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Sealing viv

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:39 am
by Suzle87
The new viv has had to be ordered sooner and will now have to be set up here, then i will have to move it when i move. The current viv is falling to bits too much that the glass doors are hardly staying in as the front edge has dropped.
I have aquarium sealant for the edges of the new viv, im just wondering what sealant is safe for on the base and inner walls of the viv , just concerned due to the heat and humidity dont want anything that will cause fumes or a fire hazard etc. What do you all recommend?

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 4:59 am
by splashy07
Anything that is aquarium safe.

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 1:15 pm
by Suzle87
splashy07 wrote:Anything that is aquarium safe.

Thanks for this, i've got some aquarium safe sealent for the edges, just unsure if i may be best off trying to put some kind of varnish or something over all the surfaces of the wood. bit paranoid after this one has fallen to bits, but this one hadnt been sealed anywhere so that's probably whats gone wrong with this one!
on a side note, ven has been in a great sociable mood today, happiest ive seen him in a while...if they can be happy.. so he is definitely feeling a ton better.

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:42 am
by splashy07
I can't say anything about wood treatment, I would check further to see if whatever you choose to use is safe for animals. I have never used a wood cage.

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:00 am
by Suzle87
splashy07 wrote:I can't say anything about wood treatment, I would check further to see if whatever you choose to use is safe for animals. I have never used a wood cage.

What vivs do you get? In uk any plastic etc seem limited size wise or cost a fortune

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:08 pm
by mb606587
Every enclosure I own I have built from wood. I use silicone caulk for joints and either water based polyurethane or a product called Kennel Seal.

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:54 pm
by mb606587
20171106_211245.jpg
20200617_150457.jpg
20200708_204620.jpg


All of these have been sealed with multiple coats of polyurethane. The top one has been used for years and has a humidifier pumping water in constantly. The middle one was built a few months ago. Humidity in both rarely if ever drops under 80%, so the seal has been effective. The bottom one I just sealed yesterday and will be in use as soon as I can find glass.

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:36 pm
by Suzle87
mb606587 wrote:20171106_211245.jpg20200617_150457.jpg20200708_204620.jpg

All of these have been sealed with multiple coats of polyurethane. The top one has been used for years and has a humidifier pumping water in constantly. The middle one was built a few months ago. Humidity in both rarely if ever drops under 80%, so the seal has been effective. The bottom one I just sealed yesterday and will be in use as soon as I can find glass.


Amazing!!! Thankyou so much!!
Cant find the kennel one anywhere sadly, amazon used to sell it but not got any now, could you possibly link me to a polyurethane you have used so that i make sure i get the right thing please? Thanks for your help I really appreciate it!

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 6:55 am
by mb606587
Screenshot_20200716-095037.png


Always use a water based polyurethane as opposed to oil based. Oil based polyurethanes contain a more substantial amount of harmful VOC's and will take much longer to air out before being safe for use.

Re: Sealing viv

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 8:14 am
by Suzle87
mb606587 wrote:Screenshot_20200716-095037.png

Always use a water based polyurethane as opposed to oil based. Oil based polyurethanes contain a more substantial amount of harmful VOC's and will take much longer to air out before being safe for use.

Thats brilliant thanks so much for your help, il order some now, i can give it plenty of time to air etc now as my dads done a temp fix on his current viv so its slightly less urgent now. Thanks again!