capping holes on bottom glass

[Flippers4pups]

I want to cap existing drain/return holes on bottom glass. So has anyone done this, if so, how? The way I see it, there's two ways to make this happen: 1) using a bulkhead and pvc cap or 2) Silicone a piece of glass over the hole.

Expertise in this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Bump, I know someone has done this!

 

[r-balljunkie]

think u summed it up fine. make sure you get a good grade of adhesive, and not off the shelf GE silicone.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Right, but now I'm thinking of just using bulkheads with plugs. I'm worried though that they may just start to leak years down the road. But come to think of it, all my bulkhead fittings in all the tanks I've ever had never leaked.

 

[billdogg]

If you go the glass route, use the same thickness as the actual bottom pane. I would go the bulkhead route myself - you never know what you may want to do in a year or two.

 

[uncleof6]

Siliconed glass patch will not last, and the odds are the silicone will never cure. Silicone breaks down in salt water. It is not a quick fix. It is of questionable value.

A capped bulkhead is the best route to go.

 

[ca1ore]

If you go the glass route, use the same thickness as the actual bottom pane. I would go the bulkhead route myself - you never know what you may want to do in a year or two.

I have used glass patches on holes in glass tanks, and works fine, but is a bear to remove if you change your mind. I'd vote bulkhead and plug as well.

 

[billdogg]

Siliconed glass patch will not last, and the odds are the silicone will never cure. Silicone breaks down in salt water. It is not a quick fix. It is of questionable value.

A capped bulkhead is the best route to go.

OK. This one puts me right over the edge. Silicone breaks down in saltwater??? REALLY??? That is, by far, the WORST, most erroneous advice I have ever heard. So what you are telling us is that EVERY SINGLE GLASS TANK on the planet is in eminent danger of catastrophic failure? WOW. So just exactly what is it that they seal glass tanks with?

The glass patch is a very good, although very permanent, method of patching the hole.

at least you got part of it right. (A capped bulkhead is the best route to go.)

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

OK. This one puts me right over the edge. Silicone breaks down in saltwater??? REALLY??? That is, by far, the WORST, most erroneous advice I have ever heard. So what you are telling us is that EVERY SINGLE GLASS TANK on the planet is in eminent danger of catastrophic failure? WOW. So just exactly what is it that they seal glass tanks with?

The glass patch is a very good, although very permanent, method of patching the hole.

at least you got part of it right. (A capped bulkhead is the best route to go.)

read the side of any tube of silicone...if it isnt on the tube (which it should be) it will be in the documentation and clearly stated almost always in caps..."NOT FOR USE BELOW WATER LINE" it is not just salt water but water in general that breaks down the adhesive properties of silicone...that is why there is a an inner seal on your tank to prevent water contact with the structural bond between the panes of glass. but yes, given time, silicone submersed in water will fail...

PVC cement however, will not fail, and a capped bulkhead is a considerably better option...

 

[Flippers4pups]

Okay guys, I've decided to go the bulkhead route. It may cost more in the long run, but it will give me some flexibility long-term.

Thanks for your input!

( maybe closed loop?.............anyway.)

 

[sleepydoc]

OK. This one puts me right over the edge. Silicone breaks down in saltwater??? REALLY??? That is, by far, the WORST, most erroneous advice I have ever heard. So what you are telling us is that EVERY SINGLE GLASS TANK on the planet is in eminent danger of catastrophic failure? WOW. So just exactly what is it that they seal glass tanks with?

LOL - Uncle knows more about tank construction and silicone than most people around here, and is generally correct, even if he doesn't always put things delicately!

Okay guys, I've decided to go the bulkhead route. It may cost more in the long run, but it will give me some flexibility long-term.

+1 to this - this should cost less than $10-15, depending on the bulkheads, not a whole lot more than getting some pieces of glass and a tube of good quality silicone...

 

[ca1ore]

OK. This one puts me right over the edge. Silicone breaks down in saltwater??? REALLY???

I recently saw a 180 gallon tank for sale that I originally bought in 1990. According to the seller (owner number 3 as near as I could tell) the tank is still going strong, so if silicone really does breakdown in the presence of water it takes at least 24 years

 

[billdogg]

I recently saw a 180 gallon tank for sale that I originally bought in 1990. According to the seller (owner number 3 as near as I could tell) the tank is still going strong, so if silicone really does breakdown in the presence of water it takes at least 24 years

my point exactly. My 120 refugium I got used in 1988 or so, and it had been in use at the lfs as a feeder goldfish tank for at least 10 years prior to that, so we are looking at at least 35 years of continual submersion in either fresh or saltwater.