New Tank Setup - DIY Questions

dirtyreefer · 06/18/2006, 02:28 PM

Hey all, I have a quick couple questions I was hoping I could ask:

1. Can I use primer before applying PVC cement?
2. What black silicone can I use inside the tank which is safe for it's inhabitants?
3. Is Krylon Fusion safe to apply to PVC to be used inside of tank?

I'll have a couple more questions but I'll start with these for now. Any help would be appreciated.

kgross · 06/18/2006, 03:43 PM

1. Yes you can, just make sure your glue and primer is completly dry before running your tank water through it.
2 Don't know
3 Yes, just make sure it is dry before you put it in the water.

Kim

dirtyreefer · 06/18/2006, 04:51 PM

Thanks Kim!

dirtyreefer · 06/19/2006, 12:03 AM

Can anyone else help me out with the second question?

raddogz · 06/19/2006, 12:46 AM

I know you can buy black silicone for aquariums as I'm pretty sure I've seen it.

http://www.aquatichouse.com/Maintenance_files/Epoxy.asp

dirtyreefer · 06/19/2006, 11:31 AM

Yes you can, however I want to seal a piece of starboard all around the bottom of my tank so I would have to purchase quite a few tubes of that aquarium stuff to do that.

I was wondering if there was an inexpensive material that I could use (e.g. something that can be bought at Home Depot etc).

Bkndsdl · 06/19/2006, 11:36 AM

I don't recommend putting the primer on the pipe before you glue. It WILL come off. If you think about it, you're actually gluing your fitting to the paint, not the pvc under the paint. The paint will flake off, and your fitting will subsequently come off.

If you paint the pipe then sand the paint totally off of the pipe, it might work, but it would depend on whether or not you got paint in the socket end of the fitting.

If it were me, I'd tape the end of pipe that will have to be glued, and put a piece of tape over the ends of fittings that have to be glued. Then paint, then glue together.

kgross · 06/19/2006, 11:45 AM

Bkndsdl,

What are you talking about. Are you saying that the primer is paint, not primer?

The primer will not make the joint weaker it will make it stronger, it helps to start desolving the pvc before you put the glue on it, so it will glue stronger.

Actually I think I understand what you are saying now, you are talking about paint primer, not PVC primer. When painting your plumbing you should wait until it is glued together rather than painting before it is glued.

Kim

don954 · 06/19/2006, 12:42 PM

the primer is just accitone with dye in it so the plumber knows what ends he has already primed. You can use plain acetone and not have to worry about the dye. The primer removes the surface plastic sheen which can inhibit proper bonding of the PVC.

I was a plumber's assistant during part of my teen-age years...

Bkndsdl · 06/19/2006, 03:09 PM

Dirtyreefer needs to clarify......if he's talking about pvc 'primer' like don is talking about, then yes, you can. If he's talking about primer paint, like I thought he was talking about with the Krylon reference, then I wouldn't paint (or prime, as I was thinking) until after it's glued.

dirtyreefer · 06/19/2006, 03:25 PM

Hehe I love controversy

I'll be painting the entire glued piece after the connections have fully cured. I was just wondering when I do connect the two "dry" pieces together if I can use primer or whether I should be just using PVC cement

Bkndsdl · 06/19/2006, 03:37 PM

My mistake...........I stand corrected.

dirtyreefer · 06/19/2006, 04:31 PM

Thanks for your replies guys.

As for the silicone, can I use regular latex acrylic caulking? Is this safe inside the tank?

kgross · 06/19/2006, 05:49 PM

On the silicon, a few months ago I would have said to get the GE silicone I window and door. But I have heard that silicone I and II in the door and window version both now have some anti-mildew-mold agents in them.

So try and find some DOW 100% silicone.

Kim

06/18/2006, 02:28 PM	#1
dirtyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,221	New Tank Setup - DIY Questions Hey all, I have a quick couple questions I was hoping I could ask: 1. Can I use primer before applying PVC cement? 2. What black silicone can I use inside the tank which is safe for it's inhabitants? 3. Is Krylon Fusion safe to apply to PVC to be used inside of tank? I'll have a couple more questions but I'll start with these for now. Any help would be appreciated.

