Fixing a leaking seam in a plexi tank

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M

Merbeast

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 17, 2007
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Sacramento, CA
www.thinking-man.net
My super sweet score of a 220 plexi tank is sadly lacking in cohesion. I find that it seeps (and I weeps) along the seam in the back.
No worries, right? Off to the local plastic store (Tapp Plastics) to aquire some acrylic cement. Then... doubt entered the picture.
The rather pleasant gentleman behind the counter struck up a conversation with me (or I with him, but no matter) and we chanced upon what I would be using the cement for. He then proclaimed (with much apparent sagacity) that if I should apply the cement to acrylic that had been heated (to smooth a cut surface), it would craze (and make me crazy). Agast, I raced home (with the acrylic cement), to check it out. So far I have tested a small part of the seam above the water line and seen no crazing (though I may be crazy).
The crux of my post? A query. Has anyone experience with resealing a seam on an acrylic tank, and if so, have there been any crazing due to heat stress or other crazy issues? I am most likely going to reseal the whole tank (crazing be d:)mned!), but am intrested to know if I am being crazy.
 
Despite all the interest in this thread, I will post my results:
No crazing. Seriously. I was all worried for nothing.

On another note, the acrylic cement I purchased was to work thru capillary action into the seams. It seems to have done so, however, without a 5' clamp I am not able to compress the seams together effectively. I may return to Tap Plastics and purchase a thicker product. Any suggestions?
 
I actually had a 220 that i had to do the same thing on... I used the same stuff you did and it worked great. On one spot that had a little more gap than i was comfortable with i picked up some "Weld On 16 Cement" still from TAP... Worked like a champ !!!
 
I used some ratchet tie downs to pull mine all together with some ropes and boards on the corners. Cranked it down tight and sealed it up tight and sweet.

Just a suggestion because the pressure is a good thing since the water pressure is the issue. Give it a try and good luck

Jack
 
My 180 gallon started leaking this morning at about 2-3 drops each minute. The arquarium is filled with water and fish, so, I began applying a film of silicone cement where I think the leak is coming from (the front). Water is dripping over one of my front doors. When I think I sealed one location, a new location begins to drip. Am I using the right stuff to seal the front, bottom of the aquarium, or, is there something else I should be using that is non-toxic as I have 15 fish in the aquarium?

This brings me to another question: How long should acrylic aquariums last before they begin leaking? Are they stronger than glass aquariums? Once they start leaking, is it time to replace them?

Thanks--Wish me luck! :nilly:
 
Silicone will not work on plastic even if it was dry when you started. You will have to empty the tank and dry it out and then reglue it with acrylic cement. Like stated above.
 
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