Tank safe materials for DIY

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

meBNme

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 10, 2011
162
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Central North Carolina
I see all sorts of DIY threads for every project under the sun. What I haven't found is a list of tank safe materials to use.

Please list any and all materials you have found proven to be tank safe, or what it takes to make it fish safe.
When making things that go into a tank with fish.

Paints, adhesives, types of foam, cement compounds. Glues for piping. Different types of metals (galvanized?)

For things like backgrounds, cave4s, decorations, plumbing, etc.
Can typical Latex house paint be used?

Please, if you have done DIY projects, list the materials and any details about them. Even the basics, for what seems common knowledge for advanced aquarists, is totally unknown for beginners.
 
Depending upon what you are attempting to do there are several compounds that are completely safe for marine and fresh water fishes. If you are trying to stabilize a live rock or rock formation, the safest products that I have used on a multitude of set-ups includes "Thorite Cement", and "Polagen Cement." As far as Epoxy's are concerned for the same type of application; "Devcon11600" and "Aquarium Systems' Holdfast Epoxy Stick" are each salt water and fresh water fish safe. If installing "hard" plumbing lines within a system any traditional pipe cleaners and cements are perfectly acceptable, just remember to not go too crazy with the cement, it will definitely look as though an amature has done the work.
Now, as far as painting materials are concerned for things like fake corals and decorations. The only paint products I will ever use are any paint products that are "epoxy" based. You can purchase a "translucent" version and add your own colorations to achieve very unique color schemes as you apply multiple coats to the project. Many people claim that "Krylon Fusion" is good, but I have seen ciscumstances where this paint begins to flake off in a short time and that is very bad.
 
I'm making a background out of Sculpey polymer oven bake clay. I tested a small cave and small tree and so far everything's fine. I haven't finished the background because I ran out of clay.
 
Cool!< post some pics!
I will be (hopefully I can figure out how to post them.) taking pics of the creation process as I make my 3D background.
I wonder if clay and Styrofoam can be used together to create different textures and add realism.

Something to experiment with.
 
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