RE: Glass panels

[Randy1]

I'm looking for a place to buy cut glass panels for baffles in constructing a sump. any ideas, on-line suppliers..ect.

[reseter5]

for the diy project its probable easier to use acrylic.. you can just silicone it to your glass.... or find a glass shop in your area and they will be more than happy to cut you some pieces...

[Reefland]

I agree, purchasing some thicker acrylic from a Lowes or Home Depot and siliconing it into the sump works well.

[Randy1]

Will the silicone adhere to the acrylic? If so I'll just do that, be easier to change if I'm not happy with the design.

[reseter5]

run a bead of aquarium silicone on both sides of the acrylic .. thats how i made my refugium.......

[Randy1]

OK. I'll give it a try. Thanks

[The R/C Man]

Be sure to rough up the glass where the silicone will bond and clean it with acetone. That will ensure a long lasting bond.....

[Ixthys]

Does everyone know that he has an acrylic sump, or just assuming? I've put glass baffles in glass sump tanks ranging in size from 10g to 110g, and they've worked beautifully.

If you have the option, stick with the same material as your sump. If its glass, figure out the dimensions and have a glass shop cut a glass baffle for you. Then use silicone and it will never move. If its acrylic, use weld-on and bond that bad-boy to the sump and it will never move.

If you are mixing the two (glass to acrylic or acrylic to glass), good luck. I've done it, and it is a weak bond at best.

[The R/C Man]

The problem with using weld-on for acrylic is that it will cause it to craze if the sump or tank has been used. It is the only thing to use when building new though.....

[Randy1]

What is weld-on and how do I find it? My sump will be a glass 40 Gal. Long with acrylic panels, baffles.

[Ixthys]

You don't need weld-on if you are mixing glass and acrylic. Weld-on only bonds acrylic to acrylic.

Greg,
I thought that only happened with the cheap acrylic that absorbs too much water. I've never had it happen with Acrylite GP.

[Randy1]

I have a glass company down the street that said they would cut panels for me, I think I better do this instead of acrylic. I don't what this thing falling apart 2 months down the road, if it does you know what that means you SPS'ers out there RTN, RTN, RTN.

[The R/C Man]

Randy1,

Sorry for the confusion. As Ixthys said weld-on is for acrylic bonded to acrylic. It is actually a solvent that softens the materials so that they create a chemical bond between the two pieces. Very strong.

Ixthys,

I have been working with acrylic for over three years now building sumps, my 375 gallon tank as well as protein skimmers, CA reactors etc for a well know manufacturer. From everything that I have seen, acrylic that has been used (wet) will craze when you try to re-bond it. It is just as you said the acrylic is porous and with absorb moisture which is the reason for the crazing. There maybe exceptions such as how long the acrylic was wet before a re-bond was attempted. So far though everything I have redone has crazed....

[Randy1]

OK thanks. I don't know what craze means but it doesn't sound good. I'm not trying to build an aquarium just some baffles in a 40 long that I bought. It doesn't have to have Superior strength just Strong enough to hold the water and refugium together.

[Ixthys]

Randy1,

Most folks think they can get a piece of acrylic easier than they can get a piece of glass. Often times on these boards folks are trying to add acrylic to glass, which works only "OK".

So, I think everyone assumed you had a glass sump and wanted to add acrylic baffles. BUT, since you sump is glass, I would recommend going with glass. You will have superior strength, and in this hobby, should never settle for less...that's when "accidents" happen. I don't profess to be an expert, but I've been doing this for 20 years...and I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night

[The R/C Man]

Ixthys is correct. You will probably have a stronger joint with a glass panel in your case as thinner acrylic has a tendency bow....