I bought an old 50 gal hex that someone added extra silicone to all the seams. Three sides mirrored. No hood. Holds water fine. Made a temp hood out of pink styrofoam. I've had the tank for months. Typically anything I put in here dies within 24 hrs to a week. I've had fish for 40+ years. First I thought they used wrong silicone. I questioned the hood material. I'm taking the tank completely apart and there's chips on the mirror edges. I'm wondering if it's a lead/mercury poisoning?
Poisoning?
- Thread starter Dew
- Start date
Mercury and lead aren't really used in modern mirrors.
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Mirror.html
https://www.reference.com/science/materials-used-make-mirrors-af1ef9dff8b15a4c
Mercury or silver was used in mirrors pre-1940, and of course some types of glass (e.g., heavy crystal) still was made using lead until much more recently (perhaps still today.) I know because I own some gorgeous Waterford crystal.
But mirrors have been made using chrome or aluminum for a long time. Lead use has been restricted for decades. Clearly that is going to be unlikely in your case unless those are old, old mirrors.
This doesn't rule out your ideas, but it leads to other questions. I would take a water sample to a lab and have them provide a detailed analysis (assuming it was not too expensive.) It might be something leeching in the tank.
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Mirror.html
https://www.reference.com/science/materials-used-make-mirrors-af1ef9dff8b15a4c
Mercury or silver was used in mirrors pre-1940, and of course some types of glass (e.g., heavy crystal) still was made using lead until much more recently (perhaps still today.) I know because I own some gorgeous Waterford crystal.
But mirrors have been made using chrome or aluminum for a long time. Lead use has been restricted for decades. Clearly that is going to be unlikely in your case unless those are old, old mirrors.
This doesn't rule out your ideas, but it leads to other questions. I would take a water sample to a lab and have them provide a detailed analysis (assuming it was not too expensive.) It might be something leeching in the tank.
Hello; I avoid these silicones so cannot say if this is true, but I have read posts claiming no problems with these silicones and also posts suggesting these things "age out" with enough time.
I have not tried them so cannot say from experience.
