Hello, I am new! Bubbles in Sweetwater Epoxy.

[diy]

Okay, so this is my first plywood tank. I used cabinet grade oak and dark blue Sweetwater epoxy. It's a 180, 24x24x72. ( $100 for paint and $90 for ply....doesn't have too be big to save money this way!) It's my first so didn't go too nuts with it. I used the entire gallon of Sweetwater, with a thin brushed first coat, and waited according to the instructions, then did the second. I kind of poured the second coat, probably thicker than it needed to me, and spread it aroung with a brush. My issue is bubbles appeared in the second coat. All are about a 1/16" and only in the bottom where it was poured the thickest. I really do not want to order more epoxy just to fill the 20 or so holes that are there. My thought is silicone does adhere to this epoxy. So I should be able to break the (very hard) surface of the tiny bubbles and fill, over fill, with silicone. I am not using sand in this tank. I will be tied with a 65 gallon reef next to it that will be split in two and have an alge refugium with deep sand bed. I have large pieces of live rock, and have it mapped out where they are to go in the 180. So I was planning on applying a thinish layer of silicone where I am setting the rock anyway. Does anyone else have experience with bubbles in there epoxy finish coat? By the time I noticed they were there, it had hardened too much to do anything and figured the fix might be best after it cured.

Thanks for any input!

 

[john73738]

I used sweetwater epoxy on my 240, I rolled it on and had no problems. I applied 5-6 coats of epoxy, and have concern that if you applied thicker coat on the bottom that the sides may not have proper coating on them. Best advice would to be get the second gallon and roll on 3-4 more coats. May in the long run be cheaper than not and replacing the entire tank in a year due to leaks. (not to mention the mess of the leaks.)

I am not sure if the bubbles are going to be that big of a problem. I would not break the bubbles and just do as you said and put down silicone where the rocks are going to rest to keep them from breaking the bubbles. It is just the possible thin coating on the sides that concerns me.

Hope I have been a help, I love the sweetwater epoxy, and I hope the outcome if favorable.

BTW post a couple pics, may help in giving advice.

Bear

 

[captainahab]

I agree with just leaving the bubbles alone. For future referrence, carbon dioxide will pop bubbles in epoxy, before cured of course. Small areas can be covered by simply breathing on it. Larger areas you can use a small plumbers torch to VERY rapidly sweep across the surface.

I have not used Sweetwater, but several other brands. Due to weirdities, such as bubbles, it is usually better to do 3 or 4 coats rather than 1 or 2.

I have a 220g build in the DIY forums.