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Old 05/13/2007, 04:53 PM
xinumaster xinumaster is offline
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silicon and acrylic

can I just use a aquarium silicon to fixed a leaking acrylic tank?
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  #2  
Old 05/13/2007, 05:09 PM
Solitaryensis Solitaryensis is offline
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I dont think thats a good idea - when you fill the tank, it will likely open up the seam from the pressure. Acylic expands with heat and cold so even if it doesnt bust during the initial fill, im sure youll have problems shortly down the line. Why not use some acrylic weld?
  #3  
Old 05/13/2007, 05:32 PM
Sparkss Sparkss is offline
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silicone doesn't bond to acrylic like it does to glass (or like weldon bonds acrylic to acrylic). It is not recommended for use like that.
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Old 05/13/2007, 06:06 PM
xinumaster xinumaster is offline
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I was just gonna use that silicon for that buffer in the sump.
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  #5  
Old 05/13/2007, 06:08 PM
sfsuphysics sfsuphysics is offline
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Where is the leak? If it's in a "nice" it's possible to use weldon #16 (thick stuff) and force it into a crack/around a seam. If it's a crack in the acrylic I might try to patch it with another piece of acrylic on the inside. If it's a seam low in the tank... don't know if I'd risk that... hell who am I kidding... *I* would risk it, although that doesn't mean it's advisable.

But if there's no need for strength (ie baffles in a sump, sides to a tank) then by all means it's ok to use silicone, I had a couple small leaks from some bad acrylic work (the acrylic itself was warped) in a prop tank, and I just ran a bead of silicone around the whole thing. Has been going strong for years, but it is NOT a strength bond, simply a sealing bond.
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