adhesives for acrylic tanks

im_a_clownfish · 10-10-2006, 12:55 PM

Hi All!

I am making a refugium out of acrylic (why I didnt just buy a standard glass tank I really dont know lol...it would have been MUCH cheaper and easier).

I guess I wanted a project and a challenge...anyways...

I built an acrylic aquarium with non toxic (and APPARENTLY high strength) loctite acrylic adhesive and then coated all the seams with aquarium sealant.

LUCKILY I tested my aquarium/refuge and filled it with water. both bottom seams broke and water came pouring out everywhere. So obviously the loctite is ****************, and the aquarium silicone didnt help much. I have a friend that made a 70 gallon out of acrylic and used 2 part epoxy (he didnt tell me what epoxy tho). Concernedd about my fish health, I decided to use an aquarium friendly method, which obviously didnt work.

Does anyone have a recommendation of a very strong adhesive I can use thats preferably fish friendly? Weldbond? gorilla glue? certain epoxy?

My other question is can I use a non-fish friendly super strong adhesive, as long as I line all the seams with aquarium silicone on the inside so the water never actually touches the adhesive? My friend didnt even do this - all he used was 2 part epoxy, no internal silicone or anything and his tank and fish have been great for a year now. trouble is, hes not sure what he used as it was a year ago....

Thanks alot!

Reefneck · 10-10-2006, 01:08 PM

Use Weldon #5

leveldrummer · 10-10-2006, 08:15 PM

yep, weldon, and then use #16 to run a bead along the edges for extra strength and seal. nothing bonds acrylic better.

im_a_clownfish · 10-11-2006, 08:33 AM

ok so weldon # 5 (I read somewhere that someone suggested #4) and then #16 to give it a good seal corrrect?

leveldrummer · 10-11-2006, 02:28 PM

i like #4, not sure about 5, never used it. 3 sets in about 30 seconds, 4 takes a couple minutes, so you have time to goof up and get it right again before its welded, i assume 5 is a little thicker and takes a little longer to cure. 16 is pretty thick and will make a great seal like silicone does in a glass tank. sort of. but yea. you got the idea.

im_a_clownfish · 10-16-2006, 03:54 PM

thanks guys!

where can I find weldon? I've tried looking at a few places but no luck.
WOuld home depot have it?

Thanks!

leveldrummer · 10-16-2006, 08:19 PM

home depot should have it. if not you can easily find it online, a simple search should get you alot of results.

im_a_clownfish · 10-25-2006, 09:45 AM

Thanks for yoru help leveldrummer!!

Is the #16 weldon toxic? I will caulk the inside joints of the tank with it, but do I need to cover it in silicone so it doesnt pollute the water?

Or is it inert when it dries?

thanks agian!

harif87 · 10-25-2006, 10:40 AM

I used epoxy on several DIY acrylic things, i mean that stuff is solid.
The number is just the thickness of the stuff and how long it takes to cure. I wouldnt say its toxic, but then again i might be wrong.

leveldrummer · 10-25-2006, 01:56 PM

its not toxic after it dries, the weldon completly evaporates, all that is left is acrylic, it melts the acrylic then evaporates, so you have to be sure to get both melted pieces to join before it dries.

im_a_clownfish · 10-25-2006, 03:30 PM

THanks for the info! BUt it doesnt look like the #16 has evaporated.....the #4 yes, but the #16 looks sorta like I caulked the edge with silicone.....if I wait long enough should the 16 evaporate too? I did it in the garage as not to stink up the house,and its cold outside so maybe thats why the #16 is still there?

Thanks again!!

leveldrummer · 10-25-2006, 07:46 PM

it will some, but you should still have a caulked edge look i believe.

10-10-2006, 01:08 PM	#2
Reefneck Senior Aquarist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Near a Coral Reef Age: 47 Posts: 1,351	Use Weldon #5 __________________ I wonder how much salt mix I would need to turn our in ground pool into a Reef.

10-10-2006, 08:15 PM	#3
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933	yep, weldon, and then use #16 to run a bead along the edges for extra strength and seal. nothing bonds acrylic better. __________________ The meek shall inherit the Earth. Big deal. By the time they get it the rest of us will have messed it all up.

