Sealant for an aquarium: types, selection and application

The desire to be closer to nature makes urban residents get pets, birds and indoor plants, as well as install artificial ponds in the premises. In order for this design to bring only positive emotions and delight its owners, it is necessary not only to choose it correctly, but also to assemble it, as well as fill it with living inhabitants and artificial decor items. An indispensable assistant in this event is the sealant, which allows you to reliably process all the joints and attach decorative elements to the bottom and walls of the tank. The main thing is that the selected composition is as safe as possible for both aquatic inhabitants and the owners themselves.

Sealant for artificial reservoirs is an indispensable aquarium composition that allows you to restore the tightness of the container and glue all glass parts. Functional purpose of adhesives:

• assembly of a new design;
• carrying out maintenance;
• installation of decorative elements.

In order for the repair of the home reservoir to be as durable as possible and not lead to the death of its inhabitants due to the ingress of toxic substances into the water, these compounds should possess the following characteristics:

• environmental Safety;
• high elasticity;
• allowable temperature range - from + 200 to - 70 degrees;
• ability to withstand temperature fluctuations and various loads;
• moisture resistance and moisture resistance.

For gluing glass or repairing a pond, you can use a wide range of sealants, which should only be of high quality.

Modern manufacturers produce two types of sealants:

• one-component - finished compounds;
• two-component - solutions, for the preparation of which it is necessary to mix the activator and waterproof glue-sealant.

More practical and popular are finished sealants.

Depending on the composition, the sealants are divided into the following types:

• polyurethane;
• polysulfide;
• bituminous;
• acrylic;
• thiokol;
• silicone.

The first three types of sealants have a high level of toxicity and are not used for artificial reservoirs.

Professional aquarists recommend the use of silicone-based adhesives, which are completely safe and non-toxic for both the owner of the aquarium and all aquatic creatures.

• lack of an unpleasant chemical smell;
• high fixing rates;
• elasticity;
• heat resistance;
• high level of resistance to ultraviolet radiation;
• moisture resistance;
• short drying period.

On the shelves of specialized stores you can see several types of silicone sealants:

• the black;
• white;
• transparent.

Changing the shade of the adhesive is only aesthetic in nature and does not affect its strength and durability.

Under the influence of water, algae and fish waste products, a transparent adhesive solution acquires a greenish tint over time, which negatively affects the aesthetic appearance of the reservoir and not all aquarists like it.

The composition of silicone glue includes synthetic rubber, plasticizers, strength enhancers, non-toxic coloring agents, adhesives and vulcanizing components. Due to the lack of oil, solvent, antifungal and antibacterial agents, silicone is absolutely safe.

Silicone for sealing aquariums is made by many brands, but experts recommend paying attention to the following.

A popular Polish food sealant produced by the Selena trademark for sealing large aquarium tanks. Advantages - high quality, moisture resistance, increased level of sealing and adhesive properties. The main properties of the resulting joints are elasticity, durability, the ability to withstand constant contact with water and a high level of load. The disadvantage is the high price range.

Belgian products that have the highest level of fixation and are in demand among professional builders.

Turkish brand that has been in demand for the past 20 years. This product has the best price / quality ratio. Machined joints have a high level of strength, durability and reliability.

Good Polish mid-range product. It has a wide range of applications - from small aquariums to glass display cases. Elastic, waterproof, does not emit toxic substances.

Russian goods that are distinguished by a high level of strength and safety. This tool is used even for saltwater aquariums.

Products with enhanced adhesion and no toxic solvents.

The most common brand whose products can be purchased in any construction department. This sealant can be used for both aquariums and terrariums. A distinctive feature of the composition is the ability to withstand small fluctuations without destroying the integrity of the joints.

The following products received the most positive reviews.

A popular and sought-after sealant that has maximum environmental safety, it includes only the most purified silicone. Advantages - high adhesion speed, long storage period, ease of application, high level of moisture resistance and elasticity.

A one-component compound that has a high adhesion rate and an acidic vulcanizing composition. The sealant can be used to repair aquariums, the volume of which reaches 3000 liters. Thanks to the improved composition, manufacturers allow the storage of open containers.

A one-component transparent composition that has moderate elasticity and resilience. It has absolutely no smell.

quick-drying silicone sealant, used not only for repair and construction of aquariums, but also for sealing joints in pools, water parks. Absolutely safe for aquatic residents.