06/18/2006, 03:43 PM	#2
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	1. Yes you can, just make sure your glue and primer is completly dry before running your tank water through it. 2 Don't know 3 Yes, just make sure it is dry before you put it in the water. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

06/19/2006, 12:46 AM	#5
raddogz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,167	I know you can buy black silicone for aquariums as I'm pretty sure I've seen it. http://www.aquatichouse.com/Maintenance_files/Epoxy.asp __________________ Eileen If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style. - Quentin Crisp Current Tank Info: 180g Reef

06/19/2006, 11:36 AM	#7
Bkndsdl Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 532	I don't recommend putting the primer on the pipe before you glue. It WILL come off. If you think about it, you're actually gluing your fitting to the paint, not the pvc under the paint. The paint will flake off, and your fitting will subsequently come off. If you paint the pipe then sand the paint totally off of the pipe, it might work, but it would depend on whether or not you got paint in the socket end of the fitting. If it were me, I'd tape the end of pipe that will have to be glued, and put a piece of tape over the ends of fittings that have to be glued. Then paint, then glue together. __________________ -Mike from Alabama Boss: 'I'm sorry, we're going to have to let you go. You're too argumentative.' Former Employee: 'No I'm not.' Current Tank Info: 180g reef, 3g nano

06/19/2006, 11:45 AM	#8
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	Bkndsdl, What are you talking about. Are you saying that the primer is paint, not primer? The primer will not make the joint weaker it will make it stronger, it helps to start desolving the pvc before you put the glue on it, so it will glue stronger. Actually I think I understand what you are saying now, you are talking about paint primer, not PVC primer. When painting your plumbing you should wait until it is glued together rather than painting before it is glued. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

06/18/2006, 04:51 PM	#3
dirtyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,221	Thanks Kim!

06/19/2006, 12:03 AM	#4
dirtyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,221	Can anyone else help me out with the second question?

06/19/2006, 11:31 AM	#6
dirtyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,221	Yes you can, however I want to seal a piece of starboard all around the bottom of my tank so I would have to purchase quite a few tubes of that aquarium stuff to do that. I was wondering if there was an inexpensive material that I could use (e.g. something that can be bought at Home Depot etc).

06/19/2006, 12:42 PM	#9
don954 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 258	the primer is just accitone with dye in it so the plumber knows what ends he has already primed. You can use plain acetone and not have to worry about the dye. The primer removes the surface plastic sheen which can inhibit proper bonding of the PVC. I was a plumber's assistant during part of my teen-age years...

06/19/2006, 03:09 PM	#10
Bkndsdl Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 532	Dirtyreefer needs to clarify......if he's talking about pvc 'primer' like don is talking about, then yes, you can. If he's talking about primer paint, like I thought he was talking about with the Krylon reference, then I wouldn't paint (or prime, as I was thinking) until after it's glued. __________________ -Mike from Alabama Boss: 'I'm sorry, we're going to have to let you go. You're too argumentative.' Former Employee: 'No I'm not.' Current Tank Info: 180g reef, 3g nano

06/19/2006, 03:25 PM	#11
dirtyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,221	Hehe I love controversy I'll be painting the entire glued piece after the connections have fully cured. I was just wondering when I do connect the two "dry" pieces together if I can use primer or whether I should be just using PVC cement

06/19/2006, 03:37 PM	#12
Bkndsdl Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 532	My mistake...........I stand corrected. __________________ -Mike from Alabama Boss: 'I'm sorry, we're going to have to let you go. You're too argumentative.' Former Employee: 'No I'm not.' Current Tank Info: 180g reef, 3g nano

06/19/2006, 04:31 PM	#13
dirtyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,221	Thanks for your replies guys. As for the silicone, can I use regular latex acrylic caulking? Is this safe inside the tank?

06/19/2006, 05:49 PM	#14
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	On the silicon, a few months ago I would have said to get the GE silicone I window and door. But I have heard that silicone I and II in the door and window version both now have some anti-mildew-mold agents in them. So try and find some DOW 100% silicone. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube