How to seal your own aquarium ornaments

[alsplacebartender]

Hello! I am brand new here but I thought someone here might be able to help me.

I am wanting to put a plastic toy (a castle grayskull - he-man) playset in my aquarium. If you don't know exactly what that is, it's basically a molded piece of plastic from the 80's painted green and black. It's one solid piece. I have attached a photo

I want to seal it with a clear coating so that the paint is sealed and won't come off - maybe there is a spray available? - but not sure how to go about it or what to use to coat it without harming the fish. It's a freshwater tank - 55 gallons.

Has anyone done something like this before? Sealed your own ornaments?

Thank you for any suggestions!
Brian

[Abbeys_Mom]

You can buy 2 part aquarium safe epoxy, but it would be a lot of work.

[justyn725]

You can buy 2 part aquarium safe epoxy, but it would be a lot of work.

I was just going to say that....

[Abbeys_Mom]

:P
Beat you to it.

[alsplacebartender]

That would indeed be a lot of work, but might be worth it for the right look I am going for. What about Krylon Fusion paint? I have heard different places that while not officially tested for aquarium use, it's not caused any problems yet in tanks. Have you heard of this?

[cocoa_pleco]

That would indeed be a lot of work, but might be worth it for the right look I am going for. What about Krylon Fusion paint? I have heard different places that while not officially tested for aquarium use, it's not caused any problems yet in tanks. Have you heard of this?

i kryloned PVC, nothing bad has come out of it. only general complaint ive heard is if you do too few coats of it, it flakes. i did 6 or 7 coats and no flaking at all. you can see the PVC here

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w31/cocoa_pleco/23-08-08_1321.jpg

[alsplacebartender]

Thanks! I might try painting it green a few coats and then layering in some black where it's supposed to go. Anyone else use Krylon Fusion?

Thanks for the very quick responses! Great board. :)

[tanks4thememories]

Hello! I am brand new here but I thought someone here might be able to help me.

I am wanting to put a plastic toy (a castle grayskull - he-man) playset in my aquarium. If you don't know exactly what that is, it's basically a molded piece of plastic from the 80's painted green and black. It's one solid piece. I have attached a photo

I want to seal it with a clear coating so that the paint is sealed and won't come off - maybe there is a spray available? - but not sure how to go about it or what to use to coat it without harming the fish. It's a freshwater tank - 55 gallons.

Has anyone done something like this before? Sealed your own ornaments?

Thank you for any suggestions!
Brian

Is this going in a salt water tank or FW tank?

What kind of lighting?

Check the doors of the castle for metal hinges or springs?

I am assuming that you are concerned about coating this item to protect your fish from the paint and possible plastic leeching toxins into the water?

My guess is that it would be made with safe materials and paints because it is meant for children, only thing is it isnt meant for food storage or preparation so I would be leary. You can always call the manufacturer and ask what type of plastic is in the item and what paints were used. Im sorry I have more questions and not any answers but I just wanted to share with you some of the concerns I have on plastic in aquariums.

Here is an interesting thread on plastic in aquariums as well:

http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/drums.html

Here is a nice rule of thumb article on tank decorations:

http://www.firsttankguide.net/decoration.php

Hope you find them useful. Oh that Castle looks awesome BTW I can see why you would want it in there, it would be an awesome theme.

[Sounguru]

I use Krylon Fusion all the time....

[Lady Hobbs]

Being plastic, it will probably just float.

[Abbeys_Mom]

Definitely look for screws (inside, outside and bottom). I had problems for years because there was a 6" rusted screw in my aquarium (in a driftwood/slate ornament).

[miracleman]

try putting a smooth coat of clear silicone with a foam brush. if u paint anything sand it with 400 grit sand paper, the paint will have a rough surface to stick to..
good luck.....:19:

[alsplacebartender]

Is this going in a salt water tank or FW tank?

What kind of lighting?

Check the doors of the castle for metal hinges or springs?

I am assuming that you are concerned about coating this item to protect your fish from the paint and possible plastic leeching toxins into the water?

My guess is that it would be made with safe materials and paints because it is meant for children, only thing is it isnt meant for food storage or preparation so I would be leary. You can always call the manufacturer and ask what type of plastic is in the item and what paints were used. Im sorry I have more questions and not any answers but I just wanted to share with you some of the concerns I have on plastic in aquariums.

Here is an interesting thread on plastic in aquariums as well:

http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/drums.html

Here is a nice rule of thumb article on tank decorations:

http://www.firsttankguide.net/decoration.php

Hope you find them useful. Oh that Castle looks awesome BTW I can see why you would want it in there, it would be an awesome theme.

It's freshwater.

Lighting is soft flourescent but at night I have green, red and blud led lights. Green will go on the castle. :)

There is no metal used on the hinges or anywhere else on the castle.

The plastic and paint used was produced in 1982, so I do have lead paint concerns and I'm not sure Mattel would really know or answer me at this time.

Thanks for your answer and the links!

[alsplacebartender]

Being plastic, it will probably just float.

I thought of that! I have some very heavy stones that are already in the aquarium that should weigh it down from behind the castle.

Thanks everyone! When I get it done - maybe two weeks - I'll send photos if all works out right.

[benjie_eb]

I've had 2 of these plastic toy set skulls in my cichlid tank for over a year.
I never had a problem with my water paramiters or the paint on them yet.
The other one I put nontoxic glow in the dark toll paint where the red is on this one.

The fish love it.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa80/benjie_eb/fish/PDR_0168.jpg

[tanks4thememories]

I've had 2 of these plastic toy set skulls in my cichlid tank for over a year.
I never had a problem with my water paramiters or the paint on them yet.
The other one I put nontoxic glow in the dark toll paint where the red is on this one.

The fish love it.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa80/benjie_eb/fish/PDR_0168.jpg

Soooooo Kewlthumbs2:

[alsplacebartender]

I have photos of the tank that you guys helped me with!

http://www.greenespace.com/MOTU/MOTU%20(53).jpg

http://www.greenespace.com/MOTU/MOTU%20(52).jpg

http://www.greenespace.com/MOTU/MOTU%20(49).jpg

[W_Oz]

Gyaaa!!! IIIIIII HAAAAAVE THE POOOOOWERRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

Awesome!!! Boy that takes me back to my childhood. Sweet tank. ;)

[korith]

Looks good! How did you anchor done the figurines?

[alsplacebartender]

Looks good! How did you anchor done the figurines?

Well... super glue lol. I let it cure for a couple days. No issues with fish. One is anchored to a plastic rock formation that I already had. But, it even anchored to a river stone for the other figure - I was surprised that worked.

[Tigerbarb]

The he-man ornament really gives your tank a 'spooky' look, as if it's a view of some underwater ancient civilization. I would suggest adding some skeleton-remnance ornaments, if you can.

[tanks4thememories]

I have photos of the tank that you guys helped me with!

http://www.greenespace.com/MOTU/MOTU%20(53).jpg

http://www.greenespace.com/MOTU/MOTU%20(52).jpg

http://www.greenespace.com/MOTU/MOTU%20(49).jpg

That tank looks awesome!!!!

[gm72]

Nice fun tank. Loving the castle Greyskull ornament!

I haaaave the powerrrrrrr!!!!!!