scottkip91
Member
what can I use to attach my acrylic overflow box to my glass tank?
I want it to be secure and water tight.
thanks!
I want it to be secure and water tight.
thanks!
acrylic to glass glue
- Thread starter scottkip91
- Start date
mistacheese
New member
Nuclear fusion... Seriously though, I would recommend not attempting that, my experience is that there isn't anything that will allow you to permanently do this.
csarkar001
New member
acrylic to glass is a tough one. in fact, acrylic to anything non-acrylic is tough.
i have no personal experience with this glue but have read on a different forum that the best thing to use if you must do this combination is "Mr. Sticky's Underwater Glue."
once again, no personal experience with it.
if you do try it, please post your results.
i have no personal experience with this glue but have read on a different forum that the best thing to use if you must do this combination is "Mr. Sticky's Underwater Glue."
once again, no personal experience with it.
if you do try it, please post your results.
1DeR9_3Hy
New member
Whatever silicone you use for your aquarium will work (i see some recommend RTV 103 or GE II, but i dont like either of them....they setup way to fast).
Will the bond be as strong as glass to glass? No.
Will it be water tight? Secure? YEP! You wont be able to rip it off the tank with your strong arm pulling and your weak are pushing
Will the bond be as strong as glass to glass? No.
Will it be water tight? Secure? YEP! You wont be able to rip it off the tank with your strong arm pulling and your weak are pushing
DustinB
New member
So when it leaks and the water level is allowed to drop to the drain line, thereby causing his sump to overflow ruining his floor, causing his house to collapse, which in turn causes his wife to leave him, then losing custody of his kids because he can't maintain a safe household are you gonna be the one to console him and pay his lawyer fees? Better yet, are you going to have money to pay your lawyer fees when you get sued for giving inaccurate structural information?
I used Lepage Extreme Repair Adhesive to join some acrylic to ABS for a skimmer modification I did. I ran it for two months with no sign of a leak. I wanted to be able to cut it apart if things didn't work out, and ultimately I cut it apart like normal silicone. I can tell you the stuff bonded like crazy even to the acrylic. It's aquarium safe and releases acetic acid like silicone does. Maybe it will work...
http://www.lepageproducts.com/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=132
btw, I got it at home depot.
http://www.lepageproducts.com/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=132
btw, I got it at home depot.
jimmyj7090
aka John K
Two thoughts;
-Standpipe(s).
-Commercially made "reef ready" tanks have their overflows installed with silicone.
PurpleMonster
New member
100% silicone, make sure you silicone it correctly or it will leak and it will flood your sump, then home..... The fact is there and this can happen to any ones tank. It is pretty simple to put a bead of silicone on the walls of the acrylic however.....
use some painters tape to make it look cleaner, you put your box in the location that it will reside in and then put your painters tape about 3/4" away from the box. the 3/4" is just a guess im sure you could go more or acutally probably down to 1/2". Put a bead of silicone on the edges of the overflow box and then add it to your wall. use an edgeing tool for silicone to clean up the bead or do liek i do and use your finger(suggest having a glove on) if there are any gaps apply abit more silicone and clean it up again.... yous houdl be fine bud....
IF YOU SCREW IT UP HOWEVER I AM NOT IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FLOODS OR ANY SCREAMING FROM THE SIGNIFICAN OTHER
Didnt mean to yell so much just wanted to be clear.
Happy Reefing.
use some painters tape to make it look cleaner, you put your box in the location that it will reside in and then put your painters tape about 3/4" away from the box. the 3/4" is just a guess im sure you could go more or acutally probably down to 1/2". Put a bead of silicone on the edges of the overflow box and then add it to your wall. use an edgeing tool for silicone to clean up the bead or do liek i do and use your finger(suggest having a glove on) if there are any gaps apply abit more silicone and clean it up again.... yous houdl be fine bud....
IF YOU SCREW IT UP HOWEVER I AM NOT IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FLOODS OR ANY SCREAMING FROM THE SIGNIFICAN OTHER
Didnt mean to yell so much just wanted to be clear.
Happy Reefing.
Agu
Premium Member
Nobody has asked the important question.
Will this overflow be inside or outside the tank ?
If it's inside the tank the water pressure will be close to equal with more pressure exerted on the overflow from water in the tank. You're not looking for a structural seal only a water seal. Any aquarium safe silicone will do the job. A standpipe with a Durso is double protection and also silences the overflow.
If it's an exterior overflow the tank water pressure will be pushing away from the seal and you need a structural seal. Because silicon doesn't bond that well to acrylic, a glass external overflow on a glass tank is preferred.
Will this overflow be inside or outside the tank ?
If it's inside the tank the water pressure will be close to equal with more pressure exerted on the overflow from water in the tank. You're not looking for a structural seal only a water seal. Any aquarium safe silicone will do the job. A standpipe with a Durso is double protection and also silences the overflow.
If it's an exterior overflow the tank water pressure will be pushing away from the seal and you need a structural seal. Because silicon doesn't bond that well to acrylic, a glass external overflow on a glass tank is preferred.
PurpleMonster
New member
absolutely right... my apologies, please only follow what i said if the overflow is inside your tank
outside the tank, get yourself a galss made overflow then silicone it
outside the tank, get yourself a galss made overflow then silicone it
jimmyj7090
aka John K
Same here.
Never try to attach an acrylic overflow on the outside of a glass tank.
Never try to attach an acrylic overflow on the outside of a glass tank.
Agu
Premium Member
BTW, the masking tape does make for a cleaner looking job. You only need about a 1/4" overlap on both the glass and overflow. Remember to remove the tape before the silicone sets up or it won't come off. I suggest a couple of practice runs with some pieces of scrap to get the technique and timing down. I've attached a couple of internal overflows that way and they look clean and professional.
scottkip91
Member
thanks, the overflow box is going inside the tank by the way.
The only glue I know of that might do thr trick is Urethane Cement. It's sold in tubes and used to patch waders, fix rods, repair wet suits, and I have found it to be the only glue that attaches flexible vinyl to itself and just about anything else. Its what i use to make the deep clear flex vinyl hand nets used for aquarium fish collecting. Commercially made tropicals collecting nets typically have sewed seams and stiched attachments to the frame. Urethane will bond almost anything, bond it strong, and bond it nearly forever. It's expensive, and hard to work with. Take great care. It takes days to get off your hands, a testimony to its ability to attach itself. Don't let it run, because whatever it touches will probably have urethane on it forever. It's a wonder substance.
1DeR9_3Hy
New member
If a tank manufacturer that is liable for their work does it...than why would it be a problem for us to do it?
dlmcdougal
New member
The best thing to do is to get a 5 sided overflow box (only the top is open) and drill a hole the same size as on the outside of the tank, run a bead of silicone in between the box and tank wall to make a good seal. The bulkhead will hold everything together and keep
Pressure on the silicone "washer"
You are all welcome
Pressure on the silicone "washer"
You are all welcome
