Slicone for sump.

Does anyone know the difference between GE Silicon Adhesive and GE Silicone I ? Will the adhesive work better for keeping acrylic baffles in place on a glass sump? I know GE Silicone I is reef safe, is the adhesive?

 

I don't know anything about the adhesive. The silicone won't permanently adhere to the acrylic but it will to the glass. As a result, you have to use a LOT!!!

 

The adhesive says its for plastic, glass, pvc ??

 

No form of silicone is permanent, silicone is a semi-flexible gasket maker/bonding agent, nothing more. Aquarium silicone uses a different formulation to insure a level of cure rate and flexibility vrs. other grades of true silicone sealers. Pure Silicone sealant will also cure in wet locations- even underwater. Aquarium silicone is considered safe for aquaria as it's cure rate is 24 hrs. or less.

I would only use true aquarium grade silicone. Other types can Leach chemicals into your water.

 

So is GE silicone I safe?

 

Yes.

 

I used GE Silicone 1 to install the overflow box on my 150 build. Granted, it hasn't seen water other than for a flow test but it seems pretty sturdy. I was told to rough up the acrylic with sandpaper prior to putting it in place. Seemed to work as the silicone doesn't want to release from the acrylic.

 

Bad idea, that thing will fail. Silicone doesn't adhere to acrylic the way it adheres to glass.

 

Another 50/ 50 split, but how can all the people using accrylic baffles in a glass sump, have so much success long term

 

Like I said on the 2nd post on this thread. It's not going to stay attached to the acrylic. You have to use a whole lot of silicone. If you do, it stays attached to the glass for a long time. Even though it's no longer attached to the acrylic, if you used a lot on both sides of it, the acrylic is now kind of "in a dam".