Silicone Won't Cure - Why?

[Kittiee Katt]

Hello; Depending on my nap schedule I will begin sending focused thoughts your way. I may alternate between thinking of you being calm and patient and thinking of you pacing and being in the this is taking too long mode. Na, I will do the calm and patient and likely fall asleep and then forget.
Good luck

Thank you... I think?

Its all because of Murphy, either him or the gremlins

I figured Murphy had a hand in this.

Knife is best I think a skewer might just slide anything wet off of it when you pull it out

I poked it and its dry through, now I'm wondering if we should just scrape it off and try again with a new tube of silicone or what?

How old is the sealant? In aerospace, most materials have a shelf life. To control cure time and work life of the sealant, two part sealants are used. Typically, full cure can be confirmed by a durometer shore hardness check.
I've removed a lot of sealant from the fridge at work for disposal because it had gone beyond the 6 months period.

We brought it a week or so ago when he was planing the lid bits, I don't actually know how old it is thought as it doesn't have a date on it that I can find.

It's dried soft and I'm wondering if it will hurt my fish, should we remove it and trying again with a new tube? This brand usually dries hard so I'm worried we got a bodgey batch.

Also, what's a durometer shore hardness check?

 

[Ilawis]

It won't hurt the fish
The only thing I would be looking at is if it is on a place that will have the glass move when under pressure (that includes bracing) top corners not so much if it is going to move I would take it off and re do it with a new tube it's just not worth the risk

 

[Ilawis]

I should make a video on how to apply silicone cleanly..
The tricks to it being nice and looking awesome are:
1. Make sure glass/tile/stone/whatever is clean and dust free
2. Run bead of silicone making contact with all places you want it to stick too
3. Using a spray bottle with dish wash (the liquid) and water spray over all silicone and surrounding glass etc (wherever the spray is the silicone will not adhere to easily)
4. (Optional on the meths tho I still would as it evaporates fast anyway) dip your finger into the meths(you can use a glove but I find that harder) ensuring your finger has meths on it run your finger over your beed of silicone to smooth it out and remove excess silicone the excess silicone can be wiped onto a handy towel. The meths will create a instant skin cure on the silicone and will prevent the silicone from sticking to your finger, if silicone starts sticking to your finger re apply meths to your finger
5. Allow silicone to dry fit the amount of time recommended on the tube
6. Give it a good wash and your good to go with your perfect silicone seal no cutting with knives nice and clean professional job
7. Run off to the bathroom and every sink in the house to re silicone all the crappy silicone jobs that have been done on your house to show off your new found talent

 

[Kittiee Katt]

It won't hurt the fish
The only thing I would be looking at is if it is on a place that will have the glass move when under pressure (that includes bracing) top corners not so much if it is going to move I would take it off and re do it with a new tube it's just not worth the risk

Its in the top corners, its just little triangles that the lid will sit on. Idk if that would be considered somewhere that would move or not?
Here's a pic for reference:

The lid is a perspex sheet that is kinda awkward to hold, but its not what I consider "heavy".

I don't know how well I'm explaining this and I'm sorry if its confusing.

I should make a video on how to apply silicone cleanly..
The tricks to it being nice and looking awesome are:
1. Make sure glass/tile/stone/whatever is clean and dust free
2. Run bead of silicone making contact with all places you want it to stick too
3. Using a spray bottle with dish wash (the liquid) and water spray over all silicone and surrounding glass etc (wherever the spray is the silicone will not adhere to easily)
4. (Optional on the meths tho I still would as it evaporates fast anyway) dip your finger into the meths(you can use a glove but I find that harder) ensuring your finger has meths on it run your finger over your beed of silicone to smooth it out and remove excess silicone the excess silicone can be wiped onto a handy towel. The meths will create a instant skin cure on the silicone and will prevent the silicone from sticking to your finger, if silicone starts sticking to your finger re apply meths to your finger
5. Allow silicone to dry fit the amount of time recommended on the tube
6. Give it a good wash and your good to go with your perfect silicone seal no cutting with knives nice and clean professional job
7. Run off to the bathroom and every sink in the house to re silicone all the crappy silicone jobs that have been done on your house to show off your new found talent

He basically done that with the seams (only he used tape not dishin liquid to keep it straight and tidy) but I don't think he spent that much time with the lid bits, he wants to cut the edge bits off where its rounded and make them straight because he doesn't like the look of it when its rounded.

Thank you so much for all your help, you've no idea how much piece of mind you've given me.

 

[Ilawis]

Id prob just leave it there it's non structural but up to you
No problem glad we could help!
Don't forget to give us some nice pictures of the tank when it's all done and the swimmers are all in there happy!

 

[Kittiee Katt]

Id prob just leave it there it's non structural but up to you
No problem glad we could help!
Don't forget to give us some nice pictures of the tank when it's all done and the swimmers are all in there happy!

Will do. It will (eventually) be an African river tank featuring my little synodontis and the friends I plan to acquire for him.

 

[Hendre]

I never see my syno. Maybe those smaller upsidedown schooling cats? Synodontis nigriventis

 

[Kittiee Katt]

I never see my syno. Maybe those smaller upsidedown schooling cats? Synodontis nigriventis

That's what Felix is. I got him from a friend about 12 months ago because the nut had him with cichlids. His friends will be expensive (25-40aud) when I get them so I'm planning on just getting one at a time until my little dollars are big enough to breed. I'm then hoping to breed my little guy with my big girl (or vice versa) and swap the guy at a lfs the dollar fry for the remaining desired number of synos because he breeds them.

 

[Hendre]

That's what Felix is. I got him from a friend about 12 months ago because the nut had him with cichlids. His friends will be expensive (25-40aud) when I get them so I'm planning on just getting one at a time until my little dollars are big enough to breed. I'm then hoping to breed my little guy with my big girl (or vice versa) and swap the guy at a lfs the dollar fry for the remaining desired number of synos because he breeds them.

Great

 

[Ilawis]

You in Australia? I've just moved to Perth 5 weeks ago what part are you in?