can I use acrylic dividers in glass tank sump?

[fish head )'>]

I am having no luck making the glass dividers for the DIY sump made from a glass fish tank. If I get enough people asking I'll post a picture of the piles of scrap glass that I have created trying to do this project.

Question: can I use acrylic sheet and silicon it in as if it were glass? I am much more handier with a table saw.

 

[prophets]

Yes you can. All my DIY W/D's use acrylic sheets that I cut to fit and siliconed them onto the tank's glass.

I just made sure to put beads of silicone on the front and backside of the acrylic sheet...let it cure for a day or so.

A hell of lot simpler and easier than cutting glass.

 

[fish head )'>]

AMEN to that! thanks. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[prophets]

Cool..

 

[Davey_8313]

I was wondering this too, this is good. So just use a big bead on top and bottom of the acrylic, right?

 

[prophets]

I was wondering this too, this is good. So just use a big bead on top and bottom of the acrylic, right?

Depends on where the piece is going. If you're going to divide the tank, lets say for the biomedia..the silicone should be on the front and back of the sheet..left and right side of course. You don't need a big bead...if you cut the acrylic sheet to fit properly..not much of a gap between the glass and the sheet..nothing bigger than 1/16~2/16 and you should be good.

Use painters tape (blue masking tape) and line the sides of the tank where the sheet will go..leaving a space of 1/4" or so on all sides that you'll silicone..lay your bead and either use your finger or something like a tongue depresser to spread the silicone. After you're done with spreading..remove the tape..and you should have a nice clean bead flared out.

Good luck.

 

[AiR foRc3 wUnZ]

I made my whole wet/dry out of acrylic. The tank is glass and it holds up well.

 

[Davey_8313]

Alright, thanks Prophets. That one looks nice...

 

[fish head )'>]

Great, that's what I'm talkin' about. I got an scratched up tank for free. I got lots of acrylic sitting around. (and pieces of broken glass now ) Looks like I am on my way to another sump. ---MFK style.

nice wet/dry BTW.

 

[CHOMPERS]

I am having no luck making the glass dividers... ...piles of scrap glass...

Cutting acrylic is easier, but don't trash the glass just yet. Use it for practice. Just get a new glass cutter. An old one just won't do it, nor will one that had been run back and forth on the same score. When you get it, you won't lose it (like riding a bike). When you can cut glass, it opens a whole new world of things you can do.