Will silicone bond to slate?

[naten]

Hey all,
I am planning to replace the front and side glass on my 40ish year old METAFRAME brand tank. It has a slate bottom and I read some things on the net that said silicone will adhere to slate and some that say it won't. Anyone on here have any experience refurbishing these old tanks?

 

[Big Dog]

This aquarium must have been made in the stone age.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Well, duh, it has a stone bottom.


(yer too funny)

 

[naten]

It sat in one spot from I think 1976 until the day I bought it for $75 back in Jan.

 

[CHOMPERS]

It will stick if it is dry. If the slate is wet, it will peal like it had mold release on it.

Check some of the MDS sheets on different brands/types of silicone and other adhesives. They often have the bonding strength for different materials. Slate is a fairly common building material (old construction).

 

[naten]

OK, 2 fills and it leaked both times. UGGGHHH. Anyone have any ideas? Maybe some sort of epoxy?

 

[Zfishies]

MGIHTY PUTTY!!!! ever heard of it? works like magic but never tried it on tanks. my family has uses it on sinks though

 

[naten]

Anyone? With all the experience on here no one has had this problem?

 

[Tri-Fisher]

Will not adhere to slate, you already know that from the puddle on your floor. Have glass bottom cut, silicone between slate and glass, lay glass over slate bottom, ouside of tank just to form a barrier, silicone inside metal corners, insert side panel, then silicone inside of tank. If that doesn't work walk tank to curb for garbage man. Good luck.

 

[Oddball]

We used to use aquarium tar sealant that is no longer available. Some metalframe tank owners I know have had success in using Dow Corning 795 Building Sealant. It adheres to the glass and slate and can be worked into the striated surface characteristics of slate.