Epoxy Paint

[Squeek]

Hi all!
I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
fish?

Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy paint.
Let me know if it isnt ok!

Thankyou!

[Margolis]

paint the bottom of the bottom and then you don't have to worry.

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[Charles]

On Mon, 07 Mar 2005 10:18:35 GMT, "Squeek" >
wrote:

>Hi all!
>I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
>fish?
>
>Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy paint.
>Let me know if it isnt ok!
>
>Thankyou!
>


I talked to a salesperson at a local chandlery about using topside
epoxy paint for something like this, he said "no", that it would leach
and kill the stuff in the tank.

Food Grade epoxy got expensive. As Margolis said, paint the outside.
If you really want to do something inside the tank, I have thought of
a layer of aquarium cement with sand mixed in.

We were trying to build a plant container, a tank 6 ft long, 6 inches
deep and 4 inches high. I thought to build it from plywood and seal
it with paint or gel coat, it was cheaper just to make it from glass.


--
Charles

Does not play well with others.

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Squeek > wrote:
>Hi all!
>I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
>fish?
>
>Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy paint.
>Let me know if it isnt ok!
>
>Thankyou!
>
>

From everything I have read, yes, it is safe. Why do you want to paint
the inside though? Most (all?) people paint the underside.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[CanadianCray]

Are you talking about sealing a DIY plywood tank???

--
Craig Williams

"Squeek" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all!
> I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
> fish?
>
> Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
> paint.
> Let me know if it isnt ok!
>
> Thankyou!
>

[Squeek]

hi
basically....i can't lift a 6x2x2.5 glass tank on my own..(I am a chick and
do weights..but its really akward!)...nor do i have anyone to help me lift
it...i live around a bunch of pensioners....and my male friends are not that
strong....so yeah.
Trust me....if i could get to the bottom outside of the tank to paint it...i
would have!!!!...

I am too short to reach the bottom...even with a ladder...another option is
for me to actually get into the tank lol!!!
"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Squeek > wrote:
>>Hi all!
>>I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
>>fish?
>>
>>Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
>>paint.
>>Let me know if it isnt ok!
>>
>>Thankyou!
>>
>>
>
> From everything I have read, yes, it is safe. Why do you want to paint
> the inside though? Most (all?) people paint the underside.
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[NetMax]

"Squeek" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all!
> I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for
> freshwater fish?
>
> Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
> paint.
> Let me know if it isnt ok!
>
> Thankyou!


A lot of hobbyists would like to find an inert non-toxic non-flaking
paint to use inside an aquarium. AFAIK, no one has found it yet. When I
talked to a manufacturer, they said 'epoxy' speaks to durability and not
to the inert characteristic of epoxy. They thought an inert version
could exist but would be cost prohibitive (like real epoxy ;~). Epoxy
paint (even the stuff used for swimming pools) is not safe for aquarium
use (according to one manufacturer), especially invertebrates, as it can
leech (I don't know what and they didn't want to release more details).
Aquarium decoration manufacturers experiment with different baked
finishes which are supposed to be inert (which I think they are now), but
there is a lot of quality issues in adhesion and with flaking (but it's
getting a lot better). Until someone shows me an FDA food safe paint, or
advertises an aquarium safe paint, I would stick to either painting the
outside, or paint the inside and then topcoat with epoxy or fibreglass.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Squeek]

I was thinking also of siliconing that black pond plastic stuff to the
bottom....but then theres the "short person" issue!...If only i could grow
another 6 or so inches....but no! lol!!!
"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Squeek > wrote:
>>Hi all!
>>I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
>>fish?
>>
>>Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
>>paint.
>>Let me know if it isnt ok!
>>
>>Thankyou!
>>
>>
>
> From everything I have read, yes, it is safe. Why do you want to paint
> the inside though? Most (all?) people paint the underside.
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Squeek]

athankyou for everyone who went to all the trouble in finding out the
information! Its greatly appreciated.

I have decided to go with black aquarium-safe silicone...i mean at least i
can still paint it on with a long handled brush!

