Using Silicone Spray to beat Algae

Quatermass · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 6

I've heard that if I purchase a bottle of quick drying Silicone Spray
it will make the object I coat it with impossible to be coated with
Algae in a tropical Aquarium.

Has anyone tried this before?

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>tech

Billy · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 210

"Quatermass" wrote in message @g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I've heard that if I purchase a bottle of quick drying Silicone
> Spray
> it will make the object I coat it with impossible to be coated with
> Algae in a tropical Aquarium.
>
> Has anyone tried this before?
>

No, but I've seen decorations made entirely from silicone covered in
algae......

Quatermass · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 6

Care to tell me what type of decorations?
I've yet to see any silicone objects bar tubing. This stuff is
expensive and to have an entire object of it sounds a bit dubious.

The source of my info is the Practical Fish Keeping magazine PFK in
Sept 2005, page 93 by Peter Bradley.

He claims to have seen a product by ALF (anyone know who this is? A
Google search didn't return anything relevant) in the States which is
in 2 formulations (glass or acrylic) of a silicone spray you spray onto
the inside of your tank walls.

Anyone in the States heard of ALF or of this product?

Ian Stirling · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 15

Quatermass wrote:
> Care to tell me what type of decorations?
> I've yet to see any silicone objects bar tubing. This stuff is
> expensive and to have an entire object of it sounds a bit dubious.

No, it's not.

Google
silicone baking mould
for example - the raw material is not expensive.
Forming it can be awkward - which makes some sorts of objects expensive.

Billy · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 210

"Ian Stirling" wrote in message $0$1299$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> Quatermass wrote:
>> Care to tell me what type of decorations?
>> I've yet to see any silicone objects bar tubing. This stuff is
>> expensive and to have an entire object of it sounds a bit dubious.
>
> No, it's not.
>

The stuff packaged for aquaria is expensive. The SAME STUFF can be
had at the home improvement store, caulk-gun size tube for 2 or 3
bucks. (careful, it's easy to get stuff with color, mildew
preventative and other toxins) Compare to a tube 1/4 of the size at
the LFS for up to 6 dollars US. Bought in bulk, wholesale, it's quite
cheap to make all kinds of things. Have you seen those silly
lightbulbs with the rubbery bits on them? Silicone with a couple
additives for the heat. The local PetSmart has a shelf full of fake
coral, anemones and starfish, made from silicone.

billy