If it is impossible to purchase sealants from these manufacturers, experts allow the use of adhesive compositions for dishes that do not contain antifungal and antimicrobial components.

In recent years, the quality of domestic adhesives has improved significantly.but they continue to have a short period of operation, which cannot be said about imported goods, which retains their fixing properties for many years. The disadvantage of European brands is the high price range and the frequent lack of retail chains.

In order for the glued glass frame to have the longest possible period of operation and to have no aesthetic flaws, it is necessary to choose only neutral compositions and abandon acidic ones. All acidic sealants are labeled in the form of the letter A and are much cheaper than neutral fixing compounds. Also, the manufacturer must necessarily indicate whether the composition is safe for fish. This information can simply be written in Russian or in English, but more often on the packaging they draw an image of a fish.

Of no less importance is the safety of dyes, the index of which must also be checked for toxicity. Despite the presence of sealants of various colors, it is still better to give preference to transparent products.

After the necessary product has been selected, it is imperative that the seller require permits and quality certificates that confirm the safety of the product. One of the most significant parameters that affects the quality of work is the expiration date.

Only fresh sealants have a maximum level of fixation, but expired sealants may not connect parts at all.

Manufacturers pack these formulations in tubes, cartridges, file packages, banks and buckets, but for work with a medium-sized aquarium, it’s enough to buy a 300 ml cartridge. This volume will allow you to immediately spend the entire composition and not overpay for unnecessary material. Also suitable for work is the material packaged in small tubes.

Before you decide on a particular product, experts recommend visiting several outlets and compare the price in them. Low price must be alerted due to the fact that high-quality goods can not be cheap.

Despite the apparent simplicity of repairing the aquarium, this process is not only lengthy, but also painstaking.For the correct implementation of all stages, it is necessary to carefully study the technology of applying sealants, as well as follow the recommendations of specialists. In order to glue, glue or connect the necessary details, it is better to watch video tutorials where the wizards will show all the subtleties of the process.

The main stages of the work:

• resettlement of all water inhabitants;
• removal of water, soil and all decorative elements;
• thorough removal of old materials with a blade;
• removal of acidic medium with acetic solution;
• degreasing of the working area;
• fastening masking tape;
• applying a supporting screed;
• fixing the glass lining on the upper sections of the aquarium;
• applying sealant and joining parts;
• checking the bonding strength, during which there should be no smudges or drops of water.

Cut off the cartridge cap at an angle the width of which should match the size of the working seam. After the cartridge has been inserted into the gun, you can begin to apply glue from the bottom up, which will achieve maximum fixation.

If the inspection revealed the presence of defects and flaws, then it is necessary to finish or redo all the work done.

It is permissible to fill the tank with water only after the silicone has completely dried. The minimum amount of time for drying should be 24 hours, but it is better when the product dries for more than a day.

The following recommendations of the masters can improve the quality of work performed:

• quick removal of glue from all metal surfaces that will be painted;
• applying the composition with only one layer;
• mandatory alignment of the applied composition;
• quick cleaning of all surplus;
• removal of masking tape immediately after the alignment of the seams.

The service life of a repaired aquarium directly depends on compliance with all the rules and recommendations for its repair.

A suspicious remedy can not only harm aquatic inhabitants, but can also be dangerous to the health of the owner. Also, an unpleasant moment may be the depressurization of large reservoirs with the subsequent flooding of neighboring apartments.

Sometimes at home it is very difficult to achieve a positive result of work, then it is better to turn to specialists for help. If there is a large amount of damage, professional aquarists recommend acquiring new tanks and not waste time, effort and financial resources to eliminate the defects that have appeared.

The tightness of the seams in the aquarium is a guarantee of safety not only for water residents, but also for owners, which must check the tank for leaks not only at the time of its acquisition, but also throughout the entire period of operation. If even the smallest streaks appear, you must immediately begin to eliminate the leak. Ignoring this problem can lead to the loss of water in the aquarium, and if it comes to huge tanks, then tens of liters of liquid can damage not only your own room, but also spoil the repair to neighbors. When purchasing sealants, experts recommend paying attention only to trusted brands and in no case take cheap formulations of dubious quality. In some cases, this event is best entrusted to masters who use professional instruments and compositions, and also have practical skills in working with glass products.

A review of silicone sealant for aquariums in the video below.