Waterproof?

[DragonJosh]

I want to make one of those complete "fake rock" setups in my beardies tank, and want it to be waterproof for cleaning/durability reasons. Plus I kinda want to do something for my fish tank...so I would need it to be waterproof.

 

[beardcore]

when i made a poison dart frog background i used brown silicone very waterproof i just took a glove and smeared it on very messy but completely waterproof.

 

[DragonJosh]

when i made a poison dart frog background i used brown silicone very waterproof i just took a glove and smeared it on very messy but completely waterproof.

Well I'm assuming brown silicone is.....well brown right? So would any type of clear silicone work as I want to paint it, and will it show the paint fine?

 

[BadCon]

If you want waterproof, then silicone or epoxy are your only options. Clear silicone will work, but its hardly crystal clear...so while the base color of the paint will show through, lighter detail might get obstructed.

I posted on this subject in a similar thread just a few posts down. Epoxy will be the most durable solution by far, and is completely waterproof when applied correctly. You can find pseudo epoxies in spray cans and 1 stage paint on applications. These won't be as tough as a true 2 part epoxy, but should hold up pretty well.


What may I ask are you doing that you require it to be water proof? For a bearded dragon enclosure, almost any decent sealer will provide all the protection you need. Something like polycrylic or polyurethane will also hold up well to spot cleanings. I personally use Mod Podge, which is far from water proof, but its served me well for several years now. Mod Podge Hard Coat is water resistant enough that spot cleanings have little effect, and its so easy to apply (and non-toxic), that I can completely reseal a structure in a day should it need it. A truly water proof solution would be such a hassle to apply and maintain that its probably not worth the head ache...especially silicone. That would honestly look terrible. So unless you plan on completely submerging the item, pass on silicone.

 

[beardcore]

depending on how you want it to look i used brown silicone and then poured sand over top made it look real cool. I do not believe silicone paints well. but they make different shades of brown.