Many aquarists prefer not to buy aquariums for their water animals, and do them yourself. In this situation, it is extremely important to choose the right aquarium sealant, since its quality will depend on the comfortable residence of fish in the water . There is an opinion that the sealant is dangerous for the health of the inhabitants of the aquarium. This is not true, as it very quickly hardens and does not release toxic substances into the water.
Composition of aquarium sealant
Aquarium silicone sealant contains in its composition dyes, various fillers, vulcanizing component, all kinds of amplifiers and silicone rubber. From the presence of these or other components, the quality of the sealant depends, as well as its cost. One of the most important constituents is the vulcanizing component. It depends on it, how firmly the surfaces are stuck together, what kind of seam will be, etc. It is important to remember that when processing glass with a silicone sealant, an acetic odor is released, and in order not to harm the fish, after holding the aquarium it should be kept in the water for several days, constantly changing it. There are sealants in which there is absolutely no odor, but their price is too high, and aquarists prefer to use silicone.
Types of aquarium sealants
Before you go to buy the material, you need to find out which aquarium sealant is better. The most common types are silicone and acrylic sealants. The latter are not quite suitable for gluing together glass, although some aquarists successfully use them. The fact is that the acrylic sealant does not like humidity, and the adhesion strength is not the same as that of the silicone one.
Silicone sealant is an excellent tool for creating or repairing an aquarium. It has a long service life, perfectly adheres to any surfaces, it is quite elastic.
There are also acidic sealants, but they are not recommended for indoor use in an aquarium.
How long does an aquarium sealant dry?
Beginners aquarists who have decided to make an aquarium for their own hands , often do not know how much the aquarium sealant can dry. Here everything depends on how thick the layer you are making. Experts recommend not to make it thicker than two millimeters, but here everything depends on the thickness of the glass used. So, a layer 2 mm thick will dry for a maximum of two days. Do not forget that after drying the aquarium should be soaked in water so that the smell disappears. Apply a silicone sealant at a temperature of five to forty degrees of heat. At minus temperature, it simply does not glue the surface qualitatively.