Does this sound ok?
"NetMax" > wrote in message
. ..
> "Squeek" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi all!
>> I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
>> fish?
>>
>> Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
>> paint.
>> Let me know if it isnt ok!
>>
>> Thankyou!
>
>
> A lot of hobbyists would like to find an inert non-toxic non-flaking paint
> to use inside an aquarium. AFAIK, no one has found it yet. When I talked
> to a manufacturer, they said 'epoxy' speaks to durability and not to the
> inert characteristic of epoxy. They thought an inert version could exist
> but would be cost prohibitive (like real epoxy ;~). Epoxy paint (even the
> stuff used for swimming pools) is not safe for aquarium use (according to
> one manufacturer), especially invertebrates, as it can leech (I don't know
> what and they didn't want to release more details). Aquarium decoration
> manufacturers experiment with different baked finishes which are supposed
> to be inert (which I think they are now), but there is a lot of quality
> issues in adhesion and with flaking (but it's getting a lot better).
> Until someone shows me an FDA food safe paint, or advertises an aquarium
> safe paint, I would stick to either painting the outside, or paint the
> inside and then topcoat with epoxy or fibreglass.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>

[Charles]

On Mon, 7 Mar 2005 23:01:54 -0500, "NetMax"
> wrote:

>"Squeek" > wrote in message
...
>> Hi all!
>> I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for
>> freshwater fish?
>>
>> Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
>> paint.
>> Let me know if it isnt ok!
>>
>> Thankyou!
>
>
>A lot of hobbyists would like to find an inert non-toxic non-flaking
>paint to use inside an aquarium. AFAIK, no one has found it yet. When I
>talked to a manufacturer, they said 'epoxy' speaks to durability and not
>to the inert characteristic of epoxy. They thought an inert version
>could exist but would be cost prohibitive (like real epoxy ;~). Epoxy
>paint (even the stuff used for swimming pools) is not safe for aquarium
>use (according to one manufacturer), especially invertebrates, as it can
>leech (I don't know what and they didn't want to release more details).
>Aquarium decoration manufacturers experiment with different baked
>finishes which are supposed to be inert (which I think they are now), but
>there is a lot of quality issues in adhesion and with flaking (but it's
>getting a lot better). Until someone shows me an FDA food safe paint, or
>advertises an aquarium safe paint, I would stick to either painting the
>outside, or paint the inside and then topcoat with epoxy or fibreglass.


some leads:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/ppc/reference/d4e.shtml

You mentioned Fiberglass. I presume you were indicating the resin
used to bind the glass. the gel coat that my guy at the marina
recommended was a polyester epoxy (I don't think words mean anything
anymore) that is intended for top coating boats. It can be colored by
mixing in pigments supplied with it.

The gel coat is different than the laminating resin in that it has an
added wax that leaves a smooth, non-tacky surface.

These people say they have built many tanks with swimming pool paint:

http://www.garf.org/index.html

(click on "how-to pages", then "aquarium construction", then "building
Plywood and Epoxy Grow out systems")

These things were expensive in California, I presume they will be more
so in Au.


--
Charles

Does not play well with others.

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Squeek > wrote:
>hi
>basically....i can't lift a 6x2x2.5 glass tank on my own..(I am a chick and
>do weights..but its really akward!)...nor do i have anyone to help me lift
>it...i live around a bunch of pensioners....and my male friends are not that
>strong....so yeah.
>Trust me....if i could get to the bottom outside of the tank to paint it...i
>would have!!!!...

Messy, but, I've done this once with a somewhat larger tank. Lever the
front up a bit, say 4 inches. Spray black paint under it. Have a vacuum
cleaner near the nozzle to catch overspran and hang lots of newspapers
nearby to form a little paint booth. Or, you could use a long handles
paint brush, ie a brush strapped to a long stick.

If you can get somebody to help you get the front of tank elevated
by half an inch or so you should be able to levr it up with a strong
bit of wood.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Squeek > wrote:
>I was thinking also of siliconing that black pond plastic stuff to the
>bottom

Why don't you just use black gravel?

I've seen a lot of plywood tanks, some set up for over a decade
and every single one of them was painted with "marine
epoxy" on the inside just like so many books say to do. I hadn't
heard this was harmful nor have I seen any evidence to the contrary.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Richard Sexton]

>getting a lot better). Until someone shows me an FDA food safe paint, or
>advertises an aquarium safe paint, I would stick to either painting the
>outside, or paint the inside and then topcoat with epoxy or fibreglass.

http://www.google.com/search?pg=q&fmt=.&q=fda+food+safe+epoxy&x=0&y=0



--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Squeek > wrote:
>athankyou for everyone who went to all the trouble in finding out the
>information! Its greatly appreciated.
>
>I have decided to go with black aquarium-safe silicone...i mean at least i
>can still paint it on with a long handled brush!
>
>Does this sound ok?

