Lets talk Silicone

[clownonfire]

I was at ACE yesterday and was looking over the silicone selection they had. They had silicone I in clear and Silicone II in clear, brown..ect. I did notice that one of the tube in the bin for Silicone II had a label with Bio-Seal on it. So that made me wonder if all silicone II has Bio-Seal in it.

Here's what John Clare had to say on BioSeal on my ongoing thread http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...rog-forum.html

"Silicone: I'm actually a chemist. From everything I've read, I believe Bioseal is a bad thing to have around frogs. However, I think we can get away with it well in a thumbnail vivarium because the nasties end up in the drainage layer, which most people will siphon off every now and then. There is no recycling of any chemical residue into the tank, and tadpoles are not raised in it. This is more of a concern in the case of larger frogs that might deposit eggs in a built-in pond which uses the drainage layer water. I have no evidence to give you on whether or not bioseal is harmful, but I have only ever used it in the thumbnail situation and I've not noticed any issues with the frogs."

As for all Silicone II having BioSeal in it, that is a very good question. On a Dart Den thread (Dart Den • View topic - GE Silicone II with the BioSeal Good or [b]Not Good[/), one of the members did call GE to ask the question and here is the answer he was given:

"I have read and heard numerous opinions that range from yes to no on weather it is safe to use the silicone with the BioSeal for the terrarium. All in all it has just left me confused and frustrated. So I decided to call the GE Company and see if I could get to the bottom of this. I spoke to one of the representatives and to whom my surprise told me that the silicone that they are selling now with the BIoSeal (mold and mildew inhibitor) is the same silicone product that they were selling before. The only difference is that for proprietary reasons the couldn’t have the logo on the tubs before. So unless they are lying or don’t know what they are talking about it is safe. Or is it? Who to trust......."

Ill take a picture of the GE Silicone II tubes I had purchased for the new azureus tank we are building (we decided to use clay instead). We do not have the BioSeal label on them, at least not the ones we purchased.

[Leefrogs]

Thanks for calling. Ya I googled this issue months ago and I saw a post somewhere that the guy called GE also. He got the answer that bioseal is in 1 also and has been used in there fir over 10 years. It's a marketing ploy, he said it was a legal isue also, as GE silicone was used in all tanks and the parent company to the existing aquarium silcone used on industrial level. It's a great debate, I used it cuz nothing else availibe within 60 miles

[MikeM670]

Thanks for calling. Ya I googled this issue months ago and I saw a post somewhere that the guy called GE also. He got the answer that bioseal is in 1 also and has been used in there fir over 10 years. It's a marketing ploy, he said it was a legal isue also, as GE silicone was used in all tanks and the parent company to the existing aquarium silcone used on industrial level. It's a great debate, I used it cuz nothing else availibe within 60 miles

Well this just leaves me all the more confused.

With all the debate that has gone on over the years in regards to safe silicone for aquarium use and such. Its a wonder that somebody with access to a lab has not taken the time to research this very topic.

[Leefrogs]

I think GE does this themselves. They'd have to. Kurt says it's a no no, but why would the better one smell 10X worse than the bad 1(#2)??? Supose all chemicals are gone when it's cured? I say google it and read every debate on this subject

[bshmerlie]

I have used GE 1 labeled windows and doors for years. In everything from fresh water tanks to saltwater tanks to frog tanks and it has never harmed anything. I have used it as recent as six months ago on my firebelly tank with no ill effects. Just make sure it does not have any mold or mildew preventative additives and it will be fine. Stay away from the ones that say kitchen and bath.