lacks the proper strength for aquariums due to added ingredients that allow for adhesion to plastic.

As well any silicone that advertises that it can be painted on after curing has added ingredients and is not 100% silicone and NOT safe for aquariums or food use.


Finally, many silicones available for sale, especially generic brands often sold at big box home improvement store may be 100% RTV Silicone sealants, but these are not Agricultre Canada, USDA, & FDA approved.
This means these cannot be legally used for sealing any container, equipment, etc used for human food production or storage. While this may not mean too much to some fish keepers, for me it is important to know that the silicone I am using on my expensive aquatic specimens meet such specifications!!

AQUARIUM REPAIR;

With a good silicone, you can perform a few repairs yourself.

The picture/diagram to the left shows what to basically to look for as to silicone in the important joint where two glass panels meet. This is where most of the strength is obtained from the silicone. If the silicone is missing or pulled away (as can be easily observed by looking through the glass at each joint to see if air or water is present in place of silicone), you may need to repair this. The silicone in the inside corner gives added strength and small leak protection, but is not as important for aquarium strength as the silicone in the joint. This is also important that braces (if your aquarium has a brace) have this silicone as well.
(please click the picture for a better view

Small Leak Identification:

Often small leaks are the most difficult to find (identify the source of the leak so as to repair). I have been called out by a client who thought that their tank had a leak on the bottom (which would require a strip down of the tank and stripping of silicone and reapplication), only to find that the aquarium actually was only seeping water from the top (often under the trim) and this small bead of water would run down the side seem in a manner that went unseen. This type of leak can be found more easily by gently running a paper towel along the sides to look for trace amounts of water which the paper towel would quickly find.

If this is your leak, this could be from the trim (which is often a plastic material and does not adhere to the silicone as well and can often be repaired by simply lowering your water a few inches and stripping the silicone around the trim and then replacing this silicone. Sometimes simply adding silicone in gaps in the trim or even lowering water level or reducing condensation of water on the glass top which may find its way around top gaps in the aquarium and then to the bottom of the aquarium (often resulting in a wet stand or similar condition)

For an older tank that is starting to leak (no broken glass), this can be repaired following these basic steps:
[1] Empty aquarium
[2] Remove ALL old silicone with a razor blade (I prefer a single edge razor blade, see picture to the left)
[3] Clean and prepare surface with fine sandpaper.
[4] Make sure all surfaces are dry.
[5] Apply silicone (a caulking gun works best), making .5 (or smaller) cm. bead in the inside edges.
[6] Tighten all outside corners with strong reinforced duct tape. For tanks over 75 gallons I recommend wooden clamps.
[7] Immediately use your index finger to smooth ALL inside edge beads into a smooth surface, quickly wiping away excess silicone.
[8] Your repair is complete in 48 hours.

For non structural corner chips:
[1] Drain aquarium down to the area of the chip.
[2] Inspect/ clean/ repair the inside area in needed.
[3] Clean out broken glass on the outside chip area
[4] Carefully clean out broken glass (gloves are recommended), a razor blade followed by fine sand paper works best.
[5] Inject new silicone followed immediately by a piece of glass that fits reasonably well into this chip.
[6] Add more silicone if necessary.
[7] Smooth repair and add a piece of wax paper (or similar waxy or mildly oily band aid), followed immediately by strong reinforced duct tape to hold this repair in place.
[8] This “band aid” can be removed in 24 to 48 hours and the aquarium re filled.

For broken plastic hinges:
[1] Remove old hinge
[2] Place both pieces of glass on a firm level surface
[3] Run a .5 cm bead of silicone carefully down the area where both pieces of glass come together.
[4] Immediately, using your index and middle finger, run these fingers over the top of this silicone bead forming sharp peak of silicone between both pieces of glass. Remove excess. Bare hands (index and fore fingers) work best as the oils present repel the silicone from adhering too much to your fingers. The silicone should look sort of like this after running along it with your index and fore finger pressed together: /\ (YouTube video located below demonstrates this)
[5] After 24 to 48 hours your new and more durable hinge is ready.

For loose or failed (loose) Center Brace:
[1] Drain water down to whatever level it takes to move the brace back to its original fit (in other words to take out the "bow" in the glass)
[2] Remove ALL old Silicone
[3] If your aquarium has a plastic center brace, please note as stated elsewhere in this article that silicone does not adhere to oil based products well and eventually fails, so repair of this is doomed to eventual failure again.
My suggestion is to either cut or have cut (at a local glass shop) a glass center brace to replace the original plastic brace.
OR as noted by a member at Everything Aquatic, the use of an aluminum bar and drilled holes thru the bar and the original brace, then put rivets into the holes drilled.
[4] Place an even bead of quality silicone on just the tank portion of where the brace needs to be placed back into.
[5] Finally clamp the brace as shown in the picture.

For MINOR cracks
[1] Clean the area on BOTH side of the crack thoroughly with a razor blade (no solvents)
[2] Apply bead of silicone as described above and in the video below forming a ridge with your fingers evenly along the crack (adding a plate of glass on the inside side of the crack will greatly increase strength). Flip the aquarium and repeat on the other side.
[3] Allow at least 24 hours to dry, allow 48 hours is better.
[4] This repair is ONLY recommended for aquariums under 10 gallons with single cracks, generally on the bottom.

For MAJOR cracks (only single cracks, not “spider” cracks)
For larger aquariums with single cracks I recommend adding a plate of glass to the inside of the crack repair in step #2. This plate need only cover the crack plus an inch or two, not the full bottom or side (although that would certainly be better yet).
I generally do not recommend this repair for tanks over 100 gallons, although I have cut glass panels to fit over the entire bottom without replacing the old cracked panel for larger aquariums or multi cracked smaller aquariums.
Otherwise I STRONGLY recommend replacing the glass panel.

