Silicone crash

[ScubaSteve]

The mildew inhibitors are petroleum distillates. The only thing that will remove them is aspiration by a skimmer (basically "undissolving" them) and big water changes. They don't stick to carbon. The silicone may also be leaching ammonia if it didn't cure long enough. Add an ammonia absorbing pad.

Pull the sump and rebuild it. Sorry you got bitten by the GE silicone problem. Seems to be getting pretty common and it's a pretty easy mistake to make. GE didn't even list the petroleum distillates in their MSDS until recently as they were a trade secret.

[Proteus]

Sump is dismantled. Cleaned and awaiting my arrival home to be put back together

[MarkoD]

Make sure to buy the bottle that says 100% silicone

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Make sure to buy the bottle that says 100% silicone

Ya, like GE II. It says 100%, even though the tube says it has mildew inhibitors.

With the recent reports of many people having problems with GE I or II, this is just bad advice.

[MarkoD]

The new bottles that people have had problems with no longer say 100% silicone

Bottles that say 100% silicone have nothing but silicone in them. That's what 100% means

[Reef Puffer]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

The new bottles that people have had problems with no longer say 100% silicone

Bottles that say 100% silicone have nothing but silicone in them. That's what 100% means

the GE II i used says "100% silicone". it always has (have used it for YEARS on FW tanks). only now with the new packaging, it also has mildew resistant properties (STILL SAYS 100% SILICONE). i had issues with my tank, am having issues with my corals, is it the GE II or because this is my first salty tank... IDK? my corals are alive... has been running with this silicone for almost a year now.

[Reef Puffer]