what material to seal plywood vivarium

[bcreps]

what would be the ideal way to seal a massive vivarium so that you could have the enclosure made of wood and hqve no worries about leaks and the just the epoxy holding up? i want to atleast silicone some sheets of hard plastic over top of epoxy coated interior, then some kind of plastic wrap over that?. anyone have experience with sealing wood vivs right?

[Strider18]

Most people who build massive shark tanks out of plywood use fiberglass. They get the cloth, apply the resin, and finally coat it in epoxy. Others may have better ideas, but I did consider building a plywood viv and researched it fit several weeks. The initial cost is expensive, but in the long run it can be cheaper.

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[teslas intern]

This is what I wanted to do also... So from what I can tell simply coating with water potable epoxy is sufficient, especially if you are not holding back water pressure. Then seal the corners with silicone, as if they were glass. This is popular for large salt water tanks, I wish I still had the pages bookmarked that I found during my research... I don't remember anyone using fiberglass but I can see the appeal. Add far as plastic goes, I wouldn't... To expensive and the epoxy will probably hold up better. Read this article, might be helpful... Feature Article: Building a Plywood Aquarium — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

[bcreps]

yea so far i like the idea of fiber glass, i have friends that are pros. just like my last one this build will quite take awhile to design

[deranged chipmunk]

Marine epoxy is your best bet to seal wood. I have seen fiberglass used many times and it does work, but it is messy. Just remember that your first layer that goes into the wood needs to be a SEALER and not a SEALANT. Sealants, like silicone, will form a protective barrier over the wood, whereas a sealer will actually penetrate the wood, offering you more protection. Don't forget to water proof the outside of the cabinet at well.


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