The walls are giving way

[Saltie]

Ok Reefland, I am really going to need your help on this one! I built my own sump/refugium using a 40 gallon glass aquarium, acrylic sheets (cut to fit inside), and silicone. I got it all together and began filling it up with water. Everything was fine so I added the live sand and rock, then poof, all the acrylic compartment walls gave way at the silicone seams.

I can add in more supports without too much difficulty, but will be the best adhesive to use in bonding acrylic to glass?

Please help!

[zhenya]

I still think silicone is your best adhesive for this job. How thick was that acrylic that you used?
When I build my first sump years ago I went to a glass shop and had them cut some pieces for me for the buffles. Wasn't all that expensive either.
I hope someone else chimes in with more experience with acrylic and glass bonding.

[Ninong]

Acrylic does not really "bond" well to glass but people who use it to make baffles in glass sumps usually use aquarium silicone and they make a 1/4" bead on both sides of the acrylic. Then they let it cure for a few days. Usually it will hold but the acrylic doesn't actually bond to the glass in the chemical sense.

What do you mean by "acrylic sheets?" You should be using 1/4" thick acrylic for the baffles.

[fish outa wata]

Hey saltie I think that you should get some glass panes cut to size. It will bond with silicone so much easier than acrylic to glass. It will also be cheap and virtually headache free.

[mk1151]

I don't have experience with sumps specifically, but I can tell you that to get the best grip out of a non-porous surface like glass, I'd score it. Take some very, very fine grit sand paper (like 300+) and gently rub the surfaces you are going to put the silicon. It will create some micro-scratches that the silicon can get into and grip.

Do NOT do this on the acrylic, just the glass.

[Original Fin]

The dates...look at the dates.

[Jessie Nicoletti]

lol wow old post huh posts older then a year should get locked