Silicone and acrylic paint

[frogfreak]

Originally Posted by jason_sps

So what is the easiest way to spread the silicone?

Disposable gloves work very well.

[highvoltagerob]

I'd be very catious about mixing chemical's!

I let it set for 8 days, and have now had it in water for a couple weeks. I am going to let it sit for another weeks then test my water, if it seems good then I`m going to try a few small shrimp, and see how that goes.

[highvoltagerob]

UPDATE

I tested my water for pH and hardness on Sunday and it all was good, so on Monday I added my betta. He appears to be doing well and is now helping cycle my filters.

The background is still holding up well. I see no sign of problems with it yet. The silicone/paint mix seems to have worked well. I am pleased with it thus far, if there are any problems I will let you all know.

As an exciting side note I am hoping to pick up a small group of long tailed grass lizards later tonite to put in a quarentine tank. I think they will love a tank this size!!

[Gold3nku5h]

ummm

[SanduskySerpents]

What brand of paint and what brand silicone.....i tried this and it wont cure....stays tacky......

[beckdg]

Originally Posted by beckdg

i don't think so.

Originally Posted by beckdg

so much for thinking

Originally Posted by CLennerton

is that safe to use the paint with animals?

Originally Posted by frogfreak

I'd be very catious about mixing chemical's!

By doing this you are changing the chemical composition of both the silicone and the acrylic. You may see what seems to be a proper cure, but it may never cure completely. Both products are safe when used seperately, but when mixed, who know's. Unless it was tested in a lab you have no way of knowing if it will leach and give off toxin's.

My 2 cents...

Glenn

Originally Posted by Gold3nku5h

ummm

Originally Posted by SanduskySerpents

What brand of paint and what brand silicone.....i tried this and it wont cure....stays tacky......

i believe the above quotes illustrate the general consensus. do this, and you're doing it at your own risk.

[SanduskySerpents]

I consulted my brother....He's got a masters in Chem and going for his PHD now....He is confident that in no way could a standard water based acrylic paint and silicone could from a toxic reaction without being noticed..."there would be alot of heat coming from the mix at first", and that it doesn't in fact change the chemical composition of the silicone....More or less is an additive like electrolytes to water to make your name brand smart water....."If using a water based acrylic to mix with silicone that naturally is not water soluble than after the water evaporates out of the mixture the dye for color would be left behind tinting the silicone which is most likely the way that black, brown, red, and white is made because silicone needes to be tinted to become these colors."

I wouldn't recommend using any other kinds of paints. But it does take longer to cure do to the water content of the paint but after about 36hrs its fully cured.