Nope. I tried that once, it looked bloody awfil and did not stay
black, it turned sort of an ugly dark gray. Very difficult to
clean too as it's far from a flat surface.

You really don't know aybody that can help you lift this enough
to paint it? Friend of a friend maybe?
--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Elaine T]

NetMax wrote:
> "Squeek" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Hi all!
>>I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for
>>freshwater fish?
>>
>>Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
>>paint.
>>Let me know if it isnt ok!
>>
>>Thankyou!
>
>
>
> A lot of hobbyists would like to find an inert non-toxic non-flaking
> paint to use inside an aquarium. AFAIK, no one has found it yet. When I
> talked to a manufacturer, they said 'epoxy' speaks to durability and not
> to the inert characteristic of epoxy. They thought an inert version
> could exist but would be cost prohibitive (like real epoxy ;~). Epoxy
> paint (even the stuff used for swimming pools) is not safe for aquarium
> use (according to one manufacturer), especially invertebrates, as it can
> leech (I don't know what and they didn't want to release more details).
> Aquarium decoration manufacturers experiment with different baked
> finishes which are supposed to be inert (which I think they are now), but
> there is a lot of quality issues in adhesion and with flaking (but it's
> getting a lot better). Until someone shows me an FDA food safe paint, or
> advertises an aquarium safe paint, I would stick to either painting the
> outside, or paint the inside and then topcoat with epoxy or fibreglass.


Have you seen Koi Kote? It's an epoxy sealant for ponds that comes in
grey, black, British Racing Green, and clear and is designed for
preparing ponds. http://www.koi-kote.com/ is the UK site. There are US
distributors. It is pricey, since the smallest amount you can buy is a
gallon.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Squeek]

I didn't want it grey initially.....i just want it dark...

Did it really look that bad?
"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Squeek > wrote:
>>athankyou for everyone who went to all the trouble in finding out the
>>information! Its greatly appreciated.
>>
>>I have decided to go with black aquarium-safe silicone...i mean at least i
>>can still paint it on with a long handled brush!
>>
>>Does this sound ok?
>
> Nope. I tried that once, it looked bloody awfil and did not stay
> black, it turned sort of an ugly dark gray. Very difficult to
> clean too as it's far from a flat surface.
>
> You really don't know aybody that can help you lift this enough
> to paint it? Friend of a friend maybe?
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Squeek]

Dont know anyone STRONG enough.....
othere are either drunk/greened out/work on night shift/pensioners.....
"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Squeek > wrote:
>>athankyou for everyone who went to all the trouble in finding out the
>>information! Its greatly appreciated.
>>
>>I have decided to go with black aquarium-safe silicone...i mean at least i
>>can still paint it on with a long handled brush!
>>
>>Does this sound ok?
>
> Nope. I tried that once, it looked bloody awfil and did not stay
> black, it turned sort of an ugly dark gray. Very difficult to
> clean too as it's far from a flat surface.
>
> You really don't know aybody that can help you lift this enough
> to paint it? Friend of a friend maybe?
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Squeek]

is it a good time to mentio that i am working a limited budget..(saving up
for a house)

I was thinking the black silicone smoothed flat...i do have a large sinking
ship in the tank that casts shadows in the tank...

i just didnt want gravel or any substrate in the tank....i thought about
painting the bottom...but its not happening...(can't find anyone strong
enough or sober enough to help!!!!)
So...the black silicone is honstly my only choice, budget wise and time
wise...an living in a country town hous away from big cities, its hard to
find anything...and if they do order it in...its twice the normal cost!!!!

