Get the ultimate DIY book ► thekingofdiy.com Follow me ► / uarujoey Today we look at my top 5 and aquarium SAFE silicones, glues, cements and adhesives.
My boyfriend is doing a PhD in medical research. He’s so used to watching your videos with me he’s just referred to this video to help him select aquarium silicon in his next experiment. He’s measuring the time it takes human skin cells to grow on different materials and join up with others on a different material and the silicon is going to hold it all together in the solution :) I thought you’d appreciate knowing that your old videos are still relevant and useful, even outwith the hobby :)
Dang Joey, even your old videos are really good information, you are such an asset to the hobby. I am just returning to the hobby after 25 years away and boy have things changed since I last had a wet tank. Thanks for doing what you do!
once knew someone (me) who resealed a 10 glln with hot glue gun and when I filled it water was spraying out all 4 corners.... funniest thing I've ever seen 😁
Filmed this last minute this morning. Sorry if i missed anything. Feel free to add your thoughts here as well. If you haven't got your copy of my book yet, get it today: thekingofdiy.com
what would be best recommended to glue rocks to acrylics Weldon 16 or a superglue? I used just finished making my superglue terraces now I need to figure how to add the rocks :)
Easily one of the best videos I have seen of yours to date. When you go to the stores they have not a clue or want to charge us $12 just for silicone. I really wish you would do an in depth video on acrylic aquarium repairs. AKA, seam damage repair or a crack is forming. Thanks for taking the time to share your hobby with the rest of us "fish hoarders".. I mean "collectors"
sometimes i use black Silicone... i have found that (as you mentioned) as long as it is 100% silicone it works great. Besides i think it looks cooler on frameless aquariums. I did not know about super glue or the silicone gun. I will pick them up next time i go to the hardware store for sure. Thanks as always
super thanks for making this video man. I had been worried about what to seal up my reptile enclosure with when I make my custom builds in just a month. I needed to know what was going to be safe and not get anything sick.
Dude great video! Always informative. Been using silicone for years for aquarium stuff and really liked hearing your input. I've wondered about that gel light stuff for awhile, thanks for giving me green light to try some stuff too. Hey where do you get glass and acrylic to build with. I need source. Peace.
God bless you my friend everything out just about learning about the aquarium Hobby from building my own tank to building my own aquarium stand and put it in 3D backgrounds I've learned from you thank you so much for all your time and effort that you put into making your videos once again God bless
Great video. Big picture, would you think silicone be a safer alternative for potable home plumbing solutions as thread sealant, vs PTFE-containing pipe dopes and/or teflon tape?
I bow to your experience, but did you know that Line 5 on the GE 1 silicone instructions clearly states. " not for use below the water line or in an aquarium!" I just read that AFTER completely resealing my 105 gal tank with GE1...got my fingers crossed. Sorry, I see one of your earlier comments has already pointed this out....still a good vid.
once again awesome video joey.. here's my problem.. while I managed to crack my 1" hole for my in-line pump.. my question for you is what can I use to seal the crack and hole..
Hi, First of all you vids are very informative and entertaining which I tend to binge on from time to time... most of the time. My question to you is this. Is there a way to thin out aquarium safe silicone to the consistency and function of rubber cement? I am looking to patch some cracks in my concrete pond and see if thinned out silicone is the way to go.
I have built a full glass tank in about 2-3 days prior to test filling it outside in the grass. I've not found any leaks at all, and it's still housing my 40-50 livebearers. I've also been looking for acrylic tanks, but I'm so bad at glueing things together. For the glass tank I used Rubson aquarium silicone sealant which has a recommended holding power for 300 litres.
Hi King of DIY. Thanks for making this video. I learned a lot about different glue types for aquariums. Before I try one of these options could you please give me your suggestion on my project? I need to glue an 8x16 piece of compression foam the the bottom of my glass fish tank. Which of these products do you think would work best. The tank will be used for splash photography, which is why I need the foam to absorb the impact of falling objects.
Thanks for this! What would you recommend to glue acrylic to glass? I have a glass tank but want to attach an acrylic rim around the inside to sit my DIY lid on top of it.
Thanks for the video I would have never guessed some of those things where safe to use. What is safe to use as a sealer on homemade aquarium decorations?
I am building an Orchidarium from a 40 gallon breeder tank. I need to attach a sheet of lexan (polycarbonate) permanently to one side of the black plastic on the top rim of the aquarium. Would you be able to suggest a material that would connect the two dissimilar plastics? I’m not sure if the black plastic aquarium lip is made from ABS or Styrene? Any help is appreciated. Thanks and great video! :) I guess the adhesive material really doesn’t need to be fish safe because it is just housing plants.
Water Weld putty is fantastic. Sets up in an hour and has like 800 lbs psi, is potable since its for drinking pipes. Used it to anchor a 10lb top heavy piece of driftwood in a vertical position on tile, no sweat.
I just got a 55 g. Looks like the lady never cleaned it and when I went to clean the silicone started to disintegrate. I’ve resealed before but how long should I wait on a 55 g? Loves your videos!!
