material for constructing overflow boxes

[mattsilvester]

Hi guys,

I have a query about overflows. When I got my 180 tank built , I had the guy make the tank, and drill it, but I built the overflows myself. At the time I thought it would be fine to build them in clear glass, however I have always wished I did it in black - like most commercially bought tanks seem to have.

I now have the opertunity to re-do it. I have had to drain my tank for the next 6 months while I have building works carried out on my home, so I am thinking of cutting out the clear glass overflow boxes and replace them with black (non transparent) glass.

My question is (and this may sound stupid) what is normally used to build overflow boxes with? Is it simply black glass? If so, is there a particular type or specification of black glass that I should get, or can I simply go into a glass merchant and ask for 4 pieces of 7"x24" black glass, and stick them together with a tube of standard clear silicone, in the same manor I did last time?

If I am totally off the mark with my assumptions, could someone please set me straight.

Thanks guys,
regards,

Matt.

 

[bassnman11]

Sounds like you have the right idea. Get regular glass the same thickness as the clear you used previously.

 

[mattsilvester]

Thanks bassman11.
So I'll just go in, and asked for blackened glass...... should any decent glass merchant have it? Is it expensive?

 

[LazyD]

Theres different types of colored glass, for instance Spandrel glass will most likely give you the "blackest" glass, or for that matter, just about any color you want because they paint the glass, problem being is one surface of the glass is covered in paint, not sure if thats reef safe or not or if being in saltwater will break it down etc.

There is also tinted glass, I honestly dont know the makeup but I know there is no chemical like paint that could be introduced to the system. If you want some dark tinted glass go into your local glass shop and ask them for Greylite #14 or Greylite #31, it shouldnt be incredibly expensive but expect to pay more for it then you would for clear glass(to be expected). Most glass shops should also carry just standard grey or bronze, sometimes called Solar Grey or Solar Bronze that is usually only a few cents more a square foot then clear.

 

[mattsilvester]

thanks for the help guys - I will call in to a glass shop tomorrow and see what they have, ad report back here if I have any more queries.
Thanks.
Matt

 

[xtrstangx]

Yep, you can do glass or perhaps even acrylic.

Make sure to use GE Silicone I, Window and Door, Clear!

 

[LazyD]

In my personal experience and from what the majority of DIYers here say, acrylic to acrylic and glass to glass, if integrity is important, otherwise do whichever youd like.

I have acrylic baffles in my 30g glass sump and their fine, next go around im gonna do glass baffles though, just my opinion....

 

[mattsilvester]

I enquired with my local glazier, and he reckons that the only black glass you can get is the type that is painted black. However, he did comment that the "paint" is baked on on the factory, not just painted with a roller or the like, and seems to be of the opinion that it would be fine in salt water........

As good intentioned as the galzier is, I am not willing to take his word for it. Has anyone ever used this type of black glass?

I forgot to ask about the "Greylite #14 or Greylite #31" as LazyD suggested (essentially a very dark, tinted galss from what I can gather). If thjis was dark enough, I would be happy to go with that - I think I'll call in to the glazier later and see.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[manderx]

you could do an acrylic piece that wraps around the existing overflow.

 

[tack-msv]

Follow manderx' suggestion. Just buy 1/8" black acrylic cut in size so as to cover the clear glass overflow. Then you would just silicone the acrylic to the glass. Since it is not "holding" water, it should not be a critical issue with the different materials adhering to one another.

 

[mattsilvester]

thanks for the suggestion - I will look at that too!

At the moment, my first preference would be to use the tinted glass, if it is tinted enough to be effective opaque. I would like to re-build the overflows anyway - they are a little too small at the moment, at just 6" square. I would like to enlarge these to maybe 8" square, to allow more space for access - so the glass option would be number one.

But, in either case, if I cannot get dark enough glass, I may well enlarge the overflows using plain glass, and stick some thin acrylic to it, in the same way suggested.

I didn't manage to call into the glass merchant this evening, but I will try them tomorrow and see what is on offer.

Thanks again for the input guys.
regards,
Matt