9 Best Aquarium Silicone – Updated Buying Guide

You might not think of it, but silicone is an integral part of your aquarium. It creates a sealant that keeps all five pieces held together and makes your fish tank!

This adhesive can be used for sealing glass panels together to make a custom aquarium. However, silicone comes in handy when you start seeing leaks from your fish tank, and it helps to reseal the aquarium if needed!

At the same time, silicone has many uses in aquarium decorations because it dries clear, making the glue used less noticeable for plants, rocks, or decors on glass surfaces!

Not all silicone is safe for aquarium use, but don’t stress. I’ll help teach you all about choosing the right silicone and which one will suit your needs.

I was hoping you could keep reading to get the best aquarium silicone from my 9 top picks.

What Is A Silicone Sealant?

It’s a polymer consisting of silicon and oxygen, and it gets its tensile strength from the addition of silica.

Silicone sealants are versatile adhesives that can be used to bond virtually any two surfaces. It’s a stable, elasticated gel that remains as a gelatinous paste when you apply it but becomes a hard sealant when cured.

Silicone forms strong bonds to the glass – as a result, it’s an excellent choice for building or repairing an aquarium. In addition, it’s one of the few compounds that will not break down easily or leach chemicals through time in your fish tank!

Best Aquarium Silicone – Review

ASI Clear Aquarium Silicone Sealant

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With its affordable price and ability to seal large or customized tanks, ASI Clear Aquarium Silicone Sealant is the best choice for any aquarium builder. 

You’ll have enough on hand so that you can design your very own custom fish tank with ease!

ASI Clear Aquarium Silicone Sealant is a high-modulus component RTV silicone sealant that forms strong, cohesive bonds to glass without the need for primers. The bonds are unaffected by continuous immersion in water and, when fully cured, are non-toxic to fish.

ASI’s aquarium silicone sealant is a non-slump sealant and can be applied to vertical surfaces without flowing or sagging. This product is suitable for use on all types of glass aquariums and acrylic tanks.

Aqueon Silicone Sealant

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Aqueon Silicone Sealant is a clear, 100% silicone sealant that permanently seals leaks in aquariums and ponds. This long-lasting silicone sealant can also be used to bond seams on aquariums and pond liners. 

Being available in clear and black color, the Aqueon Silicone Aquarium Sealant has a lot going for it. 

It’s affordable and comes in sizes to suit every project size to reduce waste by limiting the amount you need to buy! Plus, it’s easy to apply and bond permanently for a reliable watertight seal.

It only takes 48 hours as curing time which is super quick! However, the aquarium sealant does an excellent job at sticking glass, but not acrylic. That’s unfortunate since it removes the option for custom setups – otherwise, though, you can still use this product without problems!

MarineLand Aquarium Silicone Sealant

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The MarineLand Aquarium Silicone Sealant is a one-ounce tube of clear sealant that you can use to stop small leaks. Overall, it is an efficient product for its size cost versus other similar products on the market today – though not without drawbacks!

It is a 100% clear silicone rubber sealant for repairing leaky aquariums or broken ornaments. It’s a squeeze tube that makes it easy to apply. But you have to make sure the area is dry before using this product.

The Marineland Aquarium Silicone Sealant is easily my favorite out of all those reviewed because here we have something so convenient; being able to quickly replace something broken and making your tank look good again at once.

This aquarium silicone is only available in clear, which I think is not ideal if you use it for a design purpose.

GE 1200 Series Construction Silicone Sealant

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The GE 1200 collection development grade is available in 300ml tubes match for a caulking gun. As such, it’s strong sufficient to use on any tank construction and DIY aquarium upkeep tasks like bonding glass panels together or sealing up your own personal freshwater or saltwater set up!

This aquarium silicone cures quickly and easily, without any need for air or sunlight. It has a rubbery consistency which makes it perfect in various conditions as well!

GE aquarium silicone is a popular alternative for tank building. This particular brand has been known to create watertight seals and bonds well with glass panels to create your fish’s dream home!

This aquarium silicone is the bomb dot com! It’s made for entirely different things than your average silicone and is safe for your fish. Moreover, it sustains high-pressure environments and temperature extremes. This means that it could resist everything from boiling water all the way to freezing cold.

