Sump Do Over

It has to be the complete 24 hours?

 

Yep, you must wait for the ammonia smell to go away.

24 hrs is what i have always waited.

 

It doesn't have to be 24 hours, it's just that for each hour less than that you'll increase the likelyhood of another do over in the near future - usually at the worst possible time.

 

If it's not fully cured, some of the chemicals will leach out into the water. Worse yet, you will have integrity compromised at the seams.
As the old saying goes, directions are there to be followed. It states right on the package "wait 24 hours for silicone to fully cure before use."

 

round 1 at my sump build i had used 1/4" plexi with GE silicone and it fell out after a couple weeks. round 2 i used glass with GE silicone and after a few weeks it also gave. I was using GE silicone (id have to checkthe bottle to verify EXACTLY which it was but it was whatever people recommended to me on here).

after the refugium sand pushed on the glass for while the silicone gave....

i since ripped and replaced the entire thing with the more expensive $20 tube of AGA aquarium sealant. (had to order it, because locally all the shops had little 5oz bottles or whatever for $9.99/each and instead i ordered a full tube to put in a caulk gun)

its not moved. in fact after a week of curing (yes i let it wait for awhile because i was not going through this again) it wouldnt even FLEX the tiniest bit when i pushed on the refugium baffle. prior it'd move atleast a little with the GE silicone, and again over time gave way.

when i get home ill check the tube to get you the exact make/type of silicone

edit: now reflecting on this i could have gotten away with two little 9.99 bottles it would have had enough silicone. i now have about 95% of a full tube of this stuff. guess ill have to get more aquariums setup with sumps...

 

Finished, Sump Complete

 

If you make your left outlet into a J, it will help eliminate your turbulent bubbles, which will help with evaporation, splash and salt creep. I used 2 90 elbows on mine before.