If you read the fine print on the label of silicon, It will either say "not for aquarium use" or "safe for aquarium use" If it doesn't say, I would assume that it is not safe.
hi joey great videos. please let me know what you think. your canister bucket filter would it work for a 79 gallon tank that has the bottom drilled? I'm worried about the head pressure. thank you for all thatvyou do!
excellent video Joey I would love to see you use that last product you purchased in some sort of aquarium build keep the vid s coming because I'm in to DIY builds and I think I'm going to purchase your book I think it will be good to have around the house
Helpful! I am trying to make a nice hault out deck for my turtle. and want to basically make a table/shelf-with PVC pipe for legs and some plexi for the platform....suggestions on what would work best for this?
your studio lighting is so nice. love the wall color. I think chloroform is really dangerous because it has a dull smell to it. 99.99% acetone works just as well and it gives off a more alarming scent. not to mention you can get it just about at any nail salon for free.
Hi, I’m going to be emptying my acrylic tank and before I refill it I want to reinforce the seals. What would you recommend me using and how would you recommend me do it? Thanks
Any experience with fabric glues? Heard they are washable, curious if they will hold up submerged for a long time though, also whether they are safe? (Wilk only use for bonding plants, not really stones hehe)
Thanks Joey I've been using jell superglue for a while now and have thought about the ultraviolet one but didn't know if it was safe, now I do thank you.
Very useful video 👍 if I was to use a glue gun could I use that for making slate decorations? Is the glue sticks safe to use? I'm not sure exactly what glue sticks have in them. Just want to be sure it's completely safe
Sir a big fan of your videos just need help I have 54 length 18 width 18 height aquarium have a metal stand built can u plz tell me what to keep between the glass & plywood normally seen people keeping thermocol in between is it ok & what should be the thickness thanks in advance
I’ve got a leak in an acrylic aquarium on the rear bottom seam. Do I have to use weld on 16 to seal it or can I use super glue gel? It’s a super small leak but don’t want it leaking at all or growing for that matter. I’ve also checked the stand and found the previous owner didn’t have a full pad under it which probably caused the separation. I’ve fixed that issue but need to fix the leak.
Hello. We are new to fish keeping. Been many many years since I've kept any fish. We are keepers of a beautiful male betta since the first of the year basically. I've been dealing with trying to find the right cave for him. They're always a little sharp in areas. If I sand those areas down. Is there some type of sealer that I could coat the decoration with afterwards to make sure it's still safe to go in his tank?
The Blue GE tube Silicone 1 that you show - clearly states not for use below water line and aquariums - how has it fared in your - any thoughts on why its labeled not for aquariums
Hey Joey, I have a 265ltr tank with those fake foam rocks as a background that I siliconed in when I first bought the tank. Any advise on getting rid of the background as it will be a huge mess!
So I have some acrylic panels that I want to make a tank out of. I’ve seen people use silicone to build a glass aquarium but can silicone be used to build an acrylic tank? Thanks in advance.
Hey I'm a big fan and I've just started watching you a couple months ago and you've really improved on your editing but on those slider shots where your showing the product I recommend a heavier/sturdy tripod and lube up that slider 😏 it just looked a little wobbly on those shots and nothing impresses me more than a nice quality slider shot Thanks - Hunter James
I wanna have a 3D background made of cement, but it'd be for shrimps. Would this be a bad idea? I believe cement would raise the tds which would affect the molting process of shrimps, but I'm not sure if this is true?
Hey Joey - JB WaterWeld putty can be used with potable water, but what are your thoughts on Marine Weld 2 part? Have you worked with it before? I emailed JB and they said that MarineWeld is non-toxic when fully cured.... Do you think it's safe to use on a submerged project?
I’m reading mixed reviews about GE-1 100% silicone. I’m looking into starting to build my own tanks now, and want to be sure the GE-1 is safe. I also want to be sure I can build bigger tanks with it 100G and above without compromising strength.
Hi would like to ask as I am using epoxy to try to fix my cracked alcyric fish breeder case, and i saw your video after that. So i wonder would it be alright after 24 hours dry up, to put in shrimp or fishes thanks
Hi, I have recently purchased some miniature bricks made from baked porcelain and was thinking of building something for my tank with it. Can you please recommend a mortar which is aquarium safe. Thanks
While at Home Depot, I was reading the tubes and the GE brand and others read that they were not for underwater use. In the glue aisle, Loctite makes a clear silicone that is labeled for aquarium use on the front of the package.
Have you ever tried flex shot. I just made 3 dividers in a 30 gal and used flex shot to seal them in. It says aquarium safe. Just wondering your thoughts on it.
Great video just the information that I was looking! For how long do you let resting ( curing, set ) before putting it to use? And how much media (biological) is unhealthy for the fish if is unhealthy? Thanks
Is it really okay to fill an aquarium below 30 gallons after 24 hours? i just finished building my 15 gallon leader tank yesterday and i get imlatient since it's a main tank size i use and one of my mollies already died because i just put them in a tub. i really want it to work however some people says it takes a week for silicone to fully cure with max strength and some says it's a day per glass mm. i really need advice. thank you!
