Sometimes I just hate silicone!

Boozled · #1 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 11:00 PM

Okay, despite the fact that my tube of silicone has an expiration date for next year, I used some that won't cure. I was using it to silicone some small rocks across a divider in the aquarium. Now, I have a bunch of sticky rocks that won't stay put! Does anyone know of a safe and effective way to get the bad silicone out so that I can redo it with some good stuff? I'm not real comfortable with the idea of using the standard chemical solvents in the aquarium. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Athen · #2 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 11:59 PM

aside from using rubbing alcohol i myself cannot think of anythin other than acetone. you may try using simple green its nontoxoc to the point where they say you can actually drink it and believe me it will clean anything i have actually taken paint off a wall with the concentrated kind give that a whirl and if it doesnt work i would think your only souce of refuge would be acetone or paint thinner you would just have to be sure to clean it very very well

anyone else who may have any info feel fre to chime in

kristy55303 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 12:14 AM

was the tube you used of silicone opened before and then reused? that would be where your problem happened. once open they wont cure like unopened tubes or tubes that have been stored for too long.

If that wasnt the cause....depending on how much silicone you used...give it a few to 5 days to cure if alot was used.

are you asking how to get the silicone off of the glass?

if so....i just use a razor blade from homedepot suited for glass and peel it off that way.

sorry to hear you are having trouble and have to start over. kristy

Boozled · #4 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 03:31 PM

It's not on the glass, it's on a kind of barrier I built in order to help keep the substrate out of my water. I had thought of alcohol and acetate, the simple green sounds like an interesting idea. As far as the drying time, it has all ready been almost a week, and it was a brand new tube. I have plenty of alcohol around, so I'll probably start with that and hope that I doesn't take me forever. Thanks for the suggestions!

kristy55303 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 03:42 PM

well what kind of barrier was it on...acrylic? maybe some other type of method would work better? i have no idea what it looks like to give you any advice or what materials you used as a barrier. i try to help when i can. but sometimes i can't i admit that.

kristy

Boozled · #6 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 11:04 PM

LOL, I hate admitting things like that too, sometimes. Anyway, I have a false bottom made with eggcrate on short pieces of PVC. Along the edge of the eggcrate, I put so GS and siliconed over the top of it. Of course, I didn't think enough ahead to put the rocks in that silcone. Anyway, I added a layer of silicone on top of the cured silicone and added the rocks to it. It is this top layer of silcone that won't skin over and cure. I hope that explains it well enough.

kristy55303 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 11:12 PM

ok if i got it right you silconed...it cured and siliconed again over this. well sometimes in my experience even though the tube says 24 hours depending on the thickness you put on it can take days to cure and if you put on another layer then you may have a problem....that really is a bummer. sometimes i just wish i was there to see and help.....its so hard with typing messages to help. You got me blocked.....i dont have any advice then. I admit it still. i was hoping to help. bummer.. lol....i have used acetone 100% as it evaporates to clean things as well as lemon juice/limes work well on the glass....but you definately through me through a loop. it'll really be a bummer if you have to start all over with the thing. sorry i cant be of better assistance. kristy

p.s. what is the viv going to house?

Boozled · #8 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 11:52 PM

Well, I know the first layer of silcone had cured, because it has been in my garage for a year. LOL I kinda got a little busy at the end of last summer and never got back to the project. Anyway, I will probably try the alcohol. I originally was going to put fish in the bottom part and 1 or 2 RETF in the top. But now I'm thinking maybe a FBN and fish big enough that it can't eat them. For now, I just want to get it finished and set it up with plants in my classroom, then after a while I can figure out the animals.

Thanks for trying to help. Once I get it finished, I'll post some pics. I didn't think to take pics when I first started it because I didn't discover this forum until a couple of weeks ago. Of course, if I have to start over, I may document the whole thing this time.

kristy55303 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 12:01 AM

yes documenting would be good for newbies. have you ever considered dart frogs? as you can see in my signature.....i'm addicted lol. i do want some mossy frogs but mossies run male heavy.....and i cant find a female

also want a fbt setup for the kids. kristy

strange_screams · #10 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 12:08 AM

don't buy silicon from there again for sure
i would add sand or something to the surface to make it harder so that you can remove manually as much as possible, then wipe off as much as you can of the remaining residue, then clean off the rest in diluted simple green, allowing several rinses and dryings in between after

maybe even a bleach or vinger soak or two