Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have an opportunity to purchase a 2nd hand 2m diameter steel rainwater tank that has originally been painted with a grey coating, could anyone advise on name of paint to re coat. There must be some coatings out there that are suitable for Aquaponics. My tank at home has same coating, is this Aquaplate? and can it be recoated?

Thanks in advance
Cheers

MG, I've just finished painting the inside of my tank with Sika Tite BE which is a bitumenous (?) water based seal. I'm not sure if this would be the best stuff to use as we were coating concrete and steel.
There are pictures here http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... &start=135
It is a potable water-safe product.
But, best to check with C1 when he comes back on line, he will be able to let you know of the best stuff to use.

Thank's

Why do you want to paint it ? Is it rusty ?


Muzza

The tank has a few pipes fitted at different heights so will patch them and see what its like after a pressure clean, just thought a new coating would freshen it up.

I've used a high bitumen content water based product recommended by a local koi shop. It claims to be fish and person safe. Will check the name on the tin on my way through the garage tommorow morning and post when I get to work.

You are unlikely to have the same brand in oz but there should be something similar.

What about a trip to your closest produce store (farm supplies), even a visit to a paint supplies will be able to tell what paint to use just let them know that it in a water tank and the water is for human consumption.

i read on some site, that they used a latex paint for their tanks, which is normally used to paint roofs, so the runoff can be drinkable rain water. I will try and find that site...

Are you painting it on the inside or outside ? If inside I would not touch it unless really necessary. Acrylics will only be good outdoors but not for the inside of a tank where the paint will be submerged. If using any paint inside that is suitable for potable water you will have to leave it to cure out for some time to allow the solvents within the paint to escape before putting fish into the tank.

Yes internaly, have a salvage yard that will sell me tanks 2.4m diam $50 cut them in half and you have yourself a well constructed tank but they are galv coated inside and out, thought it was paint but was getting dark when first looked. So a fresh coating inside after pressure cleaning thought would be the go. New tanks use Aquaplate that is galv steel and coated...I thought I was onto something????

I have just emailed Dulux, see what they come back with.

Forgot to check this morning. The stuff I referred to is called Bituseal. Describes itself as a bitumen suspension safe for drinking water tanks.

I used it to seal water feature tanks 2 years back and it still seems sound.

Over the years i have used rubber fish pond paint from geddy in doncaster

seems a few contradictions there..
Muz is right by saying a cure is required as Jaymie found out.
Though this would occur more rapidly in a tin tanks as the substrate will be dry andheat and cool more rapidly and I to incorporate a scrim to bridge gaps and add a layer of flexible membrane to provide continuity of containment.(liner)
on the out side I would rust convert and re-gal the treated area.
(or appropriate steel finish)
C1

can I use the galvanised rainwater tanks that do not have aquaplate or is this unsuitable for the fish? The cost of a gal fish tank and a grow bed 1.7m diameter without aquaplate is $450 but with aquaplate is $650!!

I will look into the cost of bituseal and Sika Tite BE ??? to see if there are any savings to be made by buying the tanks without aquaplate and just painting them with these sealants.