Silicone Curing

[Incredulous_Ed]

I'm going to silicone lava rock to the back of my acrylic tank today. Will it stick to Acrylic?

And, Do I really have to wait 7 days for it to fully cure or is 5 days okay?

[Drumachine09]

Yes, it will stick to acrylic.

However, you might need to scratch up the back (i used 60 grit sand paper) of the tank, to give the silicon a place to bite.

[Lady Hobbs]

I doubt it has to cure for a week. It's 48 hours recommend as curing time? To be exact safe, I'd wait maybe 4 days but 7 seems like a lot.

[jttt3]

I let any of my sealant cure for about 48 hours before I drop it into the water for all my non-water holding items. Basically, if you still smell ammonia, don't add water or put the item in water with animals.

The 1 week thing is generally for when you are sealing tanks and things that will be holding a lot of pressure back. You want to make sure you have thee best hold the adhesive provides.

Gluing things to your fish tank or decor doesn't fall into that mission critical task.

If you are going to be gluing the lavarock on the back without any support, I suggest 96 hours.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Thanks guys. I will fill with water on monday morning right before I leave for vacation! :) Then add 12 small mosquito fish and a very used filter so the cycle will be done b=y the time I get back. :)

[Nick_Pavlovski]

If you don't want to give it the full 7 days, then make sure you give the tank a few darned good rinses out first before you fill it...

[Lady Hobbs]

Thanks guys. I will fill with water on monday morning right before I leave for vacation! :) Then add 12 small mosquito fish and a very used filter so the cycle will be done b=y the time I get back. :)

Vacation! I have heard of no requests to be discharged from this forum for a vacation. DENIED.

[jttt3]

LoL, definately rinse everything down very well with declor'd and de-cloramine'd water, despite full cure or not.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Vacation! I have heard of no requests to be discharged from this forum for a vacation. DENIED.
waaaaa. I went on vacation last year for 4 weeks total. How come no ne notified me about this policy?

[Nick_Pavlovski]

Vacation! I have heard of no requests to be discharged from this forum for a vacation. DENIED.

So do we have to put our applications in to you, William, or which moderator?

:laugh1blue:

[zackish]

I doubt it has to cure for a week. It's 48 hours recommend as curing time? To be exact safe, I'd wait maybe 4 days but 7 seems like a lot.

2 Days worked fine for me.