Gone are the days when aquarists had access to only bulky frame structures that did not have a particularly attractive appearance. Today, frameless varieties are on horseback.
That is why the main problem now is the sealant for the aquarium: it must not only provide sufficiently high strength characteristics of the "reservoir", but also be completely safe for its inhabitants.
Fortunately, the modern construction industry presents the widest range of this type of product, so the only problem can arise with its choice.
However, one has to deal with the fact that the aquarium sealant with the marking of a respected company turns out to be a banal fake. You should not rely on the cheapness of quality varieties: flattered by a discount, you can flood your neighbors. We will try to give the most basic characteristics that you need to focus on when choosing.
Any sealant for an aquarium can be one- and two-component. As you might guess, in the first case it can be immediately used forconstruction or renovation. In another situation, you have to deal with mixing reagents.
Having de alt with the components, you need to learn about the main varieties.
There are a lot of acrylic sealants on the market lately, which should not be used for aquariums. The fact is that their plasticity is low, and therefore it is better to use them for sealing the outer seams of the terrarium.
Note that some inexperienced fish breeders use polyurethane aquarium sealant, which is also not necessary. It is good on its own, but many varieties contain dangerous components that can harm the sensitive flora and fauna of the home pond.
What then to choose? In fact, everything is not so bad: the same Moment aquarium silicone sealant is perfect for these purposes. It is plastic, can retain its working properties for a long time under conditions of high temperature and humidity, and is completely safe.
How to protect yourself from fakes?
We have already said that you can stumble upon a fake. To prevent this from happening, carefully look at the packaging: using our wonderful legislation, "honest thieves" use one sneaky trick.
Thus, normal silicone sealants retain all their working properties at temperatures from +70 to -70 degrees Celsius (generalized). If the package says that this limit is in the range from -5 to +37 degrees, it is better not totake.
When choosing an adhesive sealant for an aquarium, do not forget about the shelf life. Even a quality product loses its properties greatly when there are several days left before the expiration date.
Pay attention! Only transparent sealants (or with some slight variation) 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 that such glue is harmless. Color is a dye, and how it will affect the he alth of plants and fish, you will only know “de facto”. Don't risk it!
