Would you do Black or Clear silicon on your new tank?

[ScubaSteve]

Hey! I'm building my new rimless tank this weekend and I'm facing the difficult decision of going with clear or black silicone... They both look pretty good.

What would you choose?

Also, where in Vancouver would you recommend getting silicone?

[Zoaelite]

Went with clear on my first tank, it got pretty filthy very quick and was impossible to clean so the new tank was built with black. I don't think I will ever build a tank with clear silicone again, looks great to start but deteriorates over time.

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[The Grizz]

Black HANDS DOWN is the only silicone I will ever use again. The clear gets ugly fast and I really like the way the black kind of frames the tank bringing the focus on what is inside.

[lastlight]

For the record I went black and have since come back.

[parkinsn]

For the record I went black and have since come back.

That's not possible... Once you go black you cant go back!!

I would never build a new tank with clear. Love the black and won't go back.

[globaldesigns]

For the record I went black and have since come back.

HMMMMM.... Head out of the gutter now!

[Myka]

Black for the win!

[megs_clark]

Clear if rimless
Black ir your using a rim

I have found if your using the clear ge brand, walmart often carries double packs for around $6. Rona also carries it in black and clear for around $4-5 a tube. I like clear if its a rimless tank and you can get a nice smooth layer of the silicone. Then it cleans off ok. If your like me, and cant get it smooth then the black is the way to go. I also prefer black if your using a rim. But deffinitly walmart or Rona for the silicone.

[lastlight]

Well rim-job or not I think with black you absolutely must use tape. If you removed it right away it looks awesome. I love both actually. Just diggin; the clear lately.

[ScubaSteve]

Ya, I'm definitely using tape no matter what colour I choose. I've gotta get those super straight lines because, well, I'm anal about that kind of stuff (maybe that's not the best word choice considering the connotation of some posts:razz:).

See I love the look of the clear until it gets dirty but it really gives that "cube of water" look when it's clean. Black is a bit more in your face and really frames stuff... Hmmm...

[jostafew]

Black all the way! Clear is tough to keep looking good without constantly scrubbing it, and then you're probably damaging the silicone. Also, I doubt they put UV stabilizers in the clear silicone so the MH lighting will break it down somewhat over time (black is immune as it is not transparent).

[kien]

Depends what colour your stand will be. Clear if the stand will be a light colour, black if it'll be a dark colour. I have both. Can't imagine the tank with black silicone on the white stand or the clear silicone on the black stand.

[sphelps]

Clear on a tank without black trim for sure, I've also done black before but I just prefer clear. If you do it right and minimize the bead there really isn't much to get dirty and the actual seams look better IMO.

Plus I'm looking at mine right now and the silicone looks new in and out, tanks been in use for about 2 years give or take, never once have I cleaned the silicone. Come to think of it I recall my previous cube, I had one spot on the back I didn't bother cleaning up very well when I siliconed it cause I figured algae would soon cover it up, it never did and it really bothered me.

[lastlight]

Black is a bit more in your face and really frames stuff... Hmmm...

Exactly what I used to think. And it's true. I just realized after trying clear again that I liked not having things framed. For me the black was a bit distracting. Mine also doesn't get that dirty. My Kole is always grazing it madly.

[wickedfrags]

long term, black silicone is best

short term, clear is best...

[mseepman]

My new tank (although it's just sitting in a box right now) is all black.

[ScubaSteve]

Depends what colour your stand will be. Clear if the stand will be a light colour, black if it'll be a dark colour. I have both. Can't imagine the tank with black silicone on the white stand or the clear silicone on the black stand.

My stand is black. I have clear silicone on the tank that is there already. I don't like this particular silicone on the tank because it looks like crap. It's a pretty poorly made tank (I didn't make it :razz:). Crappy tank aside, the clear isn't all that bad on the black stand though the seams are looking a bit grungy.

Frig, I can't make up my mind. Anyone have a good pick of their tank (hopefully rimless) that could sway me in either direction?

[MarkoD]

My new tank (although it's just sitting in a box right now) is all black.

How do you see the fish if your tank is all black?

[lastlight]

Frig, I can't make up my mind. Anyone have a good pick of their tank (hopefully rimless) that could sway me in either direction?

While mine isn't rimless you can sorta get a feel for clear:

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/97/tv.jpg

[parkinsn]

While mine isn't rimless you can sorta get a feel for clear:

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/97/tv.jpg

:lol:

Can you come clean my moniter off Brett? There is pop all over it now.

[globaldesigns]

While mine isn't rimless you can sorta get a feel for clear:

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/97/tv.jpg

Is yours the poor mans version of this?

http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/editorial_image/6d/6d72bdcc2c86f2a8a6addc74ec6c8d8a/chad_ochocinco_sleeps_underneath_a_whole_bunch_of_ fish.jpg

[parkinsn]

I think if it was the poor mans version the TV would be a lot smaller.

[ScubaSteve]

While mine isn't rimless you can sorta get a feel for clear:

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/97/tv.jpg

Dude, I think you might be overstocked. Well, you could probably fit a few tangs in there at least to mix it up a bit.

Tank looks nice. I like.

[sphelps]

Just took these 5 min ago

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/DSC_6746.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/DSC_6747.jpg

And this was it in it's last location

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/new%20tank/Jan%202010/Stand.jpg

[globaldesigns]

Just took these 5 min ago

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/DSC_6746.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/DSC_6747.jpg

And this was it in it's last location

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/new%20tank/Jan%202010/Stand.jpg

Sphelps, very beautiful tank... wish mine looked like yours. My color sucks, coral sucks.... But things are slowly getting better. I THINK!!!

Anyways great tank! And oh yeah, your clear silicone looks perfect. Nice and clean.

[fishytime]

I voted black

[tang daddy]

I am all for black silicone aswell!

[Parker]

Black for me.

[The Grizz]

My stand is black. I have clear silicone on the tank that is there already. I don't like this particular silicone on the tank because it looks like crap. It's a pretty poorly made tank (I didn't make it :razz:). Crappy tank aside, the clear isn't all that bad on the black stand though the seams are looking a bit grungy.

Frig, I can't make up my mind. Anyone have a good pick of their tank (hopefully rimless) that could sway me in either direction?

Here is my 116 gal, my 46 gal frag tank and a 126 all with black silicone.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/116%20gal%20FOWLR/ce346f5c.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/00c36900.jpg
http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/126.jpg

[Wayne]

I really like the look of black silicone and looking at The Grizz's tank I think you should be sold!

[The Grizz]

I need to get some better pics when the tanks are clean :biggrin: