shoould i have used grout?

[allaboutfish]

so ive had my enclosure for about a year and i was wondering if i was supposed to use grout in the cracks between tiles? if so how would i do that now?

 

[RockHound]

Grout is fine, but it is porous and will hold bacteria so you need to seal the grout.

As an alternative, I used caulk between the tiles of my tank. It's already non-porous. I used slate tiles and a stone sealer on them so they won't hold any liquid either. Makes cleaning a breeze. Digging up grouted tiles when you want to replace them is no fun, which is another reason why I used caulk. I just slit it and pull out the tiles.

I'm one of those that likes everything to be easy to re-do, for when I get in the mood for a new project.

 

[allaboutfish]

how long does that take to dry and everything? i have nothing between them now and i cant remove them.

 

[allaboutfish]

how long does that take to dry and everything? i have nothing between them now and i cant remove them.

 

[RockHound]

Caulk sets in about fifteen minutes, and is completely dry in about 24 hours. I let mine sit for two days to be safe with fumes and everything.

It is kinda messy to apply, since the gun can be tricky to use. We used a couple wet rags to alternate cleaning it up. Caulk can be wiped up with a wet rag so that's an advantage.

 

[allaboutfish]

but what would i do with my dragon in that time?

 

[JamesAndApril]

Is there a particular type of silicone that needs to be used? Does it have to be one that is aquarium safe(does not have mold and mildew preventatives in it)?

 

[RockHound]

I believe silicone is what emits the fumes. I try to go for low-silicone, water-based options.

I used caulk to "grout" my tiles. Water based and made of acrylics and compounds similar to rubber adhesives. Should not have any volatile properties. Same stuff we use around the house when remodeling.

By aquarium safe I'm guessing you're talking about the clear plastic type sealants? I actually use that to glue in my plexiglass fronts and seal up cracks between pieces of melamine, etc, and waterproof around the display front. It's great stuff. You can grout with it as well, and it comes in clear which is great. Just might be more pricey.