523 gallon plywood build (pic heavy)

[stempy]

Thx for the info guys, I have sanded between the last 2 coats due to my schedule it's going about 22 hours before I get to do another coat. The 4th coat I put down was after about 8 hours though when it was still very tacky and I'm still gettign them, I almost believe it is the roller adding them or a combination of the roller and putting it on to thick. That video showed them pressing down for a very thin coat, I may try that on the next coat since it will be basically the last finishing coat. If not all I can do is hope that they wont cause any leaks :/ The seams at least look VERY good since I laid them with a brush and have gone on very thick and maybe because of how thick it was there are no bubbles in any of the seams.

 

[stempy]

Well, got the 6th coat on and it went much batter, did a really good sanding over last coat and put it on with a lot of pressure for a very thin coat. Then had my daughter go over everything with a hair dryer, worked like a charm. Still some bubbles left but very few. 1 coat to go then time for the window!

 

[Rivermud]

good luck.. if you have issues, look into using xylene after a short cure time, it helps to burst the bubbles and allows it to cure the rest of the way. Hopefully you won't have to go down this road.

On another topic... what do you plan to do for finish work? Drywall and paint? Do you have a plan for excess moisture in the house with that much water at those temps?

 

[KLee79]

Im just now seeing this thread. I wish I saw it a while ago, I coulda helped you out with some pointers. What type of roller are you using? And did you use max acr for epoxy?

 

[stempy]

good luck.. if you have issues, look into using xylene after a short cure time, it helps to burst the bubbles and allows it to cure the rest of the way. Hopefully you won't have to go down this road.

On another topic... what do you plan to do for finish work? Drywall and paint? Do you have a plan for excess moisture in the house with that much water at those temps?

Finish work on the tank side? I don't have any plans atm as I'm not 100%v sure what I'm going to do with the space over there. As for evaporation I am putting a plexiglass top on the tank to help control it, it shouldn't be any worse than my 180 gallon open top reef tank I had sitting there before this tank. If it is worse there is a window on that side I can open and possibly use an exhaust fan or something for humidity control. I originally planned on puttin a bathroom exhaust fan above the tank but I have been told by a couple people with large tanks that I really shouldn't be that concerned with a tank this "small".

 

[stempy]

Im just now seeing this thread. I wish I saw it a while ago, I coulda helped you out with some pointers. What type of roller are you using? And did you use max acr for epoxy?

I used Max Acr. I originally used a regular 1/4 nap paint roller which is where I went wrong. Had I bought the epoxy specific rollers I think I would not of had the issues I had, lesson learned. The paint roller allowed peaks and valleys basically allowing bubbles to form in the valleys when I laid the next coat. This last coat after I did a really good sanding went on much better with the epoxy roller, hopefully all will be fine

 

[KLee79]

Yea I was gonna tell you to put your first 2 coats on heavy with a quality brush and the rest of the coats with a chemical resistant foam roller. They make finish rollers as well..but looks like you handled it..nice build by the way. I'd like to come see it one day. Im on the eastside in Blacklick. Love that window too. Might have to steal that idea for my basement lol. Is that a picture?

 

[stempy]

Yea I was gonna tell you to put your first 2 coats on heavy with a quality brush and the rest of the coats with a chemical resistant foam roller. They make finish rollers as well..but looks like you handled it..nice build by the way. I'd like to come see it one day. Im on the eastside in Blacklick. Love that window too. Might have to steal that idea for my basement lol. Is that a picture?

Thank you, the picture is a wall poster from allposters.com, just do a search for beach window on the site. Once it's finished you're more than welcom to come see it, just sen dme a PM when you're ready I'm hoping to put the window in on thursday then give that a week to cure....so maybe by next friday start test filling it! On a side note heading to Lowes to pick up some great stuff foam to try and make a tree trunk to go over the overflow box that is in the back center of the tank, this should be quite interesting as I have done rock DIY 3d backgrounds but trying a tree is a whole different ballgame!

 

[stempy]

Unfortunately my help to put the window in couldn't make it today so that has to wait till tomorrow. But the day wasn't a total waste as I took a trip to the local river to look for some driftwood and at least found a couple decent peices. Found a very large peice that I will be going back for as well!

 

[stempy]

Today got the acrylic on, was a real PITA. I made the epoxy too thick in the corners so the size I had cut for the acrylic sheet no longer fit, was lots of fun trying to get the sheet in and taking it back out...twice. But got it re-cut and in with 8 tubes of Dow 795. Now for the waiting game, I saw VLDesign let his cure for 21 days, is this something I should be doing as well, or is that overkill? I'd rather play it safe and if 21 days is needed then that's what I'll do. In the mean time I can start glueing the plumbing together.