Acrylic to Glass

sus · 01/14/2008, 01:22 PM

I know this has probably been asked a thousand times, but...
I'm building an acrylic overflow for my glass tank.
whats the best way to bond the overflow to the tank?
Thanks-

kgross · 01/14/2008, 07:37 PM

Silicone is the best way that we have. Ruff up the acrylic where it will be covered with the silicone. IMO the best route is to use an industrial silicone such as Dow Corning 795 or 1200 series GE silicone, both available at any roofing/glazing supply house. If not the GE silicone I door and window will work also.

Kim

not_sponsored · 01/14/2008, 08:18 PM

Silicone will eventually fail.

mfinn · 01/14/2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by not_sponsored
Silicone will eventually fail.

Yes it will, but do you have a better way?

My acrylic overflow box has been siliconed to the back wall of my glass 40 gallon tank for approx. 5 years and is still holding.

not_sponsored · 01/14/2008, 08:33 PM

A glass overflow.

mfinn · 01/14/2008, 08:45 PM

Pretty tough to cut teeth into a glass overflow. But if you don't have a need for teeth, it would work.
My 240 came with glass overflow boxes, but I made acrylic covers for them. Used silicone, works fine.
I've seen many glass tanks that come rr with acrylic boxes siliconed in.

not_sponsored · 01/14/2008, 08:55 PM

Just make a square glass box and put egg crate around the inside, or put your already made acrylic box inside it.

I wouldn't be able to sleep at night...

not_sponsored · 01/14/2008, 08:58 PM

The rr boxes are from tank top to bottom and the force is exerted horizontally into the box, pushing the box into the corner or into the wall of the tank and parallel to a seal. If he's using this style of box silicone will be fine. If he's using a smaller box that is only at the top of the tank the buoyant force will be acting vertically on the box, pushing it away from the wall and perpendicular to a seal.

sus · 01/14/2008, 09:26 PM

My overflow will be on the back wall in the center. I should mention that it is only a 20 gal long, and will have a standpipe so the force shouldn't be too much...

01/14/2008, 01:22 PM	#1
sus Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Arvada Colorado Posts: 606	Acrylic to Glass I know this has probably been asked a thousand times, but... I'm building an acrylic overflow for my glass tank. whats the best way to bond the overflow to the tank? Thanks-

01/14/2008, 07:37 PM	#2
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	Silicone is the best way that we have. Ruff up the acrylic where it will be covered with the silicone. IMO the best route is to use an industrial silicone such as Dow Corning 795 or 1200 series GE silicone, both available at any roofing/glazing supply house. If not the GE silicone I door and window will work also. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

01/14/2008, 08:45 PM	#6
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Pretty tough to cut teeth into a glass overflow. But if you don't have a need for teeth, it would work. My 240 came with glass overflow boxes, but I made acrylic covers for them. Used silicone, works fine. I've seen many glass tanks that come rr with acrylic boxes siliconed in. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

01/14/2008, 08:18 PM	#3
not_sponsored Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hiding Posts: 341	Silicone will eventually fail.

01/14/2008, 08:33 PM	#5
not_sponsored Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hiding Posts: 341	A glass overflow.

01/14/2008, 08:55 PM	#7
not_sponsored Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hiding Posts: 341	Just make a square glass box and put egg crate around the inside, or put your already made acrylic box inside it. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night...

01/14/2008, 08:58 PM	#8
not_sponsored Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hiding Posts: 341	The rr boxes are from tank top to bottom and the force is exerted horizontally into the box, pushing the box into the corner or into the wall of the tank and parallel to a seal. If he's using this style of box silicone will be fine. If he's using a smaller box that is only at the top of the tank the buoyant force will be acting vertically on the box, pushing it away from the wall and perpendicular to a seal.

01/14/2008, 09:26 PM	#9
sus Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Arvada Colorado Posts: 606	My overflow will be on the back wall in the center. I should mention that it is only a 20 gal long, and will have a standpipe so the force shouldn't be too much...