Questions about acrylics

[Darth-Tater]

I have some questions concerning acrylic and glueing.

First if I use a 20 gallon long tank for a sump can I use acrylic pieces and glue them into place to seperate into different chambers?

2nd will it be cheaper to make a sump/refugium from acrylics or buy a 20 gal long and convert it?

Or should I just bite the bullet and ask Pete.


lmk
Thanks
David

[Ed]

Yes, you can use aquarium silicone to 'glue' acrylic pieces in your glass 20L. You could also use glass as silicon will 'seal' better glass to glass than glass to silicone.

A converted 20L should be less expensive than an all acrylic sump/fuge.

HTH.

-Ed

[longhorn_20m]

You can't really glue acrylic to glass. You can use silicone but it doesn't adhere to the acrylic very well. It depends on how you look at price. When I built my sump out of 1/4" acrylic and got the exact amount of acrylic I needed, thus cut pieces to shape it cost me 84 bucks with applicator and weld on 4. Sump was around 22x14x12 high, roughly 18 gallons I guess. Second go I upgraded skimmer and needed new sump setup so I got smarter and I opted to buy a complete sheet of acrylic, cost me 115 including cutting of all pieces to size for the sump (32"x12"x16" high), which left me with a 48"x40" piece of acrylic left, roughly half. Now the upside is with building from scratch you can build what you want, the right setup and size to fit your needs. When you convert a tank, you are stuck with what you get and limited. Besides the cost of acrylic you only need time.

I have pictures in my gallery of each sump setup.

Justin

[LoneStar]

I opted to buy a complete sheet of acrylic, cost me 115 including cutting of all pieces to size for the sump (32"x12"x16" high)


Did you cut it yourself or did you pay someone to cut it out for you?

[NaCl_H2O]

Depends on how "Pretty" you want it? I have "glued" acrylic dividers into a glass tank before. Just put a nice big bead of silicone on both sides of the acrylic and smooth it out with a wet finger - it will last longer than you will :P

[longhorn_20m]

I paid 97 bucks for sheet of 1/4" and 7.50 cutting fee to get it cut into the pieces I needed to build sump and took the left over scraps, which was the size sheet I noted and some little stuff. Total cost after tax was around $115. I highly recommend Regal. I faxed over request for quotes to both Regal and Austin Plastics. Regal beat it by 15 bucks and even gave me some scraps to play around with.

Justin

[NaCl_H2O]

David, if "glueing" into a glass tank, the cuts don't need to be "perfect". All the fuss about nice even edges is only if you will be "bonding" acrylic-to-acrylic. Can't remember which, but Home Depot or Lowes (I think HD) carries the thicker acrylic and they will cut to whatever size you need. But you need to buy a whole piece big enough to get your cuts out of. Get it cut 1/16 to 1/8 narower than needed (inside dim of trhe tank), then buy an extra tube of silicone ;)

[MattK]

HD does not cut Glass anymore and I don't think they cut acrylic either, because they did away with their cutting station. Go to Regal, the have better prices.

[::pete::]

First just think about overflows ... they are siliconed in and yes I know they dont span the tank and have pressure against them. I have never had a problem using silicone with acrylic and glass. Apply in layers starting small and building up from there.

[hobogato]

david - dont forget, i have some plexiglass (acrylic) here and some weldon - translation come over here and we'll make you a sump for free. ;)

[Darth-Tater]

Ace my brain has been blank lately. I completely forgot. I will get with you when you can.. I'll bring the beer. opps I did not say that. I would love to make it. I bought a RR tank for the classroom and I have lots of questions.


David

[v2k]

you can get large sheets of thick acrylic for next to nothing at Regal Plastics in their recycling bin...

to cut acrylic you can use your table saw blade, but it has to have carbide tips and as many little points as possible.

V.

[LoneStar]

I paid 97 bucks for sheet of 1/4" and 7.50 cutting fee to get it cut into the pieces I needed to build sump


Wow that cutting fee was cheap. Was it just $7.50 to cut out all the sides and the baffles and such?

Is Regal located in San Antonio, and if so where is it in town?

[leaffish75]

I took a 10 gallon tank and siliconed in some acrylic pieces that i got from Homedepot along with some egg crate for a screen. It works fine. I even had to use some gorilla glue due to the fact i siliconed in some pieces then couldnt get the tip into a tight spot. Works like a champ.

[::pete::]

Regal is on Rittiman west of Harry Wurzbach, but Allied is usually cheaper and they do not charge for (minimal) cuts.

[longhorn_20m]

I was talking about Regal Plastics in Austin, off of Metric. Yes it was a 7.50 cutting fee for sides and baffles. Very nice.