Silicone

[LadyHatred]

Been chatting with this guy and he suggested to stay away from tanks with clear silicone. Claims that it has a shorter life than black. This is the 2nd or 3rd time I've heard this from various people.

Is this true?

I did a few searches and nothing seems to be set in stone; almost like keeping mollies in fresh or brackish.

[travie]

I've never read or heard anything like that. I don't see how it would be true either, and I've never seen any evidence to support that claim either.

I'm using a 55 gallon tank with clear silicone. Just got the tank out of the basement a few months ago after it has been sitting down there without water for at least 16 years, and I didn't need to reseal any of it.

[robflanker]

The only thing I can think of is that people say when the silicone has gone bad it changes colour or something.

I remember people looking at tanks and being advised to look at the colour of the silicone as if its X, then its bad and it'll give out.

Other than that, I can't think what difference the colour of silicone makes

[Northernguy]

Black silicone looks awesome in a tank!
I cannot see it being better!

[Jaster]

I've heard that rumor before too and not just in the fish world. The rumor was that because clear silicone was bleached (for lack of a better word) to make it clear and "true" silicone is black, them making it clear must be bad for the silicone. Complete BS IMO. I've used all types of silicone from everything from tanks (as in military tanks), home use, industrial, and even protecting components on PC boards and I have never seen anything to suggest one color being better then the other. As long as it is cured correctly, you are not placing new silicone over old silicone, and it is applied correctly then you won't have any issues.