• Tulsa, Oklahoma’s public ZOO had been having serious leaking problems with their KOI fish pond for several years. Built in 1938, this 64-year-old concrete basin had previously been used as the alligator containment farm. In 1987 it was converted to the KOI pond. A major problem was that the concrete in the basin had serious random fractures, and in some areas the concrete was severally spalled. Over time many attempts were made to stop the leaking using various epoxies, cement patching compounds and cold tar roll on systems, all of which failed. It was determined by zoo personnel that if the pond was to be used as intended, a solution to the loss of water was mandatory. At this point the zoo curator contacted Elastomer Specialties in hopes of finding a solution to the problem.
• Because of budget restraints, the Tulsa ZOO had limited funds with which to repair the KOI pond.
• Elastomer Specialties, Inc. donated the entire repair and coating of the pond to the “City of Tulsa Parks Department” and the “Tulsa Zoo”.
• Once installed, the KOI pond will serve as a beautiful exhibit for the various species of KOI fish on display at the Tulsa Zoo.

 MATERIAL:

• Products specified:
  

  1. Primer - PoxyPrime 100% epoxy primer
  2. Crack repair material - ElastoFil 75 Rapid curing polyurea joint sealant.
  3. Spall repair material - PolyBon Rapid repair epoxy/Urethane polymer
  4. Base coat - ElastoFil 75 Spray Aromatic, low pressure spray polyurea
  5. Top coat - GatorGard Black Low pressure polyurea spray

• Prior to application of the GatorGard system, the pond was drained and all the dirt and debris removed. The City of Tulsa was responsible for the surface preparation using sand blasting equipment. Elastomer Specialties project supervisor directed the operation in order to obtain the required surface profile.
• Once the sand blast portion of the project was complete, plastic visquene was draped around the entire pond area to protect the plants and surrounding area from over spray.
• During the next phase the random cracks were filled with ElastoFil 75 and covered with adhesive backed tape.
• The major spalled concrete sections were then patched with rapid set concrete, allowed to cure and then covered with adhesive backed tape. All the bricks around the perimeter of the valve pit were re-mortared, then the entire pond area was primed with PoxyPrime. The primer was applied using standard, short nap paint rollers. Coverage rate was 150 to 200 square feet per gallon.
• The base coat of ElastoFil 75 Spray was applied at approximately 60 mils using a “Condor” low-pressure plural component pump system, manufactured by Elastomer Specialties, Inc. Three technicians were required during the application process: a gun man, hose man, and a pump operator.
• Once the base coat was installed, the material in the pump system was changed out and the top coat (GatorGard) was loaded into the bulk holding tanks. At this point a 15-mil top coat of GatorGard was applied followed by a 15 mil stipple or texture coat. The final stipple coat was designed to provide a uniform appearance to the pond and give a non-skid surface for maintenance crews. GatorGard was installed at a final film thickness of 30 mils. The total protective coating system averaged between 85 and 95 mils.
• Once the installation was completed, Zoo personnel began filling the pond within 12 hours.