building my first over flow, acrylic or glass?

[gajeep94yj]

I am ....attempting.... to set up my first salt water tank. after much research I am going with the beananimal setup and have to build an over flow going from side to side on the tank. it seems that most have built in teeth on the top of the over flow box. but all of those seem to be made with acrylic not glass.

my issue is my tank is glass and I need to build and attach the over flow to the glass tank. I have read several places saying that the acrylic will not bond to the glass, but saw several people doing it.

so should I use acrylic, and cut in teeth to the over flow and bond it to the glass? or should I have glass cut to the right length and not have any teeth?

same question for the sump really. glass baffles or acrylic in a glass tank?

thanks and sorry for the newbie questions. wife and kids want a salt water tank and they are going to get one...... probably easier to just but a premade tanks but that would just be to easy.....:doh:

 

[jdw]

I think you would be fine with an acrylic overflow in the tank (after all premade overflows are plastic), just use plenty of silicone. The overflow won't be under a lot of pressure.

In your sump I would use which ever is cheaper, glass or acrylic. If you decide with glass, go to a local glass shop and get them to cut it out of some 1/4 sheets atleast. Avoid the 1/8th stuff at Home Depot.

That's just my opinion

 

[gajeep94yj]

thanks for the reply.

what type of silicone should be used? any suggestions? is the stuff at home depot safe? (as long as it says for aquariums?)

this is turning into a good bit of work. hopefully it will be rewarding enough to make it worth it.

anyone got an older 10-20 gallon sump they want to sell?

 

[gajeep94yj]

oh yea and where is a good place to pick up acrylic? prefer not to buy a 4x8 sheet...

 

[jdw]

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Silicone type I is what I used. Make sure you pick a 100% silicone that does not have ANY sort of mold or mildew inhibitors. I picked my silicone up at Home Depot.

 

[jdw]

Can't help you with the acrylic question. But here's a tip with the silicone, use a piece of tubing to help you reach hard spots.

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[gajeep94yj]

so how long has yours been running? and any leaks yet?

also what about cutting teeth in top of the over flow? necessary or not?

 

[jdw]

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It's been running awhile... Since Jan maybe?
No leaks through any of the seams.

 

[jdw]

I don't know the scientific reason for the teeth, but every overflow I have seen has them. SO... I would add them, it won't hurt.

 

[gajeep94yj]

JDW;978699 wrote:

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It's been running awhile... Since Jan maybe?
No leaks through any of the seams.

that's a very complicated looking setup! care to give an overview of the design?

 

[jdw]

Its not that complicated lol.

1st area is my drain/skimmer compartment.
2nd area is where I have my heater/return pump.
3rd area is closed off from the other compartments. That's my RO water reservoir.

Branching off my return pump is a manifold that feeds 2 reactors. 1 carbon and 1
GFO.

Yours doesn't have to be anywhere near as complicated

One thing I did mess up on, is my 2nd baffle height. If it was shorter I would not have as much water in my 1st compartment. That's important because during a power failure or outage, what ever water is in your plumbing will rush back into your sump. IF you do not have enough room for the excess water, your sump will over flow.

 

[bcavalli]

I have a Glass Cages custom rimless frag tank with a glass overflow. I called Glass Cages and had them make me a custom Acrylic overflow box with the weir teeth. It was $35 shipped and the fit was snug enough that it just sits perfectly in place. By leaving it loose I am able to pull it out and clean it when necessary. If its moving at all or water is going around the edges, just put a dab or two of silicone so you can pull it out and clean it. Then put a couple more dabs on and call it a day until your ready to clean again. Just my 2 cents.

 

[gajeep94yj]

Brandon I may take you up on the acrylic.