Vinyl Flooring??

[ewurm]

Most vinyl flooring has felt backing. If it gets the slightest bit wet, your tank is compromised

 

[KLee79]

yea i usually use epoxy. just looking for cheaper methods. might try it with a small tank and let it sit filled with water for a few weeks...

 

[dogofwar]

I'd use glue on the back of the vinyl vs. silicone.

Also, I think siliconing the seams makes sense.

What about doubling up vinyl on the seams by gluing a second layer?

 

[KLee79]

i thought about that too. just in case of any damage or small leak. but silicone on the seams would be thick. Im more concerned that the vinyl would leak before the seams. i'd make sure i made no mistakes....

 

[CJH]

Anyone ever attempt to use vinyl flooring to seal a plywood tank? Just curious to see if it would work. Any thoughts?? Of course I would use silicone on the seams, but what would happen in long term submersion?

I know of dozens of reptile enclosures that are sealed with vinyl flooring. I only mention that because I recall one guy who after siliconing the seams filled the cage with water and it held for a couple of days as a test of sorts. This has been years ago now and I could not begin to remember what forum I saw it on.

I personally would not try it, however. I used vinyl flooring to line the bottom of my bearded dragon cage and I don't think the silicone bond was very good with the vinyl. It may have just been the waxy finish on that particular product. It was slick and easy to clean which may have not allowed for a strong bond with silicone where it met the plywood cage walls.

Interesting enough, another cage builder make a MDF box and lined it with Contact brand self-adhesive shelf liner and siliconed the edges. According to him it held water for over a year. That has to be taken with a grain of salt since he was building custom cages for reptile owners and using the Contact Paper to seal the cages -- this is common in the reptile industry.

But I wouldn't try that either - I'm just throwing it out there for general information.

 

[dogofwar]

Scuff the vinyl where you're going to silicone...

 

[ewurm]

I think it would be cheaper to use a coating on the plywood rather than vinyl, and safer.