DIY sump - Aquarium Advice

dansemacabre · 09-07-2003, 11:36 AM

I'm turning my 55gal aquarium into a sump for my 120. My question is, is it easier to make the compartments by silicone-ing acrylic/plastic to the glass, or is it easier to silicone glass to the glass? Or, does it not really matter? Thanks for any and all advice!

justDIY · 09-07-2003, 11:45 AM

you can't glue plastic to glass, at least, not using silcone. You can sorta stick a piece of plastic in using silcone around it, but it won't hold up to any pressure or abuse.

ideally you want to use glass ... silcone (being made of the same material glass is) works very good at gluing glass to itself...

the trick is having a very smooth, clean and tight fit so just a very thin amount of silcone is between your new glass and tank wall. acheive this by getting your glass cut to the same width as the sides of the tank (as exact as possible), and then have a helper spread your tank walls apart slightly, fit the new glass in making sure it is square and then let the walls go that should squeeze in on the new piece perfectly, ensuring a good strong and permant bond.

remember to let it cure 48 hrs before water testing

another idea for plastic and retaining some strenght would be a marine epoxy that claims to bond both glass and plastic.

09-07-2003, 11:36 AM	#1
dansemacabre Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Detroit MI Posts: 443 Images: 19	DIY sump I'm turning my 55gal aquarium into a sump for my 120. My question is, is it easier to make the compartments by silicone-ing acrylic/plastic to the glass, or is it easier to silicone glass to the glass? Or, does it not really matter? Thanks for any and all advice!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My first DIY sump.	h8z2luze	DIY Projects	19	02-24-2008 03:10 AM
DIY sump	blackthunda77	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	10	03-27-2004 08:17 PM
DIY sump	blackthunda77	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	5	03-18-2004 12:57 PM
Help with DIY sump	cj10488	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	6	12-28-2003 11:14 PM
DIY sump	kribbz	DIY Projects	4	01-27-2003 11:32 PM

09-07-2003, 11:45 AM	#2
justDIY Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 1,191 Images: 12	you can't glue plastic to glass, at least, not using silcone. You can sorta stick a piece of plastic in using silcone around it, but it won't hold up to any pressure or abuse. ideally you want to use glass ... silcone (being made of the same material glass is) works very good at gluing glass to itself... the trick is having a very smooth, clean and tight fit so just a very thin amount of silcone is between your new glass and tank wall. acheive this by getting your glass cut to the same width as the sides of the tank (as exact as possible), and then have a helper spread your tank walls apart slightly, fit the new glass in making sure it is square and then let the walls go that should squeeze in on the new piece perfectly, ensuring a good strong and permant bond. remember to let it cure 48 hrs before water testing another idea for plastic and retaining some strenght would be a marine epoxy that claims to bond both glass and plastic.