painting stand, sump holder and skimmer stand

[shaneh]

What is the best way to paint a stand, sump holder and skimmer stand? I got the bulleseye 1 2 3 primer and the semi gloss black paint. I think Jake said he use a roller so the lines do not show when you use a brush. I have a paint sprayer but i makes a mess. I can do it but it takes longer to set it up then to paint.

I know guys i gotta update my build thread it has been forever so i will at least have some pics on the camera to show your guys at the meeting.

Also where do you guys get rid of your old salt water? I have been just dumping it on the lawn but i kinda kills the lawn....just wondering what you guys do. Any problems with hooking it up to a sewer drain? I think the salt may eat the sewer pipes over time.

 

[northbay-reefer]

spray paint will give you the best looking finish especially if it has gloss in it, flat or satin finish you can use anything. That reminds me, I need to finish my stand and hood ... LOL

Salt water goes to the street

 

[shaneh]

it is semi gloss... so a spray gun? i love to use it but hate the clean up!

 

[northbay-reefer]

yeap, spray away is my recommendation

 

[carne.espada]

Shane, Salt water will not harm your drain pipes as the amount is so small that the normal use of your household plumbing for day to day use will likely flush any salt from the pipes. Newer homes use ABS so there is no chance of corrosion. Your old place probably has cast iron but you don't own the house anyway, do you? The real problem with dumping any waste water anywhere, street, pipes, etc. is that you invariably introduce flora and fauna to our ecosystem that may or may not be detrimental. The Mission river in San Diego is choked with Calerpa that is believed to have been introduced by aquarium hobbyists. I am not sure I buy that but it does provoke some consideration. This is a reason that you may not buy Calerpa in California.
Having said all that, I dump my water in the toilet. Modern water treatment plants just about completely nuke everything that goes through them. Mechanically, biologically and just about everything else you could imagine.
I have no tips for painting. I do however have a tip for the stand. I built mine with about a two inch coaming and sealed all the inside jionts with a bead of Sikkaflex. You can use PL brand polyurethane caulking if you can't find Sikkaflex. I prefer Sflex as it is a superior product. Cost reflected, of course. This coaming allows an inch or more of leakage before it spills on the floor. I have had a few leaks for my Ca reactor, etc. over the years and the stand keeps the water in. Gives you a buffer to fix equip. and soak up the water with rags.
I would never have a sump/stand without it. If there isn't a way to incorporate into construction, you can always fashion a piece of acrylic around the periphery of the bottom of the stand. I also have a flooding alarm now to alert me of leaks.
Good luck! Come on up and have a look if you like.
Rob

 

[Reef Bass]

My "old" salt water goes down the toilet. I used to siphon it out to the backyard but it killed too much, so into the toilet it goes.

I wanted a natural light oak wood look to my lps tank stand, so I sanded with 80 grit, then 100, then 120, then applied stain controller with a rag, then stained with a rag, then sanded, then 2 coats polyurethane to water proof with a foam brush. To the "deck" on top I applied 2 coats of oil base primer with a roller then 2 coats of semi gloss enamel with a roller.