Safe Resins, paint etc for aquariums?

Hi Folks,

While I'm waiting for my tank to cycle I thought I'd build my own structures (incl. a background wall).

Can anyone tell me which building materials (epoxy, firberglass etc) and paints I can use without harming my future tennants?

Many thanks,
J

you need the Aqua sealent for everything Jack
Dont forget the more things you put in the less swimming space the fish has.

you can paint the back of the tank
OUTSIDE

Hi Chez,

What kind of Aqua sealant (or is that the actual name/brand?) is safe?

Does this mean I can use ANY form of paint/resin underwater as long as it's been coated with Aqua sealant?

I want to make some hiding places for the shy fishies and a rockface for the back wall.

Cheers,
J

lol no Jack
if you are say making up a cave out of bogwood/slate/rocks
you fix them together with Aqua sealent.
this stuff.

Cool, cheers mate! That should do me for some bits.

But what does the trade use to paint the likes of polystyrene back walls?

J

ok I Once bought some tiles that you fixed on the inside of the tank
got them from the L.F.S
but I Got black and it was too dark in the tank.
you can always get one of the stick on the outside pics.
from L.F.S.you buy by the foot.this was stone effect.

I'm wanting to give the back wall a texture to make it a bit more realistic.
I recon I could do the wall with ploystyrene sheet and add features(shape) with a soldering iron. The problem is that it'll end up plain white unless I can get hold of some safe paint.

J

Malc Did this with larva rock type stuff from l.f.s in the Marine tank
painstakenly stuck on one by one,took hours to do
it was on a plastic sheet,
looked fab to start with.
but all the Algea collected on it.
it looked a right mess after a couple of weeks.
so it got taken out.and binned.
make sure everything you use is safe for fish.

Absolutely, that's why I'm checking with you guys first!

I recon there's a sealant out there that I (and Malc) can use to allow a surface like that to be cleaned.

Cheers,
J

hi jack

i have some preformed structure in two of my tanks, it is made by juwel aquariums and you just stick it on with aquarium sealant, hope you get it sorted mate.

and don't forget pics when you do plz.

Thanks Dekker, I'm going down the "I'm sure I could do better" route
It's something to do while I wait for my fishless-cycle to run it's course...though gravel watching IS very exciting!

J

One thing you have to think of with any permanent feature Jack is that it will inevitably get covered wiith algae.

Algae appears in all tanks at some time and often the only way to get rid of it is to take things out and scrub them. With fixed items, things that are stick to the wall etc obviously that wont be possible.

If you want hiding places, then you can make loads with logs etc, have a look in this thread and you might get some ideas.

https://tropicalfishfanatics.forumotion.com/your-tanks-f4/rich-s-tanks-t74.htm

Nice tanks!

My idea is to use either suction cups or silicone to attach clips(of one sort or another) to the glass so I can attach/remove the back 'landscape' for cleaning whenever I need to.

Oh... I could silicone on some velcro! Perfect!

Cheers,
J

Be careful about using suction caps - small fish could get trapped behind unless you make sure there is enough space for them to swim through the gap ok.

Velcro might be a good idea, never heard of it being used to be honest but it's would be worth a try I guess

Once I try things out & decide, I'll post info & pics.
Cheers,
J

looking forward to seeing the pics jack.