So I just picked up a 180g (standard 6x2x2) acrylic aquarium it has 2 3" holes in the center and was wondering what is the best way to patch these holes? I was thinking of just using some 1/4" plexi glass that you can buy from homedepot and glueing it down. Should I be worried about it leaking? Has anyone done this before? thanks for any input!!!
patching 3" sump holes in 180g acrylic
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or go to tap plastics if you have one in your city.
they're $1 a piece for 4x4 samples and I think that's
good enough to cover it and glue it on there with silicone.
they're $1 a piece for 4x4 samples and I think that's
good enough to cover it and glue it on there with silicone.
And if you do decide to go patch...use weld-on acrylic cement to chemically weld the patch on the hole...If you have a 3" hole the patch should have 1" overlap on all sides or a 5" disc...use the same thickness as the tank too...
I had four 2" holes in the bottom of my 360. I glued down 4" square patches with the weld on stuff. One leaked 
I'm just not good with acrylic. To repair the leak I ran a bead of silicon 1 around all the edges and I haven't had a problem since.
If I was going to do it over I would of just used the silicon. With the 1" over lap and the water pressure pushing down making a tighter seal, I don't think it would have ever leaked.
I think my issue was the non flexibility of the weld on glue. Acrylic tends to bend slightly and the square shape or maybe the difference in thickness of the patch (1/4) vs. the tank bottom (1/2") caused cracking of the bond made by the weld on.
Anyway my .02, hopefully this helps
Good luck!
I'm just not good with acrylic. To repair the leak I ran a bead of silicon 1 around all the edges and I haven't had a problem since.If I was going to do it over I would of just used the silicon. With the 1" over lap and the water pressure pushing down making a tighter seal, I don't think it would have ever leaked.
I think my issue was the non flexibility of the weld on glue. Acrylic tends to bend slightly and the square shape or maybe the difference in thickness of the patch (1/4) vs. the tank bottom (1/2") caused cracking of the bond made by the weld on.
Anyway my .02, hopefully this helps
Good luck!
I wanted to close up the single bulkhead in the middle of my 240 and add over flows at each end...If you use "weld-on 16" and have matched the Acrylic correctly, you won't need any silicone. It actually welds the Acrylic chemically together. This means that both pieces will have melted and then mixed on a molecular level.clutch;4365442; said:
Just like welding metal the two pieces become one.
Silicone does not weld the acrylic, it is an adhesive where it just sets on top of the acrylic and doesn't chemically mix with the acrylic, more like soldering or brazing metal. And so far, I haven't found ANY silicone that actually will stick to acrylic...
Other than aesthetics, I would say no...Just make sure the acrylic patch is cell cast like the tank you are mending. Order the patch material online if you need to...clutch;4365488; said:
btw Home depot and LOWE's etc. do NOT carry cell cast acrylic.
using dissimilar acrylic when repairing holes will cause crazing like described above, surface cracking in the welded joint. The surface tension setting at different temperatures.
With a 1" overlap, it shouldn't be a problem with leaking, just ugly surface cracks that are not deep enough to catch a fingernail in...
Look around on the internet, where you find "cell cast" acrylic, you'll find "weld-on 16" too...
Places like this;
for cellcast "acrylite" acrylic discs; http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=140&
weld-on 16; http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=132&
