Acrylic and Weldon Advice

[nzafi]

It’s time for me to patch my 535g tank. Anyone have recommendations of where I can by Weldon #40 and quality acrylic pieces? I need to patch to 2.5in holes and .5in holes.

I’m actually in NJ so if anyone knows someone that repairs aquariums I don’t mind paying someone to do it.

 

[Tj203]

I like weld on 16 better. You can get that of Amazon. I'm in ct what are you trying to do. Can you post pictures? You can probably do it yourself it is very easy

 

[nzafi]

I like weld on 16 better. You can get that of Amazon. I'm in ct what are you trying to do. Can you post pictures? You can probably do it yourself it is very easy

I’ll try and take pics. I had 4 bottom drains on my tank. Two were for my 24/7 drip and 2 for my reeflo/ultima filter. One my bulkheads several months back forcing me drain the tank and sell my fish. I want to get it setup again but cannot afford a leak again. I just want to seal the 4 bottom drains and will run a separate filter setup. I want to just buy acrylic to cover the holes and maybe also plug them.

 

[Tj203]

I’ll try and take pics. I had 4 bottom drains on my tank. Two were for my 24/7 drip and 2 for my reeflo/ultima filter. One my bulkheads several months back forcing me drain the tank and sell my fish. I want to get it setup again but cannot afford a leak again. I just want to seal the 4 bottom drains and will run a separate filter setup. I want to just buy acrylic to cover the holes and maybe also plug them.

Exactly what you just sead do. Buy weldon get 1/2 acrylic sheet and glue it on. All you need to do is sand it, I use 80 grit clean it with denatured alcohol and don't be shy with the glue. You are in an excellent position because it is on the bottom and the substrate will hide it. I would want 2 inch of over lap but if you can use one sheet that is better.

 

[nzafi]

Exactly what you just sead do. Buy weldon get 1/2 acrylic sheet and glue it on. All you need to do is sand it, I use 80 grit clean it with denatured alcohol and don't be shy with the glue. You are in an excellent position because it is on the bottom and the substrate will hide it. I would want 2 inch of over lap but if you can use one sheet that is better.

Below are the drawings from when I had the tank made. Those bottom four holes are the ones I want closed. I was thinking of placing a piece of acrylic over the hole and then also getting a plug to fill the hole. Overkill but it should help. I think the two bigger holes are too far apart for using a single piece of acrylic. Also, based on the position I cannot do the 2in. I can probably do 1in for all of them.

Are you local to NJ? Saw you replying to a NJ tank sale. Do you somewhere I can get quality acrylic? I want someone that can cut the acylic for me.

 

[Tj203]

Below are the drawings from when I had the tank made. Those bottom four holes are the ones I want closed. I was thinking of placing a piece of acrylic over the hole and then also getting a plug to fill the hole. Overkill but it should help. I think the two bigger holes are too far apart for using a single piece of acrylic. Also, based on the position I cannot do the 2in. I can probably do 1in for all of them.

Are you local to NJ? Saw you replying to a NJ tank sale. Do you somewhere I can get quality acrylic? I want someone that can cut the acylic for me.

View attachment 1460091View attachment 1460090

I am in ct but if you look on line there are plastic manufacturers like e street and they will cut it for you fir a price. The edges don't need to be perfect and I would go up all the way against the back sheet of acrylic and over lap the rest bu 2 inch you will be fine. Also the plug is not needed. Weld on 16 has something like 2700 psi when it is cured you will be fine. I promise. After you put it down just put some weight on it for a hour or so too. Weld on is not like a glue it Chemically fuses the acrylic when you are done it is like one sheet.

 

[nzafi]

I am in ct but if you look on line there are plastic manufacturers like e street and they will cut it for you fir a price. The edges don't need to be perfect and I would go up all the way against the back sheet of acrylic and over lap the rest bu 2 inch you will be fine. Also the plug is not needed. Weld on 16 has something like 2700 psi when it is cured you will be fine. I promise. After you put it down just put some weight on it for a hour or so too. Weld on is not like a glue it Chemically fuses the acrylic when you are done it is like one sheet.

I was always of the impression you needed a specific type of acrylic for aquariums. Not uncommon, but just a certain type and quality. Is that not the case?

 

[Tj203]

Cast acrylic but it is all that unless otherwise stated

 

[Oughtsix]

Acrylic sheets are either cast or extruded. Cast is stronger than extruded and acrylic aquariums are almost always made out of cast acrylic.

For your tank I would use 3 pieces of acrylic to cover those 4 holes (1 long piece and 2 smaller square pieces). If it were me I would size and cut the pieces so they are not only cemented to the bottom but are also cemented to the back (and sides for the 2 smaller pieces for the two corners) of the aquarium to reinforce the back seam. Is this needed - no. Is it overkill - yes. Will it look much nicer and like it was a factory reinforcement piece - yes if you do a good job. My belief is that if you are going to add acrylic pieces to your aquarium you might as well do a good bog of it and make it look like they belong.

Check out Amazon and Ebay for pieces of acrylic sized to what you need.

OR - just put in some bulkheads (or use the ones you already have) with plugs in them to plug the holes if your stand already has cut outs for the plumbing. Bulkheads with plugs should be just as reliable as acrylic patches.

 

[nzafi]

Acrylic sheets are either cast or extruded. Cast is stronger than extruded and acrylic aquariums are almost always made out of cast acrylic.

For your tank I would use 3 pieces of acrylic to cover those 4 holes (1 long piece and 2 smaller square pieces). If it were me I would size and cut the pieces so they are not only cemented to the bottom but are also cemented to the back (and sides for the 2 smaller pieces for the two corners) of the aquarium to reinforce the back seam. Is this needed - no. Is it overkill - yes. Will it look much nicer and like it was a factory reinforcement piece - yes if you do a good job. My belief is that if you are going to add acrylic pieces to your aquarium you might as well do a good bog of it and make it look like they belong.

Check out Amazon and Ebay for pieces of acrylic sized to what you need.

OR - just put in some bulkheads (or use the ones you already have) with plugs in them to plug the holes if your stand already has cut outs for the plumbing. Bulkheads with plugs should be just as reliable as acrylic patches.

What is difference between a bulkhead and bulkhead with a plug that would prevent it from leaking one day? I had expensive reliable bulkheads, but the one leaked because I just hit it too hard while cleaning. My concern with a plug is that no matter what you always have a risk of it leaking, breaking, or coming loose.

I hear you about the different pieces. I was thinking of just doing 3 pieces. The two corner pieces would probably have to be quarter circles. If you look at the diagram you will see I run corner HMF filters so I need to make sure the sponge will sit flat against the bottom of the tank.