Can i use a pond sealer or paint to coat a metal pot and protect the fish?

[Calvin1]

Hello,

I am wanting to use this pot to create a small water garden with 1-2 small fish.

It is made of aluminium and I have heard that this may affect the health of the fish.

If I paint the inside with a pond sealer / pond paint, would this layer provide some protection? Alternatively, would you have any other suggestions or insights?

Many thanks!

[EricL]

Hello @Calvin1 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about sealing your metal pot.

I've just been in contact with the Crommelin technical team, and they said that they can't guarantee that the sealer will bind to the side of the aluminium bowl. I did ask "what if the inside of the bowl was sanded down and roughed up?" They said that you could try to do a test patch and if it holds and does not slide off then you can do the entire bowl, but it will still not be covered under the warranty as the sealer could detach from the side of the bowl.

Just in case you were wondering, I was asking about the Crommelin 1L Clear Pond Sealer. I also inquired about the black pond sealer, and they said that the same condition applies and that it will not bind to the aluminium surface.   

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Calvin1]

Thanks Eric. 
Appreciate your assistance with this.
Best regards.

[Dave-1]

Evening @Calvin1 

Wel I went and had a look about aluminium in fish tanks and its a no go, new thing 1 for the day

The pond liner paint bonding to the aluminium is my concern as well. You could always go the route of a "pond liner" AQUAPRO 3 x 2m x 0.5mm PVC Pond Liner itself and cut a piece out and insert into the bowl. There is also a smaller version of the product, not sure how wide your bowl is tho. You could use a silastic or even drill and rivet the edge with some washers to hold the liner in place (Around the top) That would be the least hassel for the fish. They wont care if there are some ripples in the base of the tank

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @Calvin1 

Stainless steel is the only metal known to be fish safe. So, it leaves applying some form of Lin ing to the inside that is, but will adhere to the metal. Then I guess there is the issue of aesthetics and what you're willing to do that will affect the look of the feature.

The simplest and safest is to line the inside of the bowl with a pond liner. Then weight it down with small washed pebbles. use a rubber edge trim to fastening the liner in place around the top edge of the bowl and use a sharp blade to trim the excess.

Nailbag