Aquarium silicone sealent smell

[Tazrok]

I pents over a week building a new viv for my girl to go in but no matter what I do I can't get rid on the vinegar smell,
I put foam on 4 sides, shaped it then covered it in aquarium silicone sealent then put eco earth on top of that and have also used the sealent to sick some moss around and to make some vines.
From what I have found out, the smell is coming from the sealent not curing, iv tried heat, air circulation but don't seem to help. Iv been trying for 2 weeks now, is there anything I'm missing?

[SquirmyPug]

It sounds like you used a lot of the sealant. It may have a little smell for a long time, all I know to do is keep air moving over it and possibly keep it warm. As long as the smell isn't too strong it shouldn't hurt your girl. Just make sure it has all cured enough that it's not sticky or wet.

[Tazrok]

I keep the glass doors of it and every few days I put them back on to check the smell and last time it was quiet strong.
All the sealent is very dry even the vines and on one of them it was about 20mm thick

[SquirmyPug]

20mm thick? You mean 20mm of the sealant? When you have stuff like that and it's thick it takes a lot longer to cure. Even though it's not sticky and feels dry, down inside of it can still be wet or just leaching acetic acid which is what you smell.

If you need to build up something that size it's best to have something inside as a "core" that way you only use a little silicone on the outside.

[Bogertophis]

20mm thick? You mean 20mm of the sealant? When you have stuff like that and it's thick it takes a lot longer to cure. Even though it's not sticky and feels dry, down inside of it can still be wet or just leaching acetic acid which is what you smell.

If you need to build up something that size it's best to have something inside as a "core" that way you only use a little silicone on the outside.

Bingo! Silicone sealant shouldn't be put on so thick, it takes "forever" to cure because the inside cannot dry easily. Needs plenty of warm circulating air, but no way I
can tell you for how long...only that you cannot put any snakes in until there's no more "vinegar" smell...it's very harsh & irritating to their lung. Good luck!

[gunkle]

I third this. If it's thick it could take months to cure properly. Turn up the heat and get air flowing good over it. It remove the thick parts and or back in after they are cured. That sealant is only supposed to be millimeters thick.

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[Bogertophis]

Actually, if the OP is in a hurry (as it sounds?) it might be better to take it all out & start over...