silicone curing time for pleco cave

[MikeF]

Howdy y'all -

I'm building a slate pleco cave (just a four-sided rectangle) and was wondering how long you normally let your silicone cure before putting in the tank?

I am using aquarium-safe silicone.

Thanks much!

[Deco]

48 hours for me.

[Bounce]

I usually try to give it a full 48 hours before putting it in water. The Perfecto silicone seems to take a little longer than the aquarium-safe silicone I get at Home Depot for some reason.

[MikeF]

Thanks y'all - I did wait the 48 hours, everything worked well.

[Holey_Rock_of_Texas]

someone once told me that silicone will not work on slate as the oils will eventually break the hold. i used silicone anyways on mine and they have held up over a year so far. just a heads up.

[pelon]

Howdy y'all -

I'm building a slate pleco cave (just a four-sided rectangle) and was wondering how long you normally let your silicone cure before putting in the tank?

I am using aquarium-safe silicone.

Thanks much!

cool

[northtexasfossilguy]

someone once told me that silicone will not work on slate as the oils will eventually break the hold. i used silicone anyways on mine and they have held up over a year so far. just a heads up.

Water breaks apart the silicate structure of slate. It will break off in thin sheets parallel to the flat surface of the rock, so you might end up with silicone bead and two very thin sheets of rock attached above and below if you move the rock around, otherwise it should be fine. Wouldn't blame the silicone for any eventual failure.