WTB Acrylic

Hey I'm drilling the bottom of my 55gal tank but need to switch the tempered glass for acrylic. I thought i'd check if anyone had a half of a sheet or something leftover from a project or something before i went and bought a sheet. The piece must be at least 13"x49" and at least 3/8" thick. If anyone has anything available let me know. You can also call me at 319-464-7267 and make me feel important =D Thanks!
-Sam
P.S. Also wtb a skimmer and some heaters

 

Don't drill the bottom, drill the back...and don't replace the glass with acrylic, drill the glass. Silicone does not stick to acrylic well and you would be just asking for problems. Go to www.glass-holes.com for tank drilling supplies, bulkheads, overflow kits, etc

--AJ

 

thats a no go for a 55 if i remember correctly all 55's have tempered glass all around

 

Agreed with AJ!

Some 55's were tempered, some werent. No way to tell.

I am assuming you want a sump so yes drill the back. Make sure you are wearing safety glasses & go slow. If it is tempered it will shatter on you!

If you dont want to do that you can get an external overflow (although I hate them, drilled is the way to go)

GL
Craig

 

+1 on all of the above!

 

That would be great, but I believe the entire thing is tempered. I can try drilling the side, but if it breaks, then what?

and there isnt a back to it, its going in the middle of the room. I could go thru the sides? but still tempered so i gotta do something. It was recomended to me by someone who did it very sucessfuly so thats what i was going to do.

An i really dont want a hob overflow. would look not so good and i just dont like them

 

can you use a hob overflow system?
edit nm i see you would rather not

 

You are going to have all 4 sides viewed?

If so you dont have much to choose from.

Silicone will not hold acrylic to glass. It may for a week, month, but eventually it WILL fail.

Your other choice is to watch for a reef ready predrilled tank & not use that 55. There are always tanks going up for sale.

 

is there anything that will hold acrylic in place?

 

Acylic will seal to acrylic with weld on

Glass seals to glass with good silicone

glass & acrylic is like water n oil

 

xroads - i believe you live in wloo/cf, do you know of a place that sells glass around? maybe i could get a piece to fit.

Also, if i used acrylic on the bottom with glass, would i be able to reinforce it somehow with caulkking or some other option on th bottom? the bottom of the tank will be going inside a little lip that will hold it in place, if i did some serious reinforcing with something, you think that would help?

 

I always get my glass from Don @ allen glass. When I get baffles & stuff I have him cut it out of scrap glass, it is usually really cheap.

He can probably cut you a new bottom panel. Are you going to install a corner overflow then to hide the stand pipe?

If you do need acrlyic talk to Denny at Regal Platiscs in Evansdale. Tell him Craig from Crossroads sent you. 3/8 & bigger usually gets really expensive. They do have a nice scrap bin that they sell by the pound. There is usually a $25 minimum, so grab $25 worth.

I can drill glass fairly easy. I have exploded a few tempered ones too, not petty.

What kind of frame does it have? Will you destroy the frame putting in a new bottom panel?

 

Awesome thanks for the advice. Where is allen glass? i can look it up.

I have two brand new frames for the tank

 

1620 Jefferson
232-0461

 

oh and yes i was gonna go with a grav flow pipe, but i didnt know how i was gonna hide it. like i said its going to be open on all sides. if it has to be covered to keep fish and things out of hte pipe, i will prolly just cover it close to the top and paint the rest of the pipe. I was also going to drill in for the return unless thats not advised?

Thanks for your help. i will stop in at allen next time i get the chance. Also, I have plumbers putty, but what else will i need? a glass hole drill? Adam offered to help me out as well. Shopping list: 100% Silicone, glass, PVC, and a few gaskets for sealing between the pvc and the hole? anything else?

 

well you will def need a bulk head for your hole, then the pipe will screw into the bulkhead. And yes if it is going to be viewable from everywhere I would drill the return as well & put a bulkhead in that.

Gl

 

Alright thanks /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/hybrid//emoticons/smile.gif I really appreciate your help.This tank is gonna look very nice. I will get some before and after pics.

 

Oh one last thing, Is there a place to buy bulkheads around here? I didnt think they old them at HD or Mendards but i could be wrong

 

Sometimes you can get them at blains back in the farm sprayer section.

You can get the from Drs Foster & Smith, Marine Depot, or Savko.

 

Tractor Supply will sometimes stock them as well with their stock tank parts