10-16-2006, 08:19 PM	#7
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933	home depot should have it. if not you can easily find it online, a simple search should get you alot of results. __________________ The meek shall inherit the Earth. Big deal. By the time they get it the rest of us will have messed it all up.

10-25-2006, 10:40 AM	#9
harif87 Minor Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 21 Posts: 992	I used epoxy on several DIY acrylic things, i mean that stuff is solid. The number is just the thickness of the stuff and how long it takes to cure. I wouldnt say its toxic, but then again i might be wrong. __________________ sorry for beating you senseless "The human torch was denied a bank loan"

10-25-2006, 01:56 PM	#10
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933	its not toxic after it dries, the weldon completly evaporates, all that is left is acrylic, it melts the acrylic then evaporates, so you have to be sure to get both melted pieces to join before it dries. __________________ The meek shall inherit the Earth. Big deal. By the time they get it the rest of us will have messed it all up.

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10-10-2006, 12:55 PM	#1
im_a_clownfish Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 91	adhesives for acrylic tanks Hi All! I am making a refugium out of acrylic (why I didnt just buy a standard glass tank I really dont know lol...it would have been MUCH cheaper and easier). I guess I wanted a project and a challenge...anyways... I built an acrylic aquarium with non toxic (and APPARENTLY high strength) loctite acrylic adhesive and then coated all the seams with aquarium sealant. LUCKILY I tested my aquarium/refuge and filled it with water. both bottom seams broke and water came pouring out everywhere. So obviously the loctite is ****************, and the aquarium silicone didnt help much. I have a friend that made a 70 gallon out of acrylic and used 2 part epoxy (he didnt tell me what epoxy tho). Concernedd about my fish health, I decided to use an aquarium friendly method, which obviously didnt work. Does anyone have a recommendation of a very strong adhesive I can use thats preferably fish friendly? Weldbond? gorilla glue? certain epoxy? My other question is can I use a non-fish friendly super strong adhesive, as long as I line all the seams with aquarium silicone on the inside so the water never actually touches the adhesive? My friend didnt even do this - all he used was 2 part epoxy, no internal silicone or anything and his tank and fish have been great for a year now. trouble is, hes not sure what he used as it was a year ago.... Thanks alot!

10-11-2006, 08:33 AM	#4
im_a_clownfish Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 91	ok so weldon # 5 (I read somewhere that someone suggested #4) and then #16 to give it a good seal corrrect?

10-11-2006, 02:28 PM	#5
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933	i like #4, not sure about 5, never used it. 3 sets in about 30 seconds, 4 takes a couple minutes, so you have time to goof up and get it right again before its welded, i assume 5 is a little thicker and takes a little longer to cure. 16 is pretty thick and will make a great seal like silicone does in a glass tank. sort of. but yea. you got the idea. __________________ The meek shall inherit the Earth. Big deal. By the time they get it the rest of us will have messed it all up.

10-16-2006, 03:54 PM	#6
im_a_clownfish Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 91	thanks guys! where can I find weldon? I've tried looking at a few places but no luck. WOuld home depot have it? Thanks!

10-25-2006, 09:45 AM	#8
im_a_clownfish Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 91	Thanks for yoru help leveldrummer!! Is the #16 weldon toxic? I will caulk the inside joints of the tank with it, but do I need to cover it in silicone so it doesnt pollute the water? Or is it inert when it dries? thanks agian!

10-25-2006, 03:30 PM	#11
im_a_clownfish Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 91	THanks for the info! BUt it doesnt look like the #16 has evaporated.....the #4 yes, but the #16 looks sorta like I caulked the edge with silicone.....if I wait long enough should the 16 evaporate too? I did it in the garage as not to stink up the house,and its cold outside so maybe thats why the #16 is still there? Thanks again!!

10-25-2006, 07:46 PM	#12
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933	it will some, but you should still have a caulked edge look i believe. __________________ The meek shall inherit the Earth. Big deal. By the time they get it the rest of us will have messed it all up.

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