Mr. Saltwater Tank Friday AM Quick Tip #149: How To Waterproof Your Saltwater Tank
This is the easiest way I’ve found to water proof just about everything around your saltwater tank.
Links in this show: www.mrsaltwatertank.com/site/neverwet
This is the easiest way I’ve found to water proof just about everything around your saltwater tank.
Links in this show: www.mrsaltwatertank.com/site/neverwet
My question has always been, how long does this Never Wet solution actually work for? Does this coating have an expiry date? Does it need to be applied every now and then to make sure it works like day 1?
Al…the instructions for Never Wet say to re-apply when water stops rolling off of it. Considering that around our saltwater tanks, the items will likely only get an occasional splashing, I bet it would last for a while.
A quick read of the product description says that it can haze on darker surfaces. What’s your experience with that issue? I would think that could be a problem since most of the surfaces I would want to use it on are black.
Thanks for the tips!!
Hi Mark,
I have use the stuff and it does sound great, and it does work great. But it only works great for a short time before you then have to apply it all over again. And it is very expensive. Also consider how you have to apply it. Either with a brush or rag. With both it is very easy to get splatter or drips of this very harsh chemical into your sumps/system water contaminating your tank. I recommend to anyone that does own this stuff they need to keep it as far away from any fish tank they care about.
Also when this stuff is applied, when dry, it looks like the item you put it on has a heavy wax coating on it that looks hazy/cloudy.
This is a harsh chemical. When you apply it you must be outside or in a VERY well ventilated area. I tried using this stuff on an pair of work boots about 4 months ago. The fumes were killing me. It did work as advertised. But it only lasted 4-5 days. It would cost less and be easier on me if I were to just buy new work boots every 30 days.
Sure you can put it on concrete or woods outside of your house to extend the life of whatever your putting it on. But again whatever you put it on will look like crap with this wax look, and the cost will be through the roof over time because it does not last very long before you have to reapply it. If you have treated wood outside on your home, I’m sure you can add one or two years to it’s life. But to do so I can see the need to reapply it at least every 30 days. You would end up spending so much money on this stuff, (not to mention your time) that you could have replaced the wood board or section of concrete your trying to protect 10 times over the years at a cheaper cost.
This is not one of these products that when applied it is invisible as well as lasts a year before you have to reapply it again. And it also has to be use on a item that you do not care how it looks after you use it.
I have heard about issues with work boots. What I wonder is does it last longer on a hard materials that do not flex and move like a boot.
There are some things I would consider putting this on such as the motor and gear assembly that drive my water change pumps, plug strips, things like that. Does anyone know how well it works on things like that?
There may be better choices for rust prevention. Consumer Reports tested “Never Wet”, it didn’t hold up to it’s claims. Still better than nothing. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/01/rustoleum-neverwet-claim-check/index.htm
Can it be applied to a painted surface?
@ Chris, With my experiences with never-wet, yes its very hydrophobic, to the point where mustard can roll off a surface. On the hazing the darken surfaces, you are extremely correct. I wouldnt apply this stuff on anything but White material or very light because it leaves a white haze.
yeah, i’m with robert on this one. it’s fun for a few weeks but requires reapplications very often and as expensive as the darn set is, there are much better options that do not require reapplication. a simple search will show that it really isn’t all it is hyped up to be especially for uses in our hobby. i tried it on a tank stand and you could visibly see when it needed reapplication after just three weeks water would no longer bead over when i would drip after moving frags around and water dripping off my hands. also tried it in my skimmer collection cup which i thought would be great for no fuss cleaning as it wouldn’t stick and a quick rinse would be all that would be necessary. lasted about two weeks and then required reapplication. just a waste of money, really, but fun for pranks and the like at least, haha.
Mark your welcome. I was thinking also of the metal frames some of you use. I know it will not last. Even stainless steel will not last it rusts too but slower.
It a tool to slow the rust.
As other said here you must use it outside or other place not in the house as it very strong flumes.
Mark you should not be recommending things like this you have not tried yourself. Just reading amazon reviews, I suspect this is a terrible product and most likely not aquarium safe!
Ed…the complaints around the product revolved around people not reading the label that the product has to be re-applied. I don’t think the product is bad, people just had a unrealistic expectation about how it should be used.
And I never recommended the product be used in direct contact with water – i.e in your tank. It is meant to be used to coat surfaces like stands, flooring, walls, etc.
Mark, I love you babe. But recommending this product shows you never tried it. I do not care what the label tells us. I did try it. And if your advocating applying it to a stand (your example) You must think a stand looks good with white, waxy, milky looking watery paint like substance on your stuff.
When I bought it then used it was the biggest waist of money I spent at Home Depot in a very long time. Even if this stuff did not look like crap on anything, the vapors that come off of this stuff as it drys will kill you. Anything you apply it to has to be out side in a very well ventilated area until this stuff is 100% dry.
I guess you could tare down your tank completely down every 3-4 weeks (this is all it last at best), then take everything you did not care how it looks and want coated with this product outside so your family and pets will not die from the fumes. If this sounds like a good idea to some I have to rethink how things in life work.
Just admit you dropped the ball on this one. Your only human. We love you babe. It must be very hard finding new stuff to talk about each week. I can understand why it is appealing to talk about every idea that is sent your way so you do not always have to think of something new. But this one is a VERY bad idea.
I’m just saying.
Keep up the good work.