Sweetwater epoxy ammonia wash

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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diy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 28, 2011
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delaware
My tank has cured for about two weeks now. I remember that I am supposed to rinse with non sudsing ammonia. But I threw away the can and don't remember the water to ammonia ratio. Anybody know? I tried the live support at Aquatic Ecco and no one is available.
Thanks
 
I don't know but if you are still stumped than go back where you purchased it and read another can.
 
That would be a good option, but I ordered it from FL and I live De. I would love to find it closer, hazmat shipping is not cheap. I took the smaller one outside and washed it with straight ammonia. Wow, thats a terrible smell if you get a consentrated whif. I filled it up all the way and let it sit for a few days, without ammonia wash would this be okay? Or do i really need to neutrilize something? I don't really want that smell in my house.
 
I did a simple wipe down with a rag making it sure I wiped every thing down till it was wet with ammonia. Then I rinsed off the tank, drained the water and then filled it with fresh.

My word of caution would come in the form of tank construction... Make sure it doesn't flex at all. I didn't run a center brace on my 8'X30''X36'', the back of the tank flexed enough and because the sweetwater was rock hard, it cracked instead of flexed with the tank.
 
no mixing ratio. just use the non sudsing amonia on a rag and wipe it down good. Rinse with a clean rag and water and you're good to go..
 
Great, thanks everyone! I will rinse it out before I fill it. I got a strong whiff of the ammonia, and it's terrible. Will have to open windows I guess.

I braced it with two braces and doubled up (overlaped them with two 3 inch top plates made of 3/4" oak ply covered in epoxy) shouldn't bow much. Thanks for the heads up though, this was a concern of mine. Its a standard 180, 72x24x24 so really I over built it. But getting to put the overflows anywhere I want....I spent less than $100 on 1/2 inch glass. $100 on the epoxy and $80 for the plywood. The cornerflo glass tank was almost $700 at a retail store not too far away from me (known for there good prices) . I don't think you need to build a huge tank to save enough money to make it worth it.

Thanks again!
 
Got a reply from Aquatic Eco Systems. They said it only needs the ammonia wash before had if its concrete that you had to acid wash. This neutralizes the acid from the etching so it wont effect the epoxy....I could have sworn i read that differently on the can...Oh well. I washed it with ammonia...
 
DIY,

When you mixed the Sweetwater Epoxy did you use the 3:1 ratio as per the directions on the can? If so I am sorry to tell you they are incorrect. If you did indeed accidentally use the wrong ratio. Please let me know if the epoxy turned out to be fish safe.
 
I mixed the premeasured gallon with the premeasured activator. As ,per weight, the can suggested.
 
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