quick question on home made sump

[str8clownr]

hey guys,,


im trying to make a sump out of a 20g for my 65g ....


i went to HD and bought plexi glass and started cutting it 11 and 3/4 inch wide...because the guy at the fish store told me that was the desired width of the inside of the tank.... now that i have the pieces cut, it seems they are 1/4 inch too short, will the silicone hold them being slighty shorter then necessary or do i need to buy new plexiglass/ glass and get it cut to 12" on the interior width?

thank you

 

[mg426]

If the panels are 1/4 inch to small that should be 1/8th inch on each side. I would give it a try, might have to prop up the panels untill the Silicone sets.

 

[str8clownr]

thanks for the advice....do you think the silicone will hold the plexi, with all the pressure from the water on all sides? it shouldn't break? im kind of making it into a fuge...

thanks though

 

[cbell]

i intentionally cut mine 1/4" short and mine have held so far. I made the mistake of cutting them for a tight fit and with in a couple months the tank cracked right where the acrylic was putting preasure on the glass. good luck with your sump.

 

[Avi]

Just make sure that there is a bead of silicon completely filling the space between the edges of the acrylic where it "meets" the glass, and then put a bead of silicon on each side of that silicon, at the 45-degree angle where the acrylic "meets" the glass. This will adequately hold your acrylic in place and you should never have a problem with it after that.

 

[str8clownr]

thanks guys ....very helpful info....will post how it goes tomorrow