does silicone degrade in sunlight?

Not sure where to ask this but here goes.

I have been offered a new tank for free thats slightly wider than the tank I'll be setting up soon. My stand was modified to suit this tank during construction, so I wont be going back to the original.
However this tank has been sitting in someones front yard for quite some time, months at least, possibly a year or so.

my question is, could weathering and sunlight have damaged the silicone holding it together? or given that its intended purpose is to hold a fish tank together, should it easily withstand those conditions and still be fine?
has anyone had a tank fail from similar circumstances?

I can get a new tank made (another 2" taller;D) for about $130, which i dont mind paying, but if its not neccessary i'll prob take the free one.

thanks

 

Silicone's resistance to environmental stress including sunlight and ozone are listed as excellent, so I would think that a year out wouldn't cause an issue. Good question though.- Paul

 

considering the amount of light we pump into reef aquariums, I think it will be fine...

still, it would be a good idea to fill any tank that has been sitting unattended for a while with water and test it for leaks, IMO.

 

good to hear, i tried to google it but didnt have much luck.
i was thinking similar things about some of the intense lighting for corals, but just wanted to see someone else put it in writting.
will definitely be doing a long leak test before using it.

thanks guys

 

I would think the light wouldn't be the issue but maybe the temp. Hot/cold temps plus a tank not sitting level may be a prob imo.

 

Light should not be an issue I would think - But to pass on a story from my father (were I got this bug from)
He had tested a 50 gal tank from a garage sale and tested it with water for 3 days to ensure no leaks - all fine. Then he moved it after he took the water out. Then set it up in the main room, filled up the tank and then it leaked 24 hours latter. So I always test after moving