Bonding Acrylic to Glass

[Woodstock]

...oh boy.... *rolls up sleeves*....

[boozeman]

cut slightly less ..just enough to let a small amt. of silicone thru... you can smooth out the edges with an emery cloth, but it really isn't necesary

[BrothaWolf]

Doni if its an AGA 40 gallon breeder have them cut 17 3/8" x whatever height you want they will fit perfect. This leaves you about 1/16" for the silicone to squeeze in behind the plate so it adheres properly to the glass. It also makes it easier to maneuver the pieces into place. Im using 4 pieces. 17 3/8" x 14" (refugium - I left 2 inches between the top of the glass and the rim of the tank to squeeze every bit of volume I could. I wouldnt go any higher) 17 3/8" x 11" (2 of these for first and third baffles) and 17 3/8" x 12" All are 1/4" glass for strength. I would go to a glass shop over home depot and have the edges chamfered so you dont bleed out siliconing your baffles.
If you use acrylic you risk a failure somewhere down the line and while it wont spill water all over your floor it could dump fuge sand into your return pump, But mostly it will just be really annoying. You can do it!

[Woodstock]

Excellent! Measurements.. perfect!

[BrothaWolf]

Originally Posted by rDr4g0n

http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=4

thats what i got... the specs dont say one way or the other... should i just return it?

RETURN it! That stuff is no good for aquariums. That one is a combo of latex and silicone AND it has mold/mildew inhibitors in it. They use arsenic for that and it will leech in to your tank.
You want 100% silicone without any mold/mildew stuff in it. You can use AGA or Perfecto Aquarium sealant. Both are 100% silicone. You will however pay a premium for it. The AGA stuff is made by GE and is the same as the GE Silicone I FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS not the kitchen and bathroom one. The GE stuff is about $3 a tube. You might notice on the back of the Silicone I it says not for aquarium use. That is because of liability issues and licensing with their big silicone clients. Once its CURED its safe. The GE Silicone II is NOT safe either.

[pmac90]

Brotha Beat me!! i was gonna work on that for you while i ate lunch. sat down, hot lunch in front of me and He hit it perfect on the head!!! good job brotha! I also agree on the glass shop... not sure what you have down there in the NC boonies! hehehe
next we're going to talk you into drilling the return pump hole!!!

[pmac90]

yeah, brotha I thought that stuff was a little suspect. Just wasn't positive.

[BrothaWolf]

Originally Posted by pmac90

Brotha Beat me!! i was gonna work on that for you while i ate lunch. sat down, hot lunch in front of me and He hit it perfect on the head!!! good job brotha! I also agree on the glass shop... not sure what you have down there in the NC boonies! hehehe
next we're going to talk you into drilling the return pump hole!!!

LOL Only because I stayed up all night researching silicones!

[pmac90]

HAHA I stay up all day at work and research. don't tell boss man. lol

[Woodstock]

I think I will make the baffles only 10" since my asm g3 skimmer is recommended to run in 6-10" and I can always raise the skimmer later if needed....

[BrothaWolf]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

I think I will make the baffles only 10" since my asm g3 skimmer is recommended to run in 6-10" and I can always raise the skimmer later if needed....

Ya Im using the same skimmer but wanted more water volume so i made em 11.... I read that skimmer works well in 15" of water. Its easy enough to make a stand for it out of PVC. Im also doing the gate valve mod for easier adjustment. With the baffles cut like I have em you will have approx 30 gallons in the sump so you need to calculate your backflow in a power failure.... You might want to make the fuge an inch lower to give you more spill back volume also

[Woodstock]

Good thinking. THank you again

[rDr4g0n]

thx... sorry to disrupt your thread but i thought the question was appropriate. if you dont mind i also wanted to know the pros and cons of glass baffles vs acrylic baffles.

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by rDr4g0n

thx... sorry to disrupt your thread but i thought the question was appropriate. if you dont mind i also wanted to know the pros and cons of glass baffles vs acrylic baffles.

No problem rDr4g0n! Chime in anytime!

... I am not knowlegeable enough to answer that question. Tagging along for the answer....


However, I am choosing glass baffles in this situation in order to provide a super strong and durable bond between the baffles and glass aquarium

[pmac90]

Doni's last sentence says it all i think. If you bond acrylic to glass and it fails and baffles fall. Just picture your pump as a sand blower in the display!