Hello Joey. I like watching your videos and since you know a lot about aquarium DIY projects I figured I would ask you about something that I want to do and get your suggestions. I have a piece of wood that I want to seal with something that is clear so I can put it in the aquarium and it won't decay. But whatever I use would have to be safe and not chip, peel, or leech anything into the water. It would also need to be inert and be able for plants to hold onto. Also, I would like it to be heavy enough to overcome the natural buoyancy of the wood. I was thinking either a clear epoxy spray paint (if there is such a thing) or PlastiDip Clear or something like that. What are your recommendations?
I'm not Joey, but I can answer you question. For what you want to do, there is nothing that will seal the wood and still allow plants to attach, and nothing heavy enough to overcome the natural buoyancy of the wood. The sealer will seal the pores of the wood that the roots need to attach, so they can't. And since the wood is sealed, it won't be absorbing water. It will always remain lighter than water no matter what you coat it with. But otherwise, coat it with Envirotex lite or a similiar "Other" brand of clear 2 part pour on epoxy. I've used it to seal plywood aquariums. It works great and is strong.
@@ViewThis. View This for the buoyancy issue would it help to soak the wood first to water log it and JB Weld ClearWeld quick setting epoxy coat over it or would the water in the waterlogged wood prevent the epoxy from bonding to the wood? Would the roots not be able to attach to the epoxy coat like they do to rocks if you use plants like anubias or java moss or java fern?
@@thomasashe2681 You are correct...It wouldn't work to waterlog the wood first. It would just prevent ANYTHING from bonding to it. And it's just my opinion, but I don't think the roots would grow on such a surface -- only the natural stuff
Weld On 4 is a mixture of Dichloromethane, Chloroform and Monomers. For the strongest possible bond (aquarium building) you absolutely need the monomers in the solvent because they help to aline the molecular structure in the weld, giving added strength. Without the monomers, the molecular structure will be erratic and brittle. Therefore it is NOT advisable to use pure Dichloromethane for aquarium building.
Hey Joey, the back acrylic panel containing the sump portion of my all-in-one aquarium broke loose at the seam. Is there any way to repair this without having to take down the whole tank? Do you think I could successfully reseal the panel with a hot glue gun? the detached portion of the seam is about 6 inches long.
Which 1 of these glues are recommended to use on a Pumice (volcanic rock) that’s split in 2? A) Silicone B) Cement C) Crazy Glue D) Bondic E) I heard of this glue called Resin, but don’t think you mentioned it
idk if i missed something. But can you use the glue gun to stick acrylic together? or would weld on 16 and weld on 4 be better/last longer? ***URGENT QUESTION*** GREAT VIDEO HELPED ALOT!
I have an already set up vivarium that I want to add on to. The walls are too bare and I want to add cork bark. But I need something that dries quickly. Will hot glue work do the job? If not, idk what im going to do.
Joey, I never would have thought to use a glue gun now I have to buy one more thing for my fish room lol. I also want to point out that GE silicone II says on the front that it is 100% silicone it dose say in the fine print (I think, I know I found it on-line for sure) that has a mold inhibitor. I am also under the impression that the SCS-1200 is considered a structural silicone and has a higher bonding strength than normal GE window and door.
Hi do you happen to know how to install a glass / lexan window with a fiberglass tank? what adhesive should I use that would stick with fiberglass at the same time aquarium safe /Food Grade?
hey Joey, so I just built a 105 gallon tank with GE 1 100% silicone. tank has been leaked tested and passed. my fish have been in this tank for 3 days and I've noticed that the silicone turned opaque white. should I be worried? I'd appreciate it if you helped me out. thanks.
hi Joey I was wondering what your recommendation would be to bond acrylic to glass. I want to turn my glass tank into an all in one and I don't want to go all the way down to the bottom. mostly because my arm won't reach the bottom even if I go out 4 inches and also because I don't want to give up to much room for the fish. p.s. I don't know if it matters but it is a saltwater tank.
Sorry to resurrect but would you still recommend GE silicone one to rebuild a 72 gallon (48x20x18)? I’ve heard I should go to RTV but finding reliable info on whether it’s safe for my fish is another story. Too many brands.
Tanks for sharing, we all have to stick together am I right ROFLMAO :-) but seriously thanks. Been watching your new project - awesome! what happened to your interview channel?
In your video, you mentioned about glue gun is safe for aquarium decorations. I have a glue gun at home and I want to glue my aquarium decorations together. I don't want to kill my fish. Can you let me know? Thanks
What do you recommend to bond High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS).....the stuff aquarium frames are made of? I have a crack on the center brace of my 75 gallon. I have a sheet of HIPS that I am cutting to size. I hope by bonding these plastics together the brace won't eventually break. I don't want to replace the frame.
Paul Ross i had my center brace break on my 55, i used a piece of wood, with two ends screwed onto each side, to make a clamp/brace. Would not do any other way.
