Mike (and other interested parties)... I'll bet there is a plastic product on the market that you could dip the ends of the posts into...say up to a foot. Of course that would be a pre-assembly process but I've contemplated taking my racks down, dipping/coating them and putting them back up. If there isn't a plastic product you can still dip them into the varnish/whatever. Just an idea. Take care, Jim -- High Prairie Farms Freshwater Aquarium Fishes San Rafael, California 415-472-7294 ext. 225 (phone) 415-472-7971 (fax) http://www.atchison.com/highprairiefarms.html LIVE FOODS! http://www.atchison.com/HPlive.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com. For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com. Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!