Here is a YouTube Video we made for aquarium crack and hinge repair using a DAP Silicone utilizing Dow Patent Rights (Please note that most DAP Silicone is NOT Aquarium Safe!). This video also shows how to correctly apply silicone and cut glass:



Here is another YouTube Video link that does a good job demonstrating stripping and then applying new silicone in an aquarium repair.
Please note that I do not recommend the silicone sealant he is using as this is a generic silicone (of which I have used many similar types out of China packaged under different generic names); as this silicone will not cure at the correct rate leaving potential gaps that show up over time. As well the long term durability is questionable and safety for use around aquatic life is questionable since it is not Agricultre Canada, USDA, FDA approved for use around human foods which for me makes me question the use around fish (consider a Dow, GE or American Sealants brand silicone for your important aquatic pets!.
YouTube Video; Glass Aquarium Silicone Reseal

FOR DIY AQUARIUMS(or simply what to look for in a new glass tank)

Recommended Glass thicknesses:
(Length x Height x Width)
2 x 1 x 1 = 5mm glass
2 x 1 x 1.5 = 6 mm glass
2 x 1.5 x 1.5 = 8 mm glass
2.5 x 2 x 2 = 10 mm glass
3 x1 x 1 = 6 mm glass
3 x 1.5 x 1.5 = 8mm glass
3 x 2 x 2 = 12 mm glass
4 x 1.5 x 1.5 = 10mm glass
4 x 2 x 2 = 12 mm glass
6 x any size x 2 feet max. = 12 mm glass

Please note that the formula for gallon calculations is L x H x W divided by 231 = Gallons. Multiply this by 3.785 for liters.
I do NOT recommend a glass aquarium over 250 -300 gallons!

Trim
• Please keep in mind that when either building or purchasing a glass aquarium, the thickness of the glass (which should be float glass), along with the type of silicone used, and finally construction methods are what will basically determine the quality of the finished aquarium.
The trim (which is generally plastic) offers LITTLE support other than providing a “cushion” between the bottom glass and stand and as well a “convenient” way to place the lid, lights, etc., on top. Of course the trim does certainly add to the attractiveness, but as someone that has worked with high end aquarium manufacturers and built/repaired many myself, I can tell the reader here from an experience that the trim offers little in support and if it is necessary for support, you have a dangerously poorly built aquarium!
As well, I have removed trim from many tanks (including large ones) and filled them with water with no difference other than the unattractive aspect.


For calculating the amount of silicone needed for a job, I would recommend this link:

Caulking Usage Calculator

I would recommend a bead slightly wider than the width of the glass.

As an example, a 60 gallon aquarium with 1/4 inch wide glass would require a 3/16" bead of silicone. One tube of standard caulking tube of silicone would produce 43.378 feet of silicone at this width. So one 60 gallon would require about 24 feet for the initial seal of a complete build or rebuild of of a 60 gallon and another 14 feet for a double inside seam seal, so this would be 38 feet or slightly less than one tube.

SUMMARY:

Can you easily purchase the proper silicone at a Home Improvement Store? The answer is yes, just do not purchase anything other than 100% Pure Silicone (color does not matter) and I strongly recommend brand loyalty as there are good reasons behind GE, American Sealants, and Dow Corning patents. To be safe, if you are unsure of the silicone you are buying, do not try and save a few bucks at the local hardware store when your local Pet Store or Aquarium Store have the correct product for maybe a few dollars more (unless an exploding aquarium in the middle of the night is your idea of excitement).





If you can not find quality Aquarium Sealant (either Dow Corning or American Sealants; or one of their repackaged brands such as All Glass Aquarium; which hold patents for a good reason), please click on the picture to the left for an online source.
See link Below:
Aquarium Silicone; American Sealants & All Glass 100%






Other Aquarium Resources:

• LED Aquarium Lights, Lighting
• Water Pump Specifications, Tips, Recommendations, Limitations
  A MUST READ FIRST, if you looking to purchase a water pump for your aquarium, pond, or fountain!
• Sponge Filters
• UV Bulbs; Replacement UV-C Lamps for your aquarium sterilizer, clarifier, or home/office purifier


• 
  Aquarium Lighting
  This is THE article for in-depth, researched, and regularly updated information on the subject of aquarium lighting; a MUST READ!

Other Recommended Reference Sites

-A useful source for current Aquarium Information and Resources (Pond too). Basic and in depth articles from Aquarium Lighting, Filtration, Fish Nutrition, UV Sterilization; How to use a UVC Sterilizer, Ick, Pond Care, Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle, and much more. Well researched and up to date aquarium and pond articles, answers, help, and links. Based on 33 years Professional experience & research in Los Angeles and now in Oregon. This Aquarium and Pond Information resource is a must read for any aquarist serious about current aquatic information and articles

For a friendly, Knowledgeable, aquarium forum with in a family atmosphere, Aquarium Forum; Everything Aquatic & Board is an excellent place to go for information, help or simply to share your love of the aquarium and pond hobby and help others. A superior place for information over such places as Yahoo Answers

FISH AS PETS; Articles and commentary of Interest to the Aquarium Hobby; Such as Parasite Retailers, Aquarium Planaria & Detritus, Melafix Dangers in Aquarium, & Celestial Pearl Danio, Galaxy Rasboras

Labels: aquarium hinge, aquarium repair, Aquarium Silicone, broken aquarium, DIY Aquarium, glass aquarium, glass aquarium repair, tank repair