Dap 00688 All-Purpose Adhesive Sealant

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Dap All-Purpose Sealant is a food-safe and acrylic-friendly product that can be used in so many different ways. But what really sets this silicone apart from all others? The label specifically says it’s for aquarium use!

Dap 00688 is a 100% silicone rubber adhesive sealant that helps build and repair aquariums. This all-purpose sealant stays flexible even in extreme temperatures and will not harm fish or plants when cured.

The best part about using this product? Once it’s finished curing (which takes 24 hours), there aren’t any cracks or shrinkage in most situations.

You can’t go wrong with this sealant. It’s small enough for your pocket, so it’s perfect if you only need a little bit of silicone and want to quickly get on with what needs to be done!

Henkel Corporation Loctite Clear Silicone

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Loctite has a reputation for being the go-to sealant when it comes to aquariums. This small tube delivers robust maintenance in any size tank, but be aware that you can’t use Loctite on tanks bigger than 30 gallons because of its lack of tensile strength.

This silicone is perfect for fixing, sealing, and building. You can use it in your aquarium with ornamental initiatives as well as installations throughout the tank! It holds up nicely even when immersed under saltwater or freshwater conditions.

The product is so versatile, and you’ll get your money’s worth! In addition, the material makes it fully safe for fish tanks and won’t turn color or add any dangerous components like other products on the market do.

J-B Weld Clear Silicone

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If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to repair your Aquarium silicone, JB Weld is the best choice. With its speedy cure time, it will have all done in no time at all! 

J-B Weld Clear Silicone is a multipurpose adhesive that forms a tough waterproof seal on most surfaces and won’t crack or shrink. In addition, it can be used underwater! J-B Weld Clear Silicone is perfect for all kinds of repairs and fixes. 

Not only does this brand offer multipurpose service, but the clear version is also aquarium safe making it one of my favorite options. In terms of adhesion strength, they’re imposing.

JB Weld aquarium silicone is a great choice for those who want an easy and efficient way to fill in hard-to-reach spots. The removal applicator head makes it beginner-friendly, without any tricky applications needed! 

Momentive RTV108 Silicone

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The strongest silicone adhesive you can buy? Yes, Momentive is hands down the go-to for construction projects. With its high durability level, it has been chosen by professional tank builders for a long time!

This silicone sealant is a one-part translucent RTV silicone sealant with a paste consistency for filling and sealing gaps or cracks up to 1/4 inch. This product adheres to many metals, glass, ceramic, silicone rubber, and some rigid plastics without the use of a primer.

It requires a caulk gun, and the consistency of silicone paste is thickest, so mistakes are tricky to rectify. Accurate application is necessary for complete success- not something you want for your first time!

Gorilla Clear Silicone Sealant

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The Gorilla Clear Silicone Sealant is the ideal solution to your everyday sealing needs. It is a 100% silicone sealant that dries translucent clear and provides a waterproof seal that won’t yellow, shrink or crack. 

This versatile product can be used on aquariums, doors, kitchens, baths, gutters, marine applications, and many other areas around the house! The Gorilla Clear Silicone Sealant is perfect for those who want an easy-to-use product with excellent results.

Gorilla 100% Silicone Sealant has been shown to be aquarium safe as well food-safe once fully cured. This material is a conventional silicone rubber sealant and not intended for adhesive use, but it will still keep your glass sealed uptight!

How To Choose The Best Aquarium Silicone

Aquarium silicone is clear once it’s dry. However, there are also other colors available for your aquatic needs! The thing to remember about these products is not all of them will work in an aquarium because some have ingredients that could harm fish.

I have noted some points below that need to be considered when buying silicone for your aquarium use.

Aquarium Safe

If you buy silicone for aquarium use, it should be labeled as – aquarium safe.

The silicone that isn’t meant for aquaria can contain other additives like fungicides which are toxic to fish! 

You have control over what gets into your fish’s environment- make sure nothing else does too instead of taking a chance on something, not knowing if it’ll harm them or not.

Curing Time

It’s important to note that silicone is a different type of material than glue. Therefore, it takes time to cure, which can range anywhere between hours and weeks depending on the product and quantity.

