Rachel0001
Aquarium Advice Regular
Hello out there!
I've tried searching this subject without much luck, so forgive me if this has come up before...here goes:
I got my tank and stand in late August and I LOVE it. It's 100 gallons with a black MDF stand and matching canopy. While the outside has that finished look they all do, the inside looks unfinished. I noticed this when I was setting up the canopy but didn't think much about it because the back of the canopy is open. I've also got glass covers, which cover all but about 3 inches of water.
About three weeks in, I noticed there was a touch of mold in one of the corners. I started leaving the tops open most of the time because I saw condensation on the inside of the two top panels when I kept them closed. I also covered the panels with a plastic liner, hoping that would help, and it did...except I'd find specks of mold popping up around the edges that weren't lined. Just a little though, and I wiped it off and kept the panels open when I could. I also noticed some bubbling in the inside of the canopy, it's obvious that there is moisture inside.
Sitting on my couch tonight, I was watching my fish and realized the two top panels now have a gap between them (about a half inch). What?!
So I took the canopy off (which I have done several times, usually every 10 days or so I decide to move something around in there) and turned it upside down (which I've never done) and WOW there is so much mold! Because of the shadowing from the top panels and where the mold is, I couldn't see it with the canopy on the tank.
Now I know the reason the two front panels gap is because the wood is swollen and the corners are starting to pull apart a bit. Two back corners have pulled apart just enough that I can see the nails between the two pieces of wood.
I have two questions:
1. Is it salvageable? It's MDF, remember...I hope that's not a bad thing. Can it be refinished like a board of solid wood can?
2. If it is, how do I do that? I have zero carpenter skills, no tools (ok,I have a hammer), and a very tight budget.
I really want to fix it. I'm sure it is no big deal, right? Just let it dry, sand it and seal it? I'd reinforce the corners with some brackets too.
I've tried searching this subject without much luck, so forgive me if this has come up before...here goes:
I got my tank and stand in late August and I LOVE it. It's 100 gallons with a black MDF stand and matching canopy. While the outside has that finished look they all do, the inside looks unfinished. I noticed this when I was setting up the canopy but didn't think much about it because the back of the canopy is open. I've also got glass covers, which cover all but about 3 inches of water.
About three weeks in, I noticed there was a touch of mold in one of the corners. I started leaving the tops open most of the time because I saw condensation on the inside of the two top panels when I kept them closed. I also covered the panels with a plastic liner, hoping that would help, and it did...except I'd find specks of mold popping up around the edges that weren't lined. Just a little though, and I wiped it off and kept the panels open when I could. I also noticed some bubbling in the inside of the canopy, it's obvious that there is moisture inside.
Sitting on my couch tonight, I was watching my fish and realized the two top panels now have a gap between them (about a half inch). What?!
So I took the canopy off (which I have done several times, usually every 10 days or so I decide to move something around in there) and turned it upside down (which I've never done) and WOW there is so much mold! Because of the shadowing from the top panels and where the mold is, I couldn't see it with the canopy on the tank.
Now I know the reason the two front panels gap is because the wood is swollen and the corners are starting to pull apart a bit. Two back corners have pulled apart just enough that I can see the nails between the two pieces of wood.
I have two questions:
1. Is it salvageable? It's MDF, remember...I hope that's not a bad thing. Can it be refinished like a board of solid wood can?
2. If it is, how do I do that? I have zero carpenter skills, no tools (ok,I have a hammer), and a very tight budget.
I really want to fix it. I'm sure it is no big deal, right? Just let it dry, sand it and seal it? I'd reinforce the corners with some brackets too.