How to seal inside of a stand.

[aroundtuit]

I've built a 110 G into a wall. Reading here on RC and talking to folks in the paint business, I've gotten many different suggestions on how to best protect it from moisture and spills. Just to name a few; oil based polyurethane, deck and fence water proofer (like Thompson's Water Seal), epoxy.

What ones are overkill? Unsafe? What has everyone had success with? Appearance is not an issue as it will all be behind the wall.

BTW, I have contacted the tank manufacturer also, since they built the original stand, but I don't expect them to be of much help. I suspect they will say policy prohibits them from providing that info due to voiding the warrantee (even though the tank is out of warrantee by now). That's what they told me when I asked for recommendations/guidelines on drilling the tank.

 

[MarkM3]

Epoxy paint or sheet shower-pan liner are the best.

Polyurethane gets slowly eaten by salt spray.

 

[hot4teacher]

I used 4 coats of Spar-urethane and then siliconed the edges/joints so it could hold a few gallons of water.

Dana

 

[hot4teacher]

Oh yeah! It dries perfectly clear so you can't even tell it's there!

 

[Rhodan]

Epoxy all the way.

 

[aroundtuit]

I got a response from the tank manufacturer. First I best explain what I asked them. I have 2 tanks, one that is using their stand and one that I built an in-wall stand for. I intend to put sumps under both. Unfortunately, a sump will not set flat and be supported completely with the framing on either tank. I plan to put a plywood floor in it. So, I asked them the best way to do this to their stand and how to protect it from water damage down the road. Here is the recommendation their customer support got from one of their engineers.

....Ã"šÃ‚½Ã¢â"šÂ¬Ã‚ Marine Plywood and paint it with an oil based enamel. Seal all edges, make sure it is completely covered.

MarkM3 - I really like the idea of lining it with shower liner. Or maybe Plexiglass. I'll have to browse around HD and Lowe's to see what they have.

hot4teacher - That looks good. I like the silicone seams. I'll probably incorporate something like that too.

Rhodan - Any particular kind of epoxy? In an earlier job, many years ago, we used epoxy to paint bathrooms and hallways in a school. It really created a rubbery tough finish. Would there be any problems with chemical leaching?

 

[laverda]

Here is what I plan to use. http://www.sanitred.com/

 

[jnfallon]

Definately use something.

I skipped it, broke a bulhead tonight and had 5 gallons of water pour into the stand, out the bottom and through the floor.

 

[Josh125]

I also used ~ 5 coats of minwax spar urethane and siliconed the edges to hold water if need be.

 

[Rhodan]

I purchased my epoxy paint as a kit from a local marine (boat) store. It does have a light rubber texture more like thick polyurethane, but it isn't too bad. Since it is used for boats and around the water, I'm assuming that the paint has been approved by the EPA and safe for marine life but I will have to check it out. I don't have the cans any more, but I'll try to go by the boat store to see if I can get a picture of the product....oh yea one think to keep in mind is epoxy paint is much more expensive then regular sealers and fumes are intense.