cork report

[Larry Blanchard]

A while back, I started looking at using cork on the back, and maybe the
sides, of my aquariums. I found mention of others doing so, but nobody
mentioned a particular brand or type of cork.

So I started looking. No luck with local stores, they either didn't
carry cork tiles or couldn't answer my two questions.

The questions were whether or not the binder was non-toxic and whether
or not it was waterproof.

So I started looking online. Again, a lot of vendors didn't know. Some
said their binder was non-toxic, but not waterproof. I finally found a
company that said theirs was non-toxic and although they didn't know if
it was waterproof or not they'd send me some samples. They did.

I fastened a tile to a square of .060" white styrene with aquarium
silicone and let that dry for a few days. Then I submerged it in a tub
of water and left it for over a month. Nothing came loose so I assume
the binder is waterproof.

The only problem was a minor warping because the cork expanded in the
water and the back was glued so it couldn't expand. When I do it for
real I'll presoak the cork and attach it to the styrene backing with
underwater epoxy while still wet.

I haven't actually ordered the cork yet, but I will sometime next month.
When I install it and everything works I'll post again.

If anyone wants to look at the stuff I'm going to use, it's the
unfinished floor tiles from:

http://www.gerbertltd.com/cork_tiles_classic/index.htm

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[NetMax]

"Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
...
>A while back, I started looking at using cork on the back, and maybe the
> sides, of my aquariums. I found mention of others doing so, but nobody
> mentioned a particular brand or type of cork.
>
> So I started looking. No luck with local stores, they either didn't
> carry cork tiles or couldn't answer my two questions.
>
> The questions were whether or not the binder was non-toxic and whether
> or not it was waterproof.
>
> So I started looking online. Again, a lot of vendors didn't know.
> Some
> said their binder was non-toxic, but not waterproof. I finally found a
> company that said theirs was non-toxic and although they didn't know if
> it was waterproof or not they'd send me some samples. They did.
>
> I fastened a tile to a square of .060" white styrene with aquarium
> silicone and let that dry for a few days. Then I submerged it in a tub
> of water and left it for over a month. Nothing came loose so I assume
> the binder is waterproof.
>
> The only problem was a minor warping because the cork expanded in the
> water and the back was glued so it couldn't expand. When I do it for
> real I'll presoak the cork and attach it to the styrene backing with
> underwater epoxy while still wet.
>
> I haven't actually ordered the cork yet, but I will sometime next
> month.
> When I install it and everything works I'll post again.
>
> If anyone wants to look at the stuff I'm going to use, it's the
> unfinished floor tiles from:
>
> http://www.gerbertltd.com/cork_tiles_classic/index.htm
>
> --
> It's turtles, all the way down

Interesting project. Please keep us up to date. I've heard of using
cork backgrounds and pinning ferns and moss to it.

What is an example of underwater fish-safe epoxy? I've never tried my
epoxy uncured underwater, and it can smell somewhat toxic until cured.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Daniel Morrow]

Bottom posted.
NetMax wrote:
> "Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
> ...
>> A while back, I started looking at using cork on the back, and maybe
>> the sides, of my aquariums. I found mention of others doing so, but
>> nobody mentioned a particular brand or type of cork.
>>
>> So I started looking. No luck with local stores, they either didn't
>> carry cork tiles or couldn't answer my two questions.
>>
>> The questions were whether or not the binder was non-toxic and
>> whether or not it was waterproof.
>>
>> So I started looking online. Again, a lot of vendors didn't know.
>> Some
>> said their binder was non-toxic, but not waterproof. I finally
>> found a company that said theirs was non-toxic and although they
>> didn't know if it was waterproof or not they'd send me some samples.
>> They did.
>>
>> I fastened a tile to a square of .060" white styrene with aquarium
>> silicone and let that dry for a few days. Then I submerged it in a
>> tub of water and left it for over a month. Nothing came loose so I
>> assume the binder is waterproof.
>>
>> The only problem was a minor warping because the cork expanded in the
>> water and the back was glued so it couldn't expand. When I do it for
>> real I'll presoak the cork and attach it to the styrene backing with
>> underwater epoxy while still wet.
>>
>> I haven't actually ordered the cork yet, but I will sometime next
>> month.
>> When I install it and everything works I'll post again.
>>
>> If anyone wants to look at the stuff I'm going to use, it's the
>> unfinished floor tiles from:
>>
>> http://www.gerbertltd.com/cork_tiles_classic/index.htm
>>
>> --
>> It's turtles, all the way down
>
> Interesting project. Please keep us up to date. I've heard of using
> cork backgrounds and pinning ferns and moss to it.
>
> What is an example of underwater fish-safe epoxy? I've never tried my
> epoxy uncured underwater, and it can smell somewhat toxic until cured.

Check out product code numbers tw0036 , tw0021 , and as0124 in a search on
www.thatpetplace.com s web site, those 3 products I just listed are what you
are asking about. Good luck and later!

[NetMax]

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> Bottom posted.
> NetMax wrote:
>> "Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> A while back, I started looking at using cork on the back, and maybe
>>> the sides, of my aquariums. I found mention of others doing so, but
>>> nobody mentioned a particular brand or type of cork.
>>>
>>> So I started looking. No luck with local stores, they either didn't
>>> carry cork tiles or couldn't answer my two questions.
>>>
>>> The questions were whether or not the binder was non-toxic and
>>> whether or not it was waterproof.
>>>
>>> So I started looking online. Again, a lot of vendors didn't know.
>>> Some
>>> said their binder was non-toxic, but not waterproof. I finally
>>> found a company that said theirs was non-toxic and although they
>>> didn't know if it was waterproof or not they'd send me some samples.
>>> They did.
>>>
>>> I fastened a tile to a square of .060" white styrene with aquarium
>>> silicone and let that dry for a few days. Then I submerged it in a
>>> tub of water and left it for over a month. Nothing came loose so I
>>> assume the binder is waterproof.
>>>
>>> The only problem was a minor warping because the cork expanded in the
>>> water and the back was glued so it couldn't expand. When I do it for
>>> real I'll presoak the cork and attach it to the styrene backing with
>>> underwater epoxy while still wet.
>>>
>>> I haven't actually ordered the cork yet, but I will sometime next
>>> month.
>>> When I install it and everything works I'll post again.
>>>
>>> If anyone wants to look at the stuff I'm going to use, it's the
>>> unfinished floor tiles from:
>>>
>>> http://www.gerbertltd.com/cork_tiles_classic/index.htm
>>>
>>> --
>>> It's turtles, all the way down
>>
>> Interesting project. Please keep us up to date. I've heard of using
>> cork backgrounds and pinning ferns and moss to it.
>>
>> What is an example of underwater fish-safe epoxy? I've never tried my
>> epoxy uncured underwater, and it can smell somewhat toxic until cured.
>
> Check out product code numbers tw0036 , tw0021 , and as0124 in a search
> on
> www.thatpetplace.com s web site, those 3 products I just listed are
> what you
> are asking about. Good luck and later!


Thanks Daniel, interesting products!
--
www.NetMax.tk