sealant?

[Whitey560]

hi could somebody tell me some good sealants for fake backgrounds.
i used bondcrete for some hides i made but have been told its not the best thing to use any ideas?

thanks
jake

[Whitey560]

Also if i have a basking spot on the background will it let off fumes from the heat??

[akar0522]

I think the best silicon to use would probably be "Selleys glass silicone sealant" (clear). It's the only silicon I know of that is made from 100% silicone and can be purchased from the local hardware store. It's water tight, works on glass, is UV resistant and aquarium safe.

Seems like the perfect sealant for any indoor pet enclosures. I think a tube should cost around $8. You'll need a cork gun of course - guess you probably already have one.


Other aquarium safe silicons are available at pet shops but they will probably cost an arm and a leg.

The only other sealant that may be suitable is some sort of "roof and guttering" sealant. I'm sure this type of sealant is UV resistant - don't know about the fumes though.

[wokka]

I wonder how some of the ceramic tile/ slate sealers would work. Slatey might have some experiece?

[Whitey560]

i need something to seal one of those foam/mortar fake rock backgrounds i dont think silicon would do the trick i was thinking more along the lines of a varnish or pond sealant.
anyone know any safe brands to use?

[bigi]

if it is a foam background then you need to test the bonding product on it first if it is in contact with the exposed foam. some chemical based adhesives might have a reaction to the foam.
i work with silicons daily and would probably suggest an adhesive rather than a silicon

[Whitey560]

ok
the background is going to be polystyrene then coated in a grout sand mix and possibly painted.
heaps of people have made their own backgrounds someone must know.
i need to coat the sand mortar mix in a sealent to make it easier to clean and to stop my beardie picking at the sand.

i read some where that pondtite or something was used??
woukd like to hear from some one who has made one and is happy with it

[Auzlizardking]

Try useing wood glues

[Whitey560]

like non toxic childrens pva or something??

wouldnt it go sticky if it got wet?

[bump73]

I thought Bondcrete was okay after all it is just a PVA glue I've read on some pond sites that it can be used on ponds with fish, turtles etc to seal them...

Ben

[Whitey560]

cant remember where i heard that bondcrete wasnt good.
but i used it on my hides and seems to be ok still got heaps left so il prob stick with it.

one downside is i painted my hides and when i used the bondcrete all my colors ran and made one color lol. il try spraying it on this time.

[Jason.G]

You can buy liquid sealants that you add to the grout mix and i have sealed the final job with a product called Bondcryl 737, it is made by the same company that makes bondcrete. Bondcrete breaks down when it gets wet, bondcryl won't.
another product i'm trying out is panel patch which is lighter then morter and sets very hard, i have found a sponge pattted over the mud mix gives a better look than sand.

[akar0522]

oh you want to seal the foam, thought you just wanted to attach it to the glass.

I would probably just use a pond sealer like PondTite. I think it only comes in black and blue. It will form a mebrane over the foam.

[Mrs I]

I use Epoxy Resins (non toxic)

Mrs I

xxx

[Ozzie Python]

i have pvc pipes cut in half as hides, and then used a clear drying non toxic wood glue watered down, thrown sand all over then sealed with the same watered doewn glue. takes a week or so for the smell to go, but saying its non toxic then watering down you cant go wrong. had no dramas with it so far.