Acrylic ?

[jrpsaros]

I just picked up a 75 gallon acrylic tank. The previous owner custom built an overflow and cut a 3 inch hole in the tank. I want to take the overflow out, but it's acrylic that he used jb weld to weld it to the back of the tank. And patch the hole.

I have no idea how to separate the acrylic, is this even possible?
And I plan on just getting two 5 inch sheets of acrylic and using jb weld on the inside and outside of the tank to patch the hole, Does this sound like it would work?

Thanks for any advice, it's my first acrylic tank. I think I got a good deal on it. its 48 x 16 x 24 and i only payed 40. The only bad things are the back has several holes drilled like i just explained. The others are 1 inch return lines I'll use.

 

[Pharaoh]

You are going to have to cut out the overflow. and then patch the holes with pieces of acrylic and acrylic cement.

 

[Clay]

Once bonded, the acrylic weld is typically stronger than the acrylic around it. Pharoah is right, you'll have to cut it out. Why not leave it in? I've always preferred overflows to HOB filtration. It's so much cleaner.

 

[jrpsaros]

I agree that overflows look better then HOB filters, I'm planning on using a Canister Filter for it. The reason I'd get rid of it, is its just an upside down triangle, that has a 3 inch hole in it with 3 inch pvc coming out the back. I'll get pictures in a few hours. He also has three different intake pipes. I plan on taking out 2 or the 3 intake pipes, and the 3 inch pipe. Then running the input of the canister out of one of the holes he had for the intake pipe, then the output to the remaining pipe. (It's got to be hard to imagine, I'll get pictures in a few hours. )

 

[jrpsaros]

Okay here it is. It's still really dirty from the previous owner, I'm working on cleaning it up.
Heres the inside overflow I'd like to remove.

and here is the plumbing in the back. I want to keep the very bottom 1 inch pipe as a return, the middle 1 inch as the drain, and get rid of the rest.

 

[paulW]

It might be easier to just get PVC plugs (end caps for the pipe) and seal off the pipes you don't want, especially since the back is painted black.. you wouldn't be able to see the unused plumbing.

Why go through the hassle of cutting the overflow out and possible risk of causing a leak.

 

[jrpsaros]

Mostly because I don't like the way it works, and can't get in it to clean it. I've though about just caping off the pvc, and that is most likely the way I'll go, now that I really think about it.

 

[jrpsaros]

Okay new question, If i keep the overflow, and just cap it off, could i fill it with BIOBALLS and just leave them there? Would that be beneficial?