A chemical release occurs during this curing process which is harmful to aquatic life. But, when fully cured, they’re safe without having any negative impacts or interactions with aquarium inhabitants in general.

So, curing time is primarily product-specific and a vital consideration when buying a silicone sealant.

Tensile Strength

The tensile strength of a silicone refers to the maximum pressure it can handle without compromising.

Larger tanks will require stronger tensile, and some products only advise use on tanks under specific gallons or dimensions, but there’s no hard rule as each person has their own needs!

Some silicones work better for quick fix-ups; others formulated for glass panels in mind to seal large leaks permanently. So, know about the product’s adhesion capability if it will meet your need or not – before purchase.  

Ease of Application

Some aquarium silicone is best for new users to do small repairing jobs, while some require a little more finesse and skill. 

Some products come in cartridge-style tubes, and you’ll need caulking guns to apply. However, there are also squeeze-style ones available, which are easier to use and more beginner-friendly.

So, think about the ease of application before buying a product.

Colors

Commonly, aquarium sealants are available as clear or black. However, many people use it for decorative purposes, and therefore the options may include some other colors too! 

What’s the difference between transparent and black silicone sealants? Clear ones let you see through them to know if there are any defects or blemishes that might be present. Black is better for hiding imperfections like holes in your sealant!

The clear silicone may discolor over time and take yellow shades, which is almost unavoidable.

Odor 

All aquarium silicones have an unpleasant odor, but some products are really worse. Some manufacturers try to make it less noticeable with their artificial fragrance or masking agents like limonene.

Usually, it is assured that the odor of silicone doesn’t last after they are fully cured. But if you find it is too much irritating for you during the application, choose an open space to work and use a mask.

Size

Aquarium sealant comes in sizes as small as 1 ounce, up to 12 ounces+. Buy small-size tubes if you want to use them for minor work in a small aquarium.

Some of these products can be used multiple times – which means you save money on costly adhesive! But the thing for sure with this stuff is the expansion due to temperature changes, so make sure your indoor storage area is cold enough.

Benefits of Fish Tank Silicone

Safe: When suitable products are used correctly, silicone is non-toxic to marine life. Adequate curing time is essential to make it entirely safe before using.

Temperature resistant: Silicone remains very flexible between -100 F (-75 ° C )and 390F (200 ° C), and its properties remain stable throughout this whole array. So whether you own a coldwater marine fish tank or prefer a warmed exotic setup, silicone will certainly work similarly well.

Clear: Although silicone is typically white when it appears in the tube, it dries out clear. When incorporated with the all-natural water motion within an aquarium, this makes its look really refined. If you would like, there are even silicones with black and other colorants added.

Lasting: If an appropriate strength silicone is used correctly, silicone offers 10+ years of defense without any needed reapplication.

Beginner-friendly: Even if you only possess a tiny fish tank, it’s hard to deliver it out for repair work, and so a specific degree of DIY ability is essential for fishkeeping. The good news is that silicone application is relatively easy, and supplying the proper support is adhered to. So it’s an ideal solution for all levels of expertise.

Cost-efficient: If it’s a choice in between a $5-20 tube of silicone or forking out for an all-new fish tank, which would certainly you like? Silicone provides a really cost-efficient way to restore a dripping tank or bring an old aquarium back to its former splendor.

Superior bonding: Silicone uses completely water-resistant bonding that’s sufficient for regular and also total water submersion. Silicone is likewise shrink-resistant and sag-resistant and also preserves a solid bond at the original application site, even when submerged.

How To Use Aquarium Silicone Sealant

For a detailed guide, you can watch the below video or read my article – ‘12 Steps Guide: How To Reseal A Fish Tank Effectively.’

Final Words

In my opinion, ASI Clear Aquarium Silicone Sealant is the best aquarium silicone for building or repairing jobs. It’s easy to use and doesn’t have an offensive odor, so you can do it right at home without having any messy experience! 

Plus, this stuff works really well as a quick fix if your leaky aquarium has been messing up lately.

However, Aqueon Silicone Sealant is also my favorite, but this product does not go with acrylic tanks. If you have a glass aquarium minor repairing job, Aqueon Silicone is an excellent choice.

If you have further questions, you are always welcome to put a comment below!