black acrylic

[timrandlerv10]

hey!

i need to build the internal overflow for my 75. i'm thinking a 3' piece of black acrylic, about 6" tall and 2" from the overflow to the tank wall. any thoughts?

also, where can i find a piece of black acrylic, preferrably locally?

thanks!

tim

ps--any bending/glueing suggestions?

 

[mltmtascp]

Check with A & D Glass Co
523 Church St NW, Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 533-5896

I got some regular acylic from them.

 

[8BALL_99]

EPI Plastics in Huntsville is where I get mine most of the time. Not sure about their # I have a card somewhere but they are in the book. If this is a glass tank Acrylic won't stick very well. A oven @150 to bend it or if its to large you can use a blow torch just go slow and heat both sides as even as you can.. If its 1/8" Acrylic you can bend it very easy even with a heat gun used to strip paint will work.

Got your PM I just have been busy and never got back to you! I've been busy with an addition onto our house and ofcourse the holidays lol.. As soon as I get done with my stuff I already have several things for others I need to do, so it would be awhile.

Will

 

[timrandlerv10]

how do you get it to stick to glass?

 

[8BALL_99]

You Dont really. Silicone works OK at best. The silicone won't stick to the acrylic very well. Your best bet would be to scuff the edges up on the acrylic and use alot of silicone.. Even then though it just doesn't hold very well.. I've heard Marine Goop works better, But I've never used it..

Will

 

[timrandlerv10]

so what can i use to make the overflow? glass?

 

[zaozao]

Does EPI Plastics in Huntsville sell weldon?

 

[8BALL_99]

Tim, Hard to say, If its a glass tank then yeah glass would hold much better.. I mean you could use Acrylic if you wanted. Just not sure how well it would hold.


zaozao, Not sure, I buy mine from Tap plastics online

Will

 

[timrandlerv10]

...would it be possible to make a weir out of just one piece of glass, angled from the base of the hole out 45 degrees?

and how do you make the little 'o' for degrees on a keyboard??

if i got a piece of glass 48" long mounted 45 degrees away from the back wall, it seems like it would be a great overflow--i could get a very small amount of overflow across the whole tank, just the very top layer. i think there would be a natural current towards the center where the drain is.

i know i would have to support it initially, but will silicone just hold the weight of all that glass?

 

[Bkndsdl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11410248#post11410248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timrandlerv10
...would it be possible to make a weir out of just one piece of glass, angled from the base of the hole out 45 degrees? if i got a piece of glass 48" long mounted 45 degrees away from the back wall, it seems like it would be a great overflow--i could get a very small amount of overflow across the whole tank, just the very top layer. i think there would be a natural current towards the center where the drain is.

It would be much better to build a glass angle and silicone it into the tank (like this: _l), with the fwd piece of glass somewhat lower than the glass of the tank, creating an overflow. You would need to have holes drilled in the back of the tank for the water to drain out of the overflow.

i know i would have to support it initially, but will silicone just hold the weight of all that glass?

........think about it.....your tank is nothing but silicone just holding the weight of all that glass, along w/ alot of water......really, it's not holding up any weight when it's in the water, both sides are equalized.

and how do you make the little 'o' for degrees on a keyboard??

good question, haven't figured out that one myself!

As far as your baffle question, you can get black plexi at Lowe's. However, you can glue acrylic to glass, but if you don't get the acrylic thick enough, the acrylic will bow and in some cases may cycle back and forth, creating a wave in your sump. I buy glass cut to fit from Lowe's, then silicone it in place; works great.

Hope this helps! I might be able to get a few pics, if you would like.......

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Anthony Calfo's horizontal overflow box

Anthony Calfo's horizontal overflow box

Tim,

Try this thread for Anthony calfo's horizontal overflow box. You can see a couple of pictures of it in the attachment box at the beginning of the thread.

The skinny horizontal overflow is made of glass sheets.

Tomoko

 

[H@rry]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11410248#post11410248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timrandlerv10

and how do you make the little 'o' for degrees on a keyboard??

Try Alt-167 = º

 

[timrandlerv10]

ok, i'm going to measure the length of the back about 3" out and get a piece cut to fit.

if the distance is (for example) exactly 48", what size do i need in order to be able to slide it in?
what width glass do i want?
what silicone do i use? the GE I (maybe II, its the non-mold formula)?

I'm really excited to try the glass...lowes cuts glass? will they ground and chamfer the edges? are their different types of glass?

tomoko great link. there was a post in there 'sometimes l get in the way of sound physics' and thats so me right now

tim

 

[zaozao]

I stopped by EPI systems and the lady said that they did not sell Weld On, but I did order some from Tap online.
Thanks 8ball

 

[timrandlerv10]

ok so i bought a bottom and front piece instead of putting in one at an angle.

they will be 47 1/8" long, one 7" and one 3" wide, and both are 1/4" thick. i will get them tomorrow and mount them using teh GE non-mold inhibiting silicone.

i'm assuming i'll have to put something there to support them until the silicone is dry (two days?).

 

[H@rry]

Take a look at this:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1275722

 

[timrandlerv10]

that's exactly how i want mine to look. the glass is ready, i'm going to get it now.

we're going to apply the silicone, join all the pieces and have two pieces of wood to support the bottom until the silicone hardens.

hopefully i'll remember to take pics.