Filter Seals Lubrication

[ShinySideUp]

I've heard olive oil is good for the filter seals rather than Vaseline which some claim will destroy the seal. Any comments?

 

[fluttermoth]

Get some silicone grease

 

[MBOU]

You want something water resistant. I think Olive Oil would just get messy, plus you def dont want it in your tank.

Personally, I think Vaseline is just fine, I cant see how it can rot anything?! But failing that... KY will work too

 

[minnnt]

You want something water resistant. I think Olive Oil would just get messy, plus you def dont want it in your tank.

Personally, I think Vaseline is just fine, I cant see how it can rot anything?! But failing that... KY will work too

Have plenty do you?

I use Vaseline personally.

I also use it on the seal too... TetraTEC actually recommend Vaseline in their manuals.

 

[andspenka]

I know Fluval recommend NOT to use Vaseline, saying it will degrade the rubber.

 

[fluttermoth]

I used to use Vaseline, but it goes horrible, brown and clumpy in a very short time. It would certainly damage rubber seals, if your filter has them. Silicone grease is definitely the best stuff for the job, and it's not expensive.

 

[MBOU]

Yeah well minnnt vaseline is just a cheap option LOL

When I worked on the farm they used to send me to the narest pharmacy to buy 10+ tubes of KY Jelly at a time when we ran out of the farm grade Lubigel. Well... that was awkward I must say! (EDIT: used to aid the alpacas giving birth or if really unlucky... fecal samples on 10% of a herd of 800 animals!)

I have never ever had a seal on an external filter need replacing or anything other than vaseline with the exception of Fluval ones but thats predictable as you have to replace parts on those filters all the time. But never replaced eheim classic seals in 4 years and it was already at least that old without being changed as well when i got it. And my Tetratecs went for uncounted years without ever having the seal replaced, 2/3 my ex had for 5 years before me, 3 years with me and then still going a year later and they get vaseline put on them once a year.

 

[minnnt]

You'd tell me anything...

 

[MBOU]

Jeeez 5:30am?! What insane person gets up to reply on a fish forum at that time?! lol

Besides... their is nothing more priceless than the look on customers faces when you tell them they need to "lubricate their O-ring with vaseline"

 

[Geoff-]

If you use mineral oil (eg vaseline) on seals not designed for it the rubber will swell and soften. In an o-ring this means the o-ring is now too large to fit properly and the rubber is soft and will tear. So don't use it unless the manufacturer says it's OK.

Olive oil is a silly choice for an aquarium as well. It's a cooking oil, not a lubricating oil.

KY.. where do I start. Aside from it being a recreational oil if you need to use it frequently (as opposed to relying on what nature provides) you're probably not doing your job properly

 

[minnnt]

5.31am actually, which is obviously normal.

 

[ian_m]

Use this, designed to lubricate the rubber seals on push fit plumbing. Won't attack the rubber unlike vaseline.
Wickes Silicone