Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
im sure people here have tried/ done it but any luck on bonding acrylic to glass tanks? on a small scale of course im not talkin 100+ gallon tanks more like nano reef size? any suggestions on what products to use?
Bonding acrylic to glass
- Thread starter Jlux23
- Start date
Help Support Reef Aquarium & Tank Building Forum:
You are going to get a lot of "no you can't do it" but it can be done. I believe it is DOW 902..but I'll have to double check.
There was also a weldon product you had to buy in a gallon at a time direct from them...but I will have to dig to find that.
If it isn't required to have a clean line then you could probably get away with DOW SCS1200 as a bonding process but not for a tank build.
In the case of AGE aquariums (Who bond PVC to Glass) they rabbit bit route a channel for the glass to sit into.
There was also a weldon product you had to buy in a gallon at a time direct from them...but I will have to dig to find that.
If it isn't required to have a clean line then you could probably get away with DOW SCS1200 as a bonding process but not for a tank build.
In the case of AGE aquariums (Who bond PVC to Glass) they rabbit bit route a channel for the glass to sit into.
Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
well maybe i need to be a little more clear on what my idea actually is.. im not replacing any glass with acryllic. i want to bond another section onto the back to make a small refugium to work with the small tank. just make it all one unit if that makes any sense. i would basically be extending the front to back measurement without replacing anything. let me know if i sound like a crazy person.
Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
yeah thats what im thinking about. i havent drawn anything out but i have a good idea of what i want to do. my only question would be the flow issue i wouldnt want to go over kill with a pump thats too big.
Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
ill see if i can draw somethin up for you here quick. and ill take some pictures of this small tank when i get home also. like i said i dont know if its worrth doing but i think it would be a cool lookin unit if it was done right.
Anything is worth doing...just look at my last couple thread here on my project LOL. Doing it yourself is the only way you can get what you want....well that or more money.
As a side note: If this can be done effectively with one of the DOW projects then it COULD be cost effective, if not then it won't be at all.
As another question why not just use glass? There are some members here that could help you get it I'm sure for a little less than retail if you asked nice. It would be safer and cleaner as well. Acrylic is not that much cheaper than glass when talking about a small project like yours.
As a side note: If this can be done effectively with one of the DOW projects then it COULD be cost effective, if not then it won't be at all.
As another question why not just use glass? There are some members here that could help you get it I'm sure for a little less than retail if you asked nice. It would be safer and cleaner as well. Acrylic is not that much cheaper than glass when talking about a small project like yours.
Last edited:
Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
i have some extra acrylic sheets laying around from when i used them as tank covers for a bigger tank thats not being used anymore so i was just going to make good use of them. i do have some "aquarium sylicone" i gor from lowes when i was making slate caves for some of my fish. i got it because its safe for use in aquariums and it holds well. so really if those would be sufficient i wouldnt have to spend any money at all just use what i ave laying around.
no that is not sufficient at all....
The aquarium silicone is the same as GE 1 for all intents and purposes. It has no Tensile strength rating. The DOW product I listed has a tensile rating and has been tested specifically for what you wanted. And the Weldon product will chemically fuse the two together.
The aquarium silicone is the same as GE 1 for all intents and purposes. It has no Tensile strength rating. The DOW product I listed has a tensile rating and has been tested specifically for what you wanted. And the Weldon product will chemically fuse the two together.
Peppie
Well-known member
+ 1 on Seth's advice, If you dont use the correct bonding agent you are looking for a flood to happen. Glass would be the way to go IMO
The small cost of using glass far out ways the repair costs to a flood, And the hassle of setting up another quick tank to house your livestock untill you fix the problem.
Post some sketches of your idea along with your tank and members here will help you do it safely
The small cost of using glass far out ways the repair costs to a flood, And the hassle of setting up another quick tank to house your livestock untill you fix the problem.
Post some sketches of your idea along with your tank and members here will help you do it safely
Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
to peppie...
theres nothing in the tank at all its just one i have laying around i think its only a one gallon tank and all i was planning on doing it adding to the back of the tank to make a small refugium and make it all one solid unit. i dont know how much of a flood one gallon would cause haha being so small of a tank there most likely would be no fish in it maybe a small cleaning crew. if anyone has any extra glass pieces laying around at the measurements i will need then ill try to go that rout. ill get some pics up as soon as i possibly can to get you a better idea.
theres nothing in the tank at all its just one i have laying around i think its only a one gallon tank and all i was planning on doing it adding to the back of the tank to make a small refugium and make it all one solid unit. i dont know how much of a flood one gallon would cause haha being so small of a tank there most likely would be no fish in it maybe a small cleaning crew. if anyone has any extra glass pieces laying around at the measurements i will need then ill try to go that rout. ill get some pics up as soon as i possibly can to get you a better idea.
Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
i havent quite figured that out. this is all just an idea i was thinking about and wondering how practical it really is i would have to determin what im going to use for a pump and then figure out where the placement would be for it. i just dont know of a pump thats reasonably small enough to use on such a small tank.
mcoomer
Who's your daddy?!?
Get down to Tap Plastics and pick up some E-6000 or E-6100. I built an acrylic coast to coast for my glass 180 and used this stuff to attach it. The E-6000 comes in clear or black but I found that it was difficult to work with because it's pretty thin and runny. E-6100 is a non-slump formula that only comes in clear (translucent) and is much easier to work with. I masked off the area where I wanted the overflow, put a thin bead of adhesive on the acrylic and put it in place. I went back over the seam using my finger to apply and smooth the adhesive and pulled the tape. Works great.
Mike
Mike
I'll agree with this, Eric and myself used this on the acrylic panels in my glass 20L for baffles. Sticks and seals like a champ.
Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
blah
The beer was for size comparison...and... scientific research if you'll believe that.
The beer was for size comparison...and... scientific research if you'll believe that.
Last edited:
DonW
R.I.P.
IMO the tanks is not going to be worth the investment of any mod, you can get a tiny cube from Barrier and split the tank. The tiny cubes are very inexpensive and and you can use your acrylic and silicone to split the display.
Don
Don
Jlux23
Harvester of Sorrow
this idea has never been about the investment or the money put into it being worth it. this is more of a "can it be done? can i do it?" kind of thing. i believe it can be done and i believe i can do it. i just need to take some time and come up with a plan and do it. in the end if it works like i wanted it will be worth it to me. im always up for a little challenge.
Similar threads
