Time allowance for paint to dry inside canopy?

MyLittleReef · Jun 30, 2017

I am going to be painting the inside of my canopy this weekend and will likely use white appliance paint or the paint for marine boats. How long does the paint need to cure/air out before I can put it back on my tank without risk of harming both the inhabitants and the paint job? My lights are mounted to the canopy so the reef will have to be without light for the project.

I don't know why on earth I didn't paint the canopy when I painted underneath the tank, but it needs to be done now because I'm starting to get a white fuzzy mold growing on both ends on the wood.

Flippers4pups · Jun 30, 2017

I suggest getting a coat of kilz primer on it first if you had mold on it before. Wipe it down with some bleach and let dry before the kilz.

A day once dry should be good before use. Corals will be fine with no light during that time.

Labridaedicted · Jun 30, 2017

Either of those 2 paints will be fully cured in 24 hr. I used the appliance paint inside my canopy and it did take a full 24 hours for the smell to go away. Make sure you do it outside. Both of these are high voc and will fume the heck out of wherever you do it at.

MyLittleReef · Jul 6, 2017

Ok, found out the best thing to scrub off mold is vinegar. Now I've discovered rust on the casing of my lights and the paint is starting to bubble a little. Do you see a problem with following the same process I did for my canopy as for the lights? Scraping first to remove the rusty bubbles, wiping with vinegar, and then painting with both kilnz and appliance paint Mounting them higher isn't really an option.

Labridaedicted · Jul 6, 2017

Rust is a whole different beast. Looks like the case is steel, so you will likely need to sand it where the rust is to remove most of the oxidation. You'll need to get it nice and clean for good adhesion. Touch up any other scratches as well, while your at it to prevent further rust. I think the appliance paint will work in this situation. I don't know if the kilz is necessary as it is mainly to help with stains and mold which shouldn't be a problem on metal.