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cvermeulen

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 4, 2007
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Los Osos, CA
I've gotten a couple of buckets of Zavlar to re-seal my 200gl and started with some test patches. I have questions for anyone who's used it for sealing.

1) How is it holding up? any issues or lessons learned?

2) I applied some zavlar in varying thicknesses on saturday Nov 20, and 4 days later, even the thinnest coat on bare plywood is somewhat tacky. Was your experience similar? How can you tell when it's 100% cured?

3) The surface still smells a bit as well, although this could be from the thicker spots I applied. Does the asphalt smell disappear eventually?
 
cvermeulen;4652940; said:
I've gotten a couple of buckets of Zavlar to re-seal my 200gl and started with some test patches. I have questions for anyone who's used it for sealing.

1) How is it holding up? any issues or lessons learned?


2) I applied some zavlar in varying thicknesses on saturday Nov 20, and 4 days later, even the thinnest coat on bare plywood is somewhat tacky. Was your experience similar? How can you tell when it's 100% cured?

3) The surface still smells a bit as well, although this could be from the thicker spots I applied. Does the asphalt smell disappear eventually?
Click to expand...

1. My tank is holding up just fine. I guess it has been up and running about 7/8months but I have not had any leaks once I got the tank to seal. Lessons learned......LR does not stick to glass or silicone, silicone does not stick to LR. Getting LR on carpet will upset the wife but can be removed with acetone.

2. LR will remain tacky until it is either exposed to sunlight to dry it or you get it wet. After a test fill, the tacky goes away.

3. No smell issues at all!
 
cvermeulen;4652940; said:
I've gotten a couple of buckets of Zavlar to re-seal my 200gl and started with some test patches. I have questions for anyone who's used it for sealing.

1) How is it holding up? any issues or lessons learned?

2) I applied some zavlar in varying thicknesses on saturday Nov 20, and 4 days later, even the thinnest coat on bare plywood is somewhat tacky. Was your experience similar? How can you tell when it's 100% cured?

3) The surface still smells a bit as well, although this could be from the thicker spots I applied. Does the asphalt smell disappear eventually?
Click to expand...

1. my tank hasn't been running all that long but so far so good

2. ya it stays tacky letting it get some sun helps cure it allot i also read that exposing it to uv will help cure but have not asked the company that one.
i found having a fan blow on it helped it cure as well. i'm not sure where your applying it but you do have to keep the temp up as well to help it set

3. smell went away for me

Lessons learned
really ruff up the epoxy every where the spots i didn't i could separate easily.
i had issues with small air bubble in my coats that i kept popping, one of my test fills it bubble little bubbles on the corner seams. i tried a roller thats what i did most of my coats with but i think a brush would leave less bubble but i don't know i just did it.
the leaks i had i called the company and they said just wash it a bit and apply more product and it worked out
It did not harden or at least as much as i wanted like if i left a work lamp in the tank it would leave a imprint. that scared me a bit with setting up rock piles so i got 1/8" sheets of acrylic for the bottom to help stop anything from poking threw, don't know if necessary but i did it.
people say it raises the ph but i have not noticed but my tap water is also alkaline 7.6 .
took allot from BadOleRoss build
 
Thanks guys!

Either of you use fabric reinforcement with the zavlar? I'm really tempted to do so, particularly on the bottom, just to beef it up a bit.
 
cvermeulen said:
Thanks guys!

Either of you use fabric reinforcement with the zavlar? I'm really tempted to do so, particularly on the bottom, just to beef it up a bit.
Click to expand...

That's a great question! I'm curious as well. Have any of you used fabric reinforcement with Liquid Rubber?
 
I used Eternabond tape on inside corners of tank, its sticky on one side and cloth on other, then painted over with LR, easy to install and the LR soaked into and worked well on the cloth surface. It also gives a reference point for getting a thickness of LR on tank surface, just kept painting the LR on till it all blended together, as well as providing another layer of leak protection at corner joints
http://www.eternabond.com/WebSeal-p/cr-wb.htm

In hindsight I also would have use a fiberglass cloth on tank bottom to thicken it up and add extra protection for thumping things around on bottom. I'd put a few coats LR on tank bottom, cut an drop the Fiberglass cloth on a layer of LR it would stick an soak in, then more LR painted ontop of that, it would definitely make a better bottom that could take a little beating up. http://www.homedepot.ca/product/bondo-fiberglass-cloth/935046

Externally on tank I put metal cladding that's used around the 2x6 or 2x8 framing on a garage door after cutting it to have a 2x7 piece. Then LR it to exterior corners, which covered all screw heads, gives perfect sharp square corners, and the 2x7 bonded on two sides gives a super strong corner. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?471151-3yrs-and-finally-300G-full
 
i am very interested in this product as well
i am new here,
It seems to me that if you go overkill on applying multiple coats, how could it leak?

im wanting to build a aquarium like blacktips 1700 gallon shark tank, but only 4 feet tall instead of his height

im all for the liquid rubber but , iffy on how the window will seal

In about a year, i would be able to build this guys exact aquarium
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-2600-gallon-plywood-tank-project-(1-Viewing)

however, can it be done in liquid rubber ? he used [pond armer
 
marinerules said:
i am very interested in this product as well
i am new here,
It seems to me that if you go overkill on applying multiple coats, how could it leak?

im wanting to build a aquarium like blacktips 1700 gallon shark tank, but only 4 feet tall instead of his height

im all for the liquid rubber but , iffy on how the window will seal

In about a year, i would be able to build this guys exact aquarium
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-2600-gallon-plywood-tank-project-(1-Viewing)

however, can it be done in liquid rubber ? he used [pond armer
Click to expand...

Welcome... first tip for this forum: check the date on the last post before you reply (This thread has been dead for like 18 months)

I don't know that I'd trust a liquid rubber product on a tank that large, but I'm not an expert by any means. I would definitely suggest some kind of fiber reinforcing material in the seams AND on all surfaces if possible. Personally I'd use polyester resin with glass reinforcement for cost effectiveness and strength. If you buy into the dogma that polyester is bad, you could always topcoat with LR.
 
I've gotten a couple of buckets of Zavlar to re-seal my 200gl and started with some test patches. I have questions for anyone who's used it for sealing.

1) How is it holding up? any issues or lessons learned?

2) I applied some zavlar in varying thicknesses on saturday Nov 20, and 4 days later, even the thinnest coat on bare plywood is somewhat tacky. Was your experience similar? How can you tell when it's 100% cured?

3) The surface still smells a bit as well, although this could be from the thicker spots I applied. Does the asphalt smell disappear eventually?
---------------------------

Yes an old thread but interesting...

I have 2 tanks and a filter sealed with LR that have been running for about 2.5 years...

Drying was a problem... that is light cured.

The first fish introduced struggled but since then have been fine.

pretty much all of the above I concur with.

My big Pleco is currently eating his way through the rubber and i am expecting a tank failure sooner rather than later...

The other tank looks impervious...
 
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