Paint chipping in a fiberglass tank overflow. Concern?

[happyclam]

Hey all,

I am hired to solve an algae issue on a pair of display tanks, and to do this I think some upgrades/renovations are needed, especially installing a sump and skimmer. The 135 gallon warm water marine tank:



Close up. I have some work to do. Acrylic scratch removal and refinishing would be ideal, though my assigned goal is to get the algae solved.



I am planning out a sump filtration system with skimmer, refugium, and GFO reactor. However, I am worried about the state of the overflows in the tank.

First off, this is a fiberglass tank, correct?



Here is a look at top edge of tank, you can see internal overflow in the corner. Inside of tank is coated in a acrylic/paint of some sort.



And I looked down the overflow and saw this:



As best as I can tell, a coat of white paint is flaking off. It is thin and brittle. Underneath appears a layer of gray paint of similar consistency to white paint. Is there a way to get this overflow operational and safe to have water running through it? Bear in mind, overflow is 6" wide/long and 40" deep, so my arm barely fits and cannot reach the bottom.

Thanks for your input!

 

[AndrewNC]

Yea throw that tank in the garbage. That's going to be extremely tough to repair without draining everything. To do it right would be to remove the overflow so you can probably repair that. You can do a quick Mickey Mouse repair and drain the water in the overflow and try your best to repair and reseal everything. It's going to be tough. Good Luck

 

[happyclam]

That would definitely make my life easier, though I don't think the budget or interest is there. So, assuming for the time being that the tank as a whole has to stay, what is the best way to tackle the overflow?
A. Try sanding and sealing/glueing on a patch of sorts (this may be really stupid, but plastic pond liner?)
B. Using a razor to remove overflow wall
C. Installing an overflow lower in the tank to keep the old overflows dry.
Thoughts?

 

[Jade5051]

Paint chipping in a fiberglass tank overflow. Concern?

I'd salvage the overflow. Drill another hole or two to setup a bean animal overflow at a minimum an emergency drain.

I'm not sure what the paint is and I'm not sure it's going to have a negative impact on the tank. Whoever set the tank up surely used a reef safe product. If you want try scraping and sanding it out.

Looks like a bunch of salt at the bottom. I'd get a pole and start chopping it up. Use a shopvac to suck it out. Water would probably help too.

What is the clients budget for getting the tank up to speed?

 

[happyclam]

Interesting. I would like to think that the manufacture was smart and used several layers of non-toxic coating, so the worst implication is just making sure the paint chips don't get in the display. & Yes- just salt on the bottom, and there is a 2" bulkhead in the bottom of each overflow (1 overflow in each corner- paint is fine in the other overflow), so it will be pretty easy to wash salt/paint chip debris out.

The client did not want to give me an exact number, instead saying that I should propose my budget and see what fits. I understand it is limited, and most likely around $1,000 for this tank, but possibly more if I make a strong case for the investment in quality products.

 

[Jade5051]

If it were me I'd try to incorporate an ATS.

 

[happyclam]

Yes, that is in the works. I am investigating a well-lit chaeto tumbler (see d2mini- crazy growth under HPS!) vs. ATS. In the end it will come down to space and easy of maintenance.

 

[tmorford]

The fiberglass is super tough I wouldn't be too concerned about the paint.

 

[juzz.raath]

Fibreglass is tough and very durable but.... If water does get in it will be a matter of time for a leak. Go to your local boat store and ask for a fibreglass paint. Eg flow coat it's a two part paint and is not easy to work with but if you sand the old paint and glass right back and recoat it youll have years and years of trouble free use. Fibreglass does need to be sealed with the correct paint to be 100% waterproof.