Bonding acrylic and glass

[eshook]

I'm working on a horizontal overflow system and have an external overflow box made of acrylic. I would like to bond this to the outside of my glass aquarium.

My method was to first use epoxy (dries clear) for the inital mount and then put silicone over the epoxy. I have heard many stories of epoxy failing over time so I was wondering if anyone else has had some acrylic to glass experience and could offer advice?

ThADVANCEnks

 

[mux11]

I would also like to know. I built an internal overflow that I siliconed in and it came loose after about 2 mo of use.

 

[musty baby]

Did I not see this exact thread in another forum?

 

[musty baby]

Oh, and I would think silicone alone would work fine. You can always adhere it to the plastic bracing for extra strength, as well.

 

[Highlander]

Plumber's Goop give a strong, and reef safe bond between acrylic and glass.

 

[compjtc]

well, i'm sure you know this already, but just silicone won't work. I tried that to bond an acrylic baffle in a glass sump. It held up for a whole 10 seconds.

 

[KnoxvilleIa]

bond

bond

google devcon
give them a call and ask what epoxie is the best.
They have come a long way in the past few years with glue.
If you are bonding anything of value it is worth the call.

 

[thugmebaby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8424358#post8424358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by compjtc
well, i'm sure you know this already, but just silicone won't work. I tried that to bond an acrylic baffle in a glass sump. It held up for a whole 10 seconds.

My sump is still holding strong after 4 years. I have had NO leaks and no issues at all with bonding of glass and crylic in sumps. The right silcone is key.

 

[Atticus]

The right silicone and the proper cure time is critical.

 

[mux11]

K, so whats the secret? I used the GE that is stated here in many posts about assembling sumps and what not. Cant remember for sure but I think I gave it a week or two to cure.
Atticus, is that tony on your milk?

 

[eshook]

Well, I read some more information and used a 1 hour cure epoxy to do the initial bond (flexible when cured) I then put a *heavy* layer of 24 hour cure epoxy (rigid when cured) On top of this I put a large bead of silicone. All 3 layers touch both the epoxy and the glass. I hope that this combination will hold as the box is external to the tank.