Is caulk poisonous to fish?
- Thread starter ianmoede
- Start date
1) Did your room mate just get the tank? If you aren't sure about the stuff, and you don't know where it came from, best thing would be to strip the stuff off and replace it with some aquarium sealer.
2) 35 gal realy doesn't seem like a big enough tank for a discus in the long run. They can get up to 8 or 8 inches. I myself have a 35 gal hex, and it seems that they would end up just swimming in circles as adults. Unless your room mate has plans for a larger tank later, I'd invest in a bigger one now, or find some different fish to stock.
my 2c.
2) 35 gal realy doesn't seem like a big enough tank for a discus in the long run. They can get up to 8 or 8 inches. I myself have a 35 gal hex, and it seems that they would end up just swimming in circles as adults. Unless your room mate has plans for a larger tank later, I'd invest in a bigger one now, or find some different fish to stock.
my 2c.
The caulk is not clear, and its kind of flaking off. Hopefully it hasnt contaminated the filter and gravel bed... does anyone konw for sure if its poisonous or not? And I think all hes gonna house in there is a pair of discus, have you never seen breeding tanks. Theres two at a LFS that are dinner plate sized chillin in a 20 
Caulk is sometimes used instead of silicone sealent when constructing a tank, so its not poisonous to fish at all. I would suggest though if its flaking off that it would be an idea to use a scalpel blat to chip of the flaking bits (being carefull not to cut down the joints of the glass itself), then clean the joints throughly with viniger and warm water and run a fine bead of clear silicon sealent down the joins on the inside. Besure that the glass is completly clean and dry first or the sealent wont stick properly. This shold stop any more flaking and re-inforce the tank.
if its flaking it might be too old to prevent leaks, you should test it or cover all the seams with silicone.
the thing with the 35 is with the hex shape its not as long but tall, so its not as comfortable for the fish especially once they start getting big.
the thing with the 35 is with the hex shape its not as long but tall, so its not as comfortable for the fish especially once they start getting big.
Comparing a breeder setup, or any LFS setup, to one you maintain yourself is not a good idea. Most breeders have really high water turnover--sometimes more than 100% per day. Fish will be able to live in a much smaller tank if the volume of water is that high. And, LFS setups are seldom designed to last very long--not the same as most home setups.
I have never heard of "caulk" being used in all glass tanks, unless you are referring to 100% silicone.
If I were you, I wouldn't do business with that LFS any more. Keeping two plate-sized discus in a tank that small is wrong. I'd write them a letter and let them know why as well... That's me, anyway.
Also, as OG said, LFS and breeder tanks have water changes very often. For example, the LFS I work at has an automated water changing system, which changes about 30% daily in our tanks. The nitrates stay around 10-20. In a normally stocked tank, nitrates would be undetectable with that many water changes. LFS conditions are designed to keep the fish healthy for a week or two until they are sold, not for them to live their lives out in that tank.
I forgot something...
Do note, however, that many types of caulk contain mold and mildew growth inhibiting agents that ARE in fact toxic to fish. 100% silicone is the safest thing to use
Do note, however, that many types of caulk contain mold and mildew growth inhibiting agents that ARE in fact toxic to fish. 100% silicone is the safest thing to use