Best Rubber Coating

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earthstudent

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2010
390
1
31
Iowa
I have mentioned the product called Wetsuit in a few other threads. I am going to start a new thread with all the updated information I have. I just want to add that I am only putting this info out there because I think this stuff will be the next big thing in plywood tanks and I would like to see more people building monster tanks:headbang2, I do not work for this company and in no way benefit form any of there sales.

http://www.neptunecoatingscorp.com/ is the only distributor world wide.

Wetsuit is a liquid applied neoprene rubber. It is similar in many ways to the other liquid rubber products out there as far as how you use it and apply it but it is far superior to the other in many ways. I have worked with several other liquid rubbers out there and this one is the all around best when it comes to waterproofing, durability and flexibility hands down.

It adheres to just about everything. It adheres very well to plywood (I have personally tested this). It has no compatibility problems with silicone. I have done tests with silicone in submerged conditions (over months) with no problems.

Like other liquid rubber products it comes only in black.:irked: BUT here is the great part. They have a coating (specifically designed for Wetsuit) you can put on it that comes in white or blue. The coating actually can come in basically any color on the Sherwin Williams color pallet but there is a minimum order of 100 gallons. White and Blue are stocked. I do work with this company and talk with the owner on a regular basis and I have got him to stock blue just for the aquarium application. So you can thank me for the availability of the blue coating;)

I don't think the Wetsuit has ever been used to build a plywood tank as of now (it has been used for Koi ponds) but it will work just like the other liquid rubber coatings but better and you have color options with Wetsuit unlike the other liquid rubbers. All the elements that are involved using this product in a plywood tank application have been proven to work great. It is just new to the plywood tank seen. I think it is the *****, I have no doubts it will work great in a plywood tank application and am going to use it in my tank next year. I wish I could do my build now and be the first to prove its use in this application but I am moving in the spring and am not going to be building a 2000g tank just so I can tear it down and start all over:D

Here are some relevant key point per the manufacturer
* Non-Toxic, It is fish safe, No VOC's, It is a Green product (it has been used to build Koi ponds with great success)
* Very low fumes (similar to other liquid rubbers)
* Silicone compatible, Silicone bonds to it very well, as well as many other sealants and adhesives.
* Can be coated with a color coating for color options.
* 1600% elongation, It is very flexible and durable
* Excellent Adhesion to many surfaces (very good adhesion to wood)
* UV stable
* Not tacky after cured

If you do want to use Wetsuit in your build here is what you want and pricing.

*Wetsuit 1-Part (Coverage- 18sq ft/gallon @ 60 mils) This is the paint-able form.
$25 - gallon
$120 - 5 gallon pail.
$1290 - 55 gallon drum

*Invisilink (Polyester Reinforcement Fabric)
4"x300' role - $20
6"x300' role - $26
40"x324" role - $105

If you want Color
*Thermo White Glass (Coating Coverage 50sq ft/gallon)
This is the coating that CAN comes in any color but is stocked in White and Blue. The Blue color is not determined yet, It will be what ever I chose. I was thinking of having a vote to see what blue most people will want? I am thinking a light ocean blue:naughty:. This stuff is not on there website yet, so you will have to ask for it when you order. This COATS the Wetsuit, not replaces it. You still need the Wetsuit 1-part to waterproof the tank.
$48 - gallon

Example
A 4'x8'x2' plywood tank (roughly 480gallon) is 80sq ft. (actually less if you have a viewing window) So you would need...
* Wetsuit 1-part 5 gallon pail $120
* Invisilink reinforcement fabric, 6"x300' role would do the entire tank $26

So $146 plus shipping for a 480g tank (I would recommend an extra gallon or 2 if you were actually planning on fabric reinforcing the entire tank;)

If you wanted White or Blue then you would also need...
Thermo White Glass (2 gallons to cover the tank) $48 each = $96

So $242 plus shipping for a 480g white or blue coated liquid rubber tank.


