About a new stand that I'm building...

[Dom]

For reasons I won't get in to here (I'll do it in my new build thread), I am building a new stand. Assembly is complete. Sanding is done. Now it is time for the finish, which will be a dark walnut stain and multiple coats of polyurethane.

My Question:

It was necessary to assemble the stand in the room where it will be used. This also happens to be the room where my current systems are.

I want to apply finishes in the room where the current systems are, but I am afraid of what effect off-gassing will have on the tanks in the room. Moving the stand to another room won't necessarily make a difference since the entire house will smell of the finish.

I have removed my protein skimmers and have opened a return to the central air in the room where the tanks reside. I've also placed an activated charcoal filter in the central air unit.

Is this enough to protect my tanks so that I can apply the finish to the new stand in the room with the tanks?

What do you think?

 

[Billdogg]

If possible, put a box fan in a window to help ventilate. I'd also suggest doubling down on carbon in a reactor.

FWIW - I've built and finished way too many stands in the same room as the tanks without issue. I also finished a 2200sf basement with an open top 120DT in one corner. Didn't seem to faze it at all - everything from acid etching the floor, epoxy floor paint, drywalling, etc.

 

[Dom]

If possible, put a box fan in a window to help ventilate. I'd also suggest doubling down on carbon in a reactor.

FWIW - I've built and finished way too many stands in the same room as the tanks without issue. I also finished a 2200sf basement with an open top 120DT in one corner. Didn't seem to faze it at all - everything from acid etching the floor, epoxy floor paint, drywalling, etc.

Thanks for the quick reply.

My gut tells me that I'd probably do it without any ill effect to the tanks. But I see so many posts about scented candles and alike that cause problems in a room with tanks, I wanted feedback.

 

[Tl02022020]

If it’s water based poly, I’ve used that in rooms with tanks with no ill effects. I’ve also used oil based poly in a room with a FW tank and had no problem. I run carbon in the tanks, open windows, and use fans. The oil poly, whose lovely finish I prefer, is so strong it gave me a nasty headache and stunk up the whole house for a few days. But, fish seemed fine.