Fiberglass resin, mistake to use?

[marcelft]

I had read up alot on foam rock walls. Many people used two part epoxy, but several I read up on used plain old bondo brand resin. Anyone know why this might cause a problem??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do not know about that brand in particular, but folks use fiberglass to make rocks and such just fine.

Here's a typical thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1533447

 

[marcelft]

LOL..thanks Randy for the link, col of you to track it down..I started it..
The concesious is that it is OK to use.
Im just trying to pinpoint the reason for my skimmer's wacky behavior.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:lol:

Sorry, I only skimmed it.

Lots of curing materials, such as epoxies, release surfactants into the water before full curing that drive skimmers crazy for a while.

 

[Cheetos&Cocopuf]

Hi Marce,
The Bondo brand fiberglass resin is a polyester resin. "Fiberglass" resin has become the generic name for polyester resin as that is what is commonly used in general purpose fiber/ resin composite applications like boat hulls, tubs, and such.

Polyster resins leach out styrenes when curing. Epoxy resins leach out amines. Given enough cure time (few weeks) at an approprite temp (80+) degrees, I would deem the polyester safe to use. **(Maybe much sooner, but I was always taught to give it plenty of cure time.) But, perhaps not ideal in a foam coating application compared to epoxies due to the polyesters willingness to delaminate and osmotic blister over time.

That being said, I am certainly no chemist. Just too many years
in the museum exhibit and display industries.

 

[marcelft]

Cool..well at least I havent gotten any "Holy Cr%P no dont use it yet. Its already in my tank. It cured for about 1 month before i put water in teh tank. Im gonna relax, and see what happens...
Thank you all for the input.