Spreading silicone

leopardbreeder · #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007, 12:59 AM

I keep hearing people say about covering EVERYTHING in silicone, doesn't that take a lot of it? How many bottles do I need for a 10 gallon tank, with a waterfall and stream? I will also be making the background with foam and sticking peat moss on. Does anyone use Hagen AquaClear 20 (old 201) for a waterfall? I am pretty stuck on what I am going to do now.. I am going to have a waterfall in a corner of the tank, and it will empties into a small pond then flowing into a stream, ending in the main pond. The small waterfall pond will take about 10% and the main will take about 30% of the space. I am planning on using GreatStuff for everything. Once I have the foam shaped for everything on the ground, do I need to cover it in silicone, or can I just put peat moss on top of that? Sorry for all the questions I am new and can't find any good building guides.

Rainfrog · #2 (**permalink**) 07-17-2007, 01:50 AM

I'll see if I can help.

1. if you are covering the back with foam, put a layer of silicone over the glass first. You want to use a colored Silicone, not clear. this will 1. hold the foam in place (recen data seems to show the foam by itself will detach from the glass after time) and 2. make a more pleasing sight than wrinkly foam.

For a 10g I would say 1 can could be enough maybe buy 2 to make sure you dont have to run back to the store in the middle of the project. General Electric (GE) Brand Silicone II works well and is safe for Critters once it cures.

Also dont forget to have a drainage layer under your Substrate. some gravel or small stones.

beingteri · #3 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leopardbreeder

I keep hearing people say about covering EVERYTHING in silicone, doesn't that take a lot of it? How many bottles do I need for a 10 gallon tank, with a waterfall and stream? ...Once I have the foam shaped for everything on the ground, do I need to cover it in silicone, or can I just put peat moss on top of that? Sorry for all the questions I am new and can't find any good building guides.

If you use just the Great Stuff, they have 2 or more "kinds". One is in a red can for cracks & gaps - not a lot of expansion. The one in the black can is gap & crack filler - and expands 3x the original size. If you attempt to "sprinkle" the GS foam with the substrate...unless you bury it, there will be bald spots in the expansion areas as it cures. As well,after it cures, it is easily shaped or cut with a steak knife or razor knife. It may not "cure" in the exact shape you were hoping for, if you need to cut and shape...you'll be cutting the substrate off and need to glue it back on later.

Use the GS to get a general "shape" going, to secure your elements like driftwood logs, your Pond if it is going to a container,the waterfall structure and alll the tubing, as well as small planting cups or baskets either to the back or bottom portion of your structure. Once cured, use a razor knife, box cutter, or serated kitchen knife to "perfect" the shape, cut back foam that expanded too much, or cut in the path of your stream and ponds. Then...take the black silicone and spread it all over the foam in small sections and sprinkle the coco fiber or whatever you'd like to be the substrate, a lot more than just coverage. Then let it dry and tip it so all the loose peat/coco falls off. Touch up any areas that didn't stick. Use the silicone to attach stones, gravel or pebbles for your streambed and/or ponds if you want. There is a guy at www.BlackJungle.com that walks thru the whole process. Pretty cool, check it out.

How much would you need for a 10 gal. tank?? Well, you're not covering the entire thing, so I would say 1/2 -3/4 a tube of the black silicone caulking, one can of the red can GS foam, (if you use the black can...it will expand and fill that tank comepletely!) and another 1/2 - 3/4 tube of silicone to cover the foam. You can also use this silicone to attach air plants to the wall of the structure if you have any to use.

Check out the site above, hope this helps, and good luck. Send Pics!

Amanda · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2007, 06:45 PM

I just finished setting up a 12x12x12 exoterra a few weeks ago using this method (without the water features).

I used...
-3 tubes of black silicone to cover the back and side walls (I didn't spread it around though, just put it on in thick lines, so you may use less).
-2 cans of 3x expanding Great Stuff (1x16oz can and 1x12oz can-my middle of the night run to walmart)
-2 tubes of brown silicone to cover the foam with coco fiber

The GS is incredibly easy to carve once it's cured. Just be sure to wear gloves when you're spraying it in! It's impossible to get off your hands if you don't. You'll probably also want to wear gloves for the silicone. I found it easiest to spread onto the foam with my gloved fingers. Work in smallish sections so the silicone doesn't dry before you get the peat/coco fiber on it. After it dries, just vacuum out the excess and start setting it up.

Rainfrog · #5 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 04:16 AM

Ya you can spread it on the glass and use much less.

beingteri · #6 (**permalink**) 09-15-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanda

Just be sure to wear gloves when you're spraying it in! It's impossible to get off your hands if you don't.

AAAAUUUGGGHH, OMG, YES. Wear gloves. I was using the other day for something else...didn't have on gloves....AND was working with dirt and other yucky things. That crap is sooo sticky to begin with, and picks up or sticks to anything you touch - doesn't wash off with soap or water or scrub brushes!!! The palms of my hands were black. It looked like I rubbed them across a dirty car then in the mud and left them like that!

Not so bad...UNLESS YOU ARE GOING OUT TO DINNER WITH FRIENDS...TO SUSHI!!!!

All the way there, and a good portion of the next morning...I spent shaving the palms of my hands. That kinda worked! Then picked a lot of it with tweezers. Pain in the arse!! Wear gloves, and have everything else you'd like to keep nice...covered in plastic or wax paper!

Evan Keller · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 03:33 PM

use paint thinner if you get it on your hands. Comes right off

Red Eye · #8 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 10:58 PM

Haha... I got that crap on my hand, used soap, gas, and dirt from my driveway to get it off... nothing worked! I had that stuff on my hands for at least 5 days...

Quote:

Originally Posted by beingteri

AAAAUUUGGGHH, OMG, YES. Wear gloves. I was using the other day for something else...didn't have on gloves....AND was working with dirt and other yucky things. That crap is sooo sticky to begin with, and picks up or sticks to anything you touch - doesn't wash off with soap or water or scrub brushes!!! The palms of my hands were black. It looked like I rubbed them across a dirty car then in the mud and left them like that!

Not so bad...UNLESS YOU ARE GOING OUT TO DINNER WITH FRIENDS...TO SUSHI!!!!

All the way there, and a good portion of the next morning...I spent shaving the palms of my hands. That kinda worked! Then picked a lot of it with tweezers. Pain in the arse!! Wear gloves, and have everything else you'd like to keep nice...covered in plastic or wax paper!