I've researched everywhere for a definite answer but I can't find much, and what I can find isn't very definitive, I don't know what to do! Keep in mind I'm talking about dried true bamboo you can get in long stalks in the garden department, not the live lucky bamboo.
I would really like to put some dried bamboo into my aquarium. I don't want it to rot, but I'm having a very hard time figuring out what sort of sealer I can put on it with the least hassle and without it coming off in water or harming my fish. I got a couple of large stalks the other day and cut them into 10 inch pieces, about 5 pieces per stem. I tried to go the clear silicone route but it turned into a complete disaster (didn't figure out they foil sealed the top of the caulk until the silicone started to burst out of the bottom of the gun , my rubber gloves ripped, silicone went everywhere and I lost 4-5 silicone coated pieces because I couldn't get them to stand up straight to dry with my makeshift clay/sewingpin stand. I stopped while I was ahead and have 6 pieces left...).
Anyways, I'd like to try polyurethane because it sounds a lot less messy than the silicone since I can paint one side at a time and not have to stand them up. I feel like I can trust silicone more than poly but I don't know how I can keep the pieces from wobbling around and falling over and getting sticky gooey stuff all over. I also have a bamboo sushi mat (click for pic) that I think it would be neat to seal up and use for a tank divider for some bettas, but not really sure how I can do that. If I can seal up the bamboo rods, I'm sure I can seal the mat, but the strings might have to be replaced with some plastic thread.
So has anyone ever coated wood/bamboo in polyurethane, know someone who has, know a brand I can use without any peeling/dissolving, or have any idea how I can stand up silicone coated bamboo sticks? Any help or advice is welcome!
I would really like to put some dried bamboo into my aquarium. I don't want it to rot, but I'm having a very hard time figuring out what sort of sealer I can put on it with the least hassle and without it coming off in water or harming my fish. I got a couple of large stalks the other day and cut them into 10 inch pieces, about 5 pieces per stem. I tried to go the clear silicone route but it turned into a complete disaster (didn't figure out they foil sealed the top of the caulk until the silicone started to burst out of the bottom of the gun , my rubber gloves ripped, silicone went everywhere and I lost 4-5 silicone coated pieces because I couldn't get them to stand up straight to dry with my makeshift clay/sewingpin stand. I stopped while I was ahead and have 6 pieces left...).
Anyways, I'd like to try polyurethane because it sounds a lot less messy than the silicone since I can paint one side at a time and not have to stand them up. I feel like I can trust silicone more than poly but I don't know how I can keep the pieces from wobbling around and falling over and getting sticky gooey stuff all over. I also have a bamboo sushi mat (click for pic) that I think it would be neat to seal up and use for a tank divider for some bettas, but not really sure how I can do that. If I can seal up the bamboo rods, I'm sure I can seal the mat, but the strings might have to be replaced with some plastic thread.
So has anyone ever coated wood/bamboo in polyurethane, know someone who has, know a brand I can use without any peeling/dissolving, or have any idea how I can stand up silicone coated bamboo sticks? Any help or advice is welcome!