Choose the sealant for the aquarium

Gone are the days when aquarists could only access bulky frame structures that did not have a particularly attractive appearance. Today, "on horseback" frameless varieties.

That is why the main problem now issealant for the aquarium: it should not only provide a sufficiently high strength characteristics of the "reservoir", but also be completely safe for its inhabitants.

Fortunately, the modern construction industry represents the widest range of such products, so problems can arise only with its choice.

However, we have to face the fact thatsealant for the aquarium with the label of a reputable company is a banal fake. Do not rely on the cheapness of quality varieties: if you are at a discount, you can flood your neighbors. We will try to give the most basic characteristics, which need to be guided when choosing.

Any sealant for the aquarium can be one- andtwo-component. As it is easy to guess, in the first case it can be used immediately for construction or repair. In another situation, it is necessary to mix reagents.

Having dealt with the components, you need to learn about the main varieties.

In the markets in recent years, many acrylicsealants, which should not be used for aquariums. The fact is that their plasticity is not high, and therefore it is better to use them to seal the external joints of the terrarium.

Note that some inexperienced breeders of fishuse a sealant for the aquarium polyurethane, which also do not need. By itself, it is good, but many species in its composition have dangerous components that can harm the sensitive flora and fauna of a home pond.

What then to choose? In fact, everything is not so bad: the same silicone sealant for the Aquarium Moment is perfect for these purposes. It is plastic, can maintain its working properties for a long time in conditions of high temperature and humidity, completely safe.

How to protect yourself from fakes?

We have already said that you can stumble uponfalsification. To prevent this from happening, carefully look at the packaging: using our remarkable legislation, "honest thieves" use one sneaky trick.

So, normal silicone sealants retainall its working properties at temperatures from +70 to -70 degrees Celsius (generalized). If the package informs that this limit is in the range from -5 to +37 degrees, it is better not to take such products.

When choosing a sealant for an aquarium, do not forget about the storage period. Even a high-quality product strongly loses its properties, when a few days remain before the expiration date.

Note! Only transparent sealants (or with some small deviations) are suitable for aquarium purposes. If the color of the product in the tube is black, red or some other, do not believe the seller's assurances about the harmlessness of such glue. Color is a dye, and how it affects the health of plants and fish, you learn only "de facto". Do not risk!