O-ring Lubricant

[qquake2k]

There was some discussion recently about o-ring lubricant. One that was mentioned was Danco silicone grease from Home Depot. I just ran across this Super Lube silicone o-ring lubricant. It's 4 oz vs the 1/2 oz Danco, and is food grade.

 

[ystrout]

For use in your canister filter? I've never lubed up my canister filter O-rings. I probably should next time I clean it...

But I don't think it matters which grease you use. I used the Ace Hardware silicon greese on my scuba underwater flashlights forever. After buying a nice camera, housing, and strobe, the guy at the camera store insisted I use this special silicon grease sold Sea and Sea (scuba photography company). He was so adamant about there being a difference that he gave me a tube of it for free. I still think it's made by the same 3rd party company in China that makes the Ace hardware grease and packaged differently....

If you're worried about food safe vs non-food safe, again, I can't see there being any problems with either. I doubt the silicon that seals our aquariums is labeled "food grade"... But since it's all so cheap, it can't hurt to go with the food safe label.

And 1/2 oz vs 4 oz is pennies. The stuff lasts so long that you'll probably end up losing it before you run out.

 

[Jonmott]

Yup, I’ve used Vaseline for years and haven’t noticed anything unusual happen.

 

[JayH]

If you want to go all out, Dow Corning Molykote 111 is a food grade full silicone o-ring lubricant. It has the consistency of vaseline. A tiny bit goes a very long way. You can get a very small container on Amazon for under $10, though the 5 oz. tube is a much better deal per ounce and will last the average person several lifetimes.

Whether the food safe or 100% silicone aspects matter at all is debatable. I used Vaseline for years on my canister filters and never had an issue. Perhaps the petroleum speeds the decay of the o-rings, but from what I saw they'll still last decades.

If you have several filters with o-rings to be lubed, it probably makes sense to get a tube of the Molykote 111 and know for sure you won't be harming the o-ring or the livestock. If you've got one filter with one o-ring, I'd likely just grab the Vaseline out of the bathroom.

 

[Redshark1]

I used nothing but water on my fluval external canister o-ring and it was still water-tight after 20 years.

 

[Islandvic]

Yes the Super Lube will work fine.

I've posted before that I had used the Danco Weatherproof Grease. I needed it that day, so I went to Home Depot and picked it up.

When it runs out, I will probably buy the Super Lube O-Ring lubricant.