you get that!!! hhehe!
"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. com...
> NetMax wrote:
>> "Squeek" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>Hi all!
>>>I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
>>>fish?
>>>
>>>Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
>>>paint.
>>>Let me know if it isnt ok!
>>>
>>>Thankyou!
>>
>>
>>
>> A lot of hobbyists would like to find an inert non-toxic non-flaking
>> paint to use inside an aquarium. AFAIK, no one has found it yet. When I
>> talked to a manufacturer, they said 'epoxy' speaks to durability and not
>> to the inert characteristic of epoxy. They thought an inert version
>> could exist but would be cost prohibitive (like real epoxy ;~). Epoxy
>> paint (even the stuff used for swimming pools) is not safe for aquarium
>> use (according to one manufacturer), especially invertebrates, as it can
>> leech (I don't know what and they didn't want to release more details).
>> Aquarium decoration manufacturers experiment with different baked
>> finishes which are supposed to be inert (which I think they are now), but
>> there is a lot of quality issues in adhesion and with flaking (but it's
>> getting a lot better). Until someone shows me an FDA food safe paint, or
>> advertises an aquarium safe paint, I would stick to either painting the
>> outside, or paint the inside and then topcoat with epoxy or fibreglass.
>
>
> Have you seen Koi Kote? It's an epoxy sealant for ponds that comes in
> grey, black, British Racing Green, and clear and is designed for preparing
> ponds. http://www.koi-kote.com/ is the UK site. There are US
> distributors. It is pricey, since the smallest amount you can buy is a
> gallon.
>
> --
> __ Elaine T __
> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Squeek > wrote:
>I didn't want it grey initially.....i just want it dark...
>
>Did it really look that bad?

Yeah, I'm afraid so. I thought it was really awful.

What's in the phone book under "handyman" ?

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Squeek > wrote:
>I didn't want it grey initially.....i just want it dark...
>
>Did it really look that bad?


Yeah, I'm afraid so. I thought it was really awful.

What's in the phone book under "handyman" ?


--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Squeek]

Yeah...i checked them out....
Problem is that it doesn not adhere to glass
"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. com...
> NetMax wrote:
>> "Squeek" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>Hi all!
>>>I was wondering if all epoxy paints are safe after curing for freshwater
>>>fish?
>>>
>>>Im thinking about painting the bottom of my tank dark grey with epoxy
>>>paint.
>>>Let me know if it isnt ok!
>>>
>>>Thankyou!
>>
>>
>>
>> A lot of hobbyists would like to find an inert non-toxic non-flaking
>> paint to use inside an aquarium. AFAIK, no one has found it yet. When I
>> talked to a manufacturer, they said 'epoxy' speaks to durability and not
>> to the inert characteristic of epoxy. They thought an inert version
>> could exist but would be cost prohibitive (like real epoxy ;~). Epoxy
>> paint (even the stuff used for swimming pools) is not safe for aquarium
>> use (according to one manufacturer), especially invertebrates, as it can
>> leech (I don't know what and they didn't want to release more details).
>> Aquarium decoration manufacturers experiment with different baked
>> finishes which are supposed to be inert (which I think they are now), but
>> there is a lot of quality issues in adhesion and with flaking (but it's
>> getting a lot better). Until someone shows me an FDA food safe paint, or
>> advertises an aquarium safe paint, I would stick to either painting the
>> outside, or paint the inside and then topcoat with epoxy or fibreglass.
>
>
> Have you seen Koi Kote? It's an epoxy sealant for ponds that comes in
> grey, black, British Racing Green, and clear and is designed for preparing
> ponds. http://www.koi-kote.com/ is the UK site. There are US
> distributors. It is pricey, since the smallest amount you can buy is a
> gallon.
>
> --
> __ Elaine T __
> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Squeek]

Nothing much really.....
got to love these small region town phone books.....you can read it front to
back in about half an hour!
"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Squeek > wrote:
>>I didn't want it grey initially.....i just want it dark...
>>
>>Did it really look that bad?
>
>
> Yeah, I'm afraid so. I thought it was really awful.
>
> What's in the phone book under "handyman" ?
>
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org

[Bob]

Could try painting one side (obviously the underside) of a sheet of glass
whatever colour you want then Siliconing (is that a word) it onto the inside
bottom of the tank, then sealing around the new base and the sides to
prevent water intrusion
"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Squeek > wrote:
> >I was thinking also of siliconing that black pond plastic stuff to the
> >bottom
>
> Why don't you just use black gravel?
>
> I've seen a lot of plywood tanks, some set up for over a decade
> and every single one of them was painted with "marine
> epoxy" on the inside just like so many books say to do. I hadn't
> heard this was harmful nor have I seen any evidence to the contrary.
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org