Is aquarium sealant Toxic if not fully cured?

[maestro]

I'm using DAP Silicone sealant to glue sand to small pvc tubes; these will act as risers for the live rock in my tank. I figured this would stabilize my 'scaping a bit, and make cleaning around the bases of the rock easier. I did this around 2pm today, is it safe to put them in the tank now? The uncured vinegar-ish smell is almost gone, but I want to make sure the silicone is safe if not fully cured. I'm not sure if curing gets rid of toxicity or ensures stability. (stability isn't my concern)

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I'm itching to get started... thanks in advance for your responses

 

[drnecropolis]

I usually wait until the smell is 100% gone before proceding with anything with silly cone..

 

[tony_caliente]

Don't know, but wouldn't risk it.

 

[weaglereefer]

Don't know, wouldn't risk it.

Are you concerned about dead spots within the pvc risers?

 

[maestro]

au01st;500490 wrote:
Are you concerned about dead spots within the pvc risers?

They'll be filled with sand, so I assumed the various worms, snails, and other sifters would be active inside them. Do you think i should drill a few holes in the sides for good measure?

 

[ricksconnected]

i wouldnt space them that close together.
as mentioned above, dead space isnt good.
i would put about 2 fingers width between them,

 

[maestro]

ricksconnected;500534 wrote: i wouldnt space them that close together.
as mentioned above, dead space isnt good.
i would put about 2 fingers width between them,

:lol2: thanks, but they're sitting on a bucket top to dry, that's not their final resting place

 

[ricksconnected]

hey ive seen several do it.
i would use acrylic rods or fill those rings
in with silly cone. zero dead spots within.

 

[ichthyoid]

Maestro,

That 'vinegarish' smell is called acetic acid, and yes a 5% solution of this IS what we commonly call vinegar.

As to your question, I would not be so concerned with whether this stuff is harmful as to whether the lack of a full cure could be risky. Some people use vinegar (5% acetic acid) in small quantities for 'carbon dosing' as a means to control nutrients. So again, I would worry more about what may not be securely glued. If it's a pane of glass on your tank the potential consequences could be devastating. For your plugs, probably not.

Personnally, I don't like to put anything in a tank I don't have a very specific reason for being there. I would fully cure silicone for at least a week (no smell), then rinse several times in DI water, before it goes in.

FWIW-I have found over the years that in this hobby patience is usually rewarded, and the impatient are often poor. -JMHO

 

[oil_fan]

I agree on waiting until it fully cured. I did my baffles in my sump on my 40 gallon breeder but waited probably 6 days before water testing began. Also if the this silicone has that antibacterial additive (such as what the GE Silicone II has), then you definitely will have to wait.

I've read a couple of threads on RC where they didn't wait and had issues almost immediately. Others who did wait had no issues. But I'd still only use straight up silicone with no additives if possible.

 

[garibaldi]

I would let it cure five or six days since its not an 'aquarium grade' silicone. There is a long thread on RC concerning silicone types, grades, and manufacturers that could give you more info.

 

[mph84]

Home depot sells "aquarium silicone" that "they" claim cures in 24 hours. i used it in a cracked refugium and ran water back through it in about 6 hours. i didnt see any problems

 

[mph84]

I do agree though patience is typically rewarded

 

[weaglereefer]

C'mon, we all know you didn't wait, make with the pics already!

 

[gnashty]

au01st;501307 wrote: C'mon, we all know you didn't wait, make with the pics already!

hahahaha:lol2:

 

[tony_caliente]

Curing time depends on the thickness of the bead.