I have PVC pipes supporting my false bottem over the water. I want to spray paint them green but what will happen after long exposure to underwater? Should I clear coat it or shilack it? Is there something easyer to wrap around them liek a plant or I dont know. Any ideas?

Heres What I Mean (*PICTURE REMOVED*)

use Krylon spray paint for plastic. it will be fine.

No clear or shilack just a few good coats of krylon plastic paint? Shuld I lightly sand the PVC? Thanks ~Peace

how do u make them sink?

I have some cut up for my loach tank, and I had to tie them on a huge boulder to keep them from floating.

No need to sand, just give it a good wipe with a solvent (acetone, paint thinner, denatured alcohol, etc) to clean. The paint is specifically designed to meld with the surfaces. Do allow for plenty of curing time before you immerse the painted surfaces though.

bigpow, there are (at least) two forms of standard schedule 40 pvc, one is a foam core, and the other is solid, you probably have the former, but instead need the latter.

imeridian, thanks
didn't know there were more than one type of PVC.
I simply bought some remnants from Osh, one footers of black 2" tubes.
They float like no tomorrow!

Well I mean I do have a rock pond thing on it and a granite stone as a waterfall, but I drilled a few holes in them at the bottem so the water fills them in to waterlevel.

Thanks, how long should I wait? I bought PREMIUM DECOR SATIN PROTECTIVE FINISH says recoat after 1 or 24 hours. If I recoat after 1 hour should I be good after 24 hours to submerge?

Wrong brand. Must be Krylon Fusion, I wouldn't trust anything else.

^ Yes, use only Krylon Fusion paint, nothing else.

I'd give it a solid week before submerging.

Awww man I just painted it. It said for outdoor plastic chairs and such. It wasent cheap eather. You dont think it will work the "fusion" has a different bond than expensive outdoor plastic paint?

If I HAVE TO do I just paint over it or do I have to sand it now?

Krylon Fusion has had relatively extensive anecdotal testing and has been shown as safe for submersion in an aquarium. Whatever you used isn't well-known in the same regard. While I have used Valspar brand plastic paint for non-submerged plastic, I'd only use the genuine Krylon Fusion if I planned to submerge it for that reason.

I would start completely over, some PVC pipe and a can of paint is a small price to pay to avoid possibly poisoning the tank.

Crap! Well thanks for the help Im guna go buy some pvc and krylon tommorow. I have another question though, Im new to the whoel advanced planted tank/vivarium setups. What should I use to grow plants out of as a substrate? Small rocks not sand right? And whats this whole GLA CO2 injected tanks how does that work? Becuase I have a place right down the street that sells co2 and heliuem tanks and fills them. Thanks ~Peace