Building a Fish Tank

[fish-gambler]

Hi,

I urgently need to build a "medicine" fish tank. I was told to use marine silicon sealer, is this absolutely neccesary and why?

I live in the sticks and there is no trace of marine silicon, only Silicone 1001 universal made by Den braven Sealants (can i use it).

Thanks
Max

 

[Calusa]

Stop at your local fish store (preferably not a chain) and ask someone for "Tank Silicone." They'll be able to help you out. It fits in a caulk gun for easy use.

 

[-=DG=-]

Because it has chemicals which will be released onto the water. Fish are more sensitive than humans.

 

[Jamnog]

i should point out that this guy lives a long long way away from a fish shop. and as for the chemicals in the water dg is quite right the industrial chems in the stuff they use on windows will stay in the water for a long time compaired with the more neutral stuff they used in the aqua stuff ive got a load of it out in the shed.

edit (i think): if you think the fish are going to die anyway then risking it might be a good idea. see beter thease fish die with a chance of life? probably the biggest dilema here seeing as it a medical tank. if you did you would probably have to leave the stuff to set longer and so on. one option that allways occoured to me was to get a huge clear plastic sheet and put it in the tank between the glass and the water thus ensuring that the seal is not toutchedlike a pond eh?

 

[-=DG=-]

I've just last month done a seal repair, so i know what you'll have to go through. When i was reading around for repair tips, i did read that some diy silicons are infact safe for fish. But you have to read on the packs. I did look around to find any because the aquarium silicon is more expensive, but i didnt find any. So if you have a hardware store or b&q (if u have them) then its worth looking around and u might get lucky. Otherwise as Jamnog said you've got nothing to lose.