I can try to answer any questions you may have.
 
Once I get moved and get in a position to do a tank build, I think this is the product I want to try, unless others try it before then and find it doesn't work very well. Sounds promising! And I wouldn't bother with color coating it, I like black. That lets you have a black background (and sides) and any color substrate you want. Really makes the fish pop imo.
 
Conner;4516999; said:
Once I get moved and get in a position to do a tank build, I think this is the product I want to try, unless others try it before then and find it doesn't work very well. Sounds promising! And I wouldn't bother with color coating it, I like black. That lets you have a black background (and sides) and any color substrate you want. Really makes the fish pop imo.
Click to expand...

I agree with the black. I plan on doing a fake rock wall covering most of the walls anyway so I will be going with the black.

For anyone wanting blue, take a look at Sherwin Williams color...
Dynamic Blue SW6958
Please give me your thoughts.
 
I vote for ocean blue.

I see that the invisilink fabric has some stretch. Will this make it rigid or will this flex somewhat after it's cured? If it flexes then I would think one should put a coat of epoxy with fiberglass first then the wetsuit over it.

I'm in the process of building my 670g so I'm actually shopping for a waterproof coating system.
 
sashimimaster;4517459; said:
I vote for ocean blue.

I see that the invisilink fabric has some stretch. Will this make it rigid or will this flex somewhat after it's cured? If it flexes then I would think one should put a coat of epoxy with fiberglass first then the wetsuit over it.

I'm in the process of building my 670g so I'm actually shopping for a waterproof coating system.
Click to expand...

The fabric does not really stretch much at all. What they mean on the website is it will allow enough stretch for expansion and contraction of roofing joints which is very small amounts of movement due to extreme temperature change. Many other products do not allow for this expansion and contraction and will wear down over time and years of weather cycles.

The fabric is basically used the same way you would use fiberglass cloth for doing a fiberglass or epoxy application. It reinforces the area by being saturated and imbeded in the rubber like using re bar in concrete. And in the case of Wetsuit it greatly increases its resistance to punctures. You would paint on a thin coat of Wetsuit and then put down the fabric so it smushes into the Wetsuit and then put another coat over that. You would not need any other thing to waterproof you tank other than the Wetsuit 1-part and the fabric.
 
sashimimaster;4517556; said:
If they stock blue for aquarium applications there must be some people that have used it so far. How can we go about getting some feedback on how well it's held up?
Click to expand...

They are stocking the Blue (not stocked yet as the color is not decided) because I have talked them into it.
 
earthstudent;4517605; said:
The fabric does not really stretch much at all. What they mean on the website is it will allow enough stretch for expansion and contraction of roofing joints which is very small amounts of movement due to extreme temperature change. Many other products do not allow for this expansion and contraction and will wear down over time and years of weather cycles.

The fabric is basically used the same way you would use fiberglass cloth for doing a fiberglass or epoxy application. It reinforces the area by being saturated and imbeded in the rubber like using re bar in concrete. And in the case of Wetsuit it greatly increases its resistance to punctures. You would paint on a thin coat of Wetsuit and then put down the fabric so it smushes into the Wetsuit and then put another coat over that. You would not need any other thing to waterproof you tank other than the Wetsuit 1-part and the fabric.
Click to expand...

My concern is that if there is some stretch will it allow the tank sides to bow. It probably won't leak but if the walls are not reinforced and only made with plywood, wetsuit & invisilink will it show a slight bow?

We need some guinea pigs to try out this system on a tank.:grinno:
 
Agreed. This product sounds great but, so far, remains untested for plywood aquarium applications. Someone doing a build needs to buy some and run some tests (and post the results :) ). I'm especially curious about the supposed silicone compatibility since that's an issue with all the other rubber products.

Do you know if this turns brown after continued submergence (like Pond Coat/Zavlar) or does it stay black permanently?
 
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