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View Full Version : Recommend an Epoxy for gluing sand to acrylic


hexbasher
07-05-2012, 07:50 AM
I want to glue some dry sand to about 2 square feet worth of acrylic (around some glued LR rubble, glued with whatever fragging epoxy i have on hand at the time)

anything good? I did searches and found guys building foam walls, but what they were using stuff i cant find in Canada all that well

so if anyone knows some product (or even better a local supplier in the lowermainland) that would be awesome

Madmak
07-05-2012, 09:04 PM
I use plain old GE silicone, cheap and guaranteed reef safe. A thin layer will hold crushed coral and sand quite well and sticks to anything.

hexbasher
07-07-2012, 02:02 PM
any GE Silicone?

like http://www.homedepot.ca/product/ge-silicone-i-window-door-sealant-clear-290-ml/941923 ????

if so this would be cheap, maybe better for what im doing since i can make it look lumpy

Mandosh
07-07-2012, 04:58 PM
any GE Silicone?

like http://www.homedepot.ca/product/ge-silicone-i-window-door-sealant-clear-290-ml/941923 ????

if so this would be cheap, maybe better for what im doing since i can make it look lumpy

As far as I know, GE recently changed their formulas so all their I and II silicone that you can find at HD etc. contains mildew inhibitors. Everyone used to use GEI Window & Door without any issues; not the case anymore.

Your best be will be GE SCS1200, which you can usually find at Acklands-Grainger (or somewhere similar), or if you only need a small amount you can use the All-Glass stuff J&L sells. It is just rebranded GE/Dow Corning (or some other brand) for 3x the price, but it's easy to find and at least you'll know it's safe.

Madmak
07-08-2012, 03:05 AM
That is the stuff, I found it at Calgary Fasteners for about $6 per tube. http://img.tapatalk.com/464b85f3-fa95-9d6f.jpg

biggerstretch
07-31-2012, 03:51 AM
I would use some thick acrylic cement ( stuf used to make acrylic aquariums ) for the sand and some epoxy ( standard buy anywhere stuff ) or a silicone without the mildew inhibitor..... let it cure outside for a day or so and wash it well.... should be fine ... just to play it safe put some carbon in the aquarium.....
I have used the acrylic cement with no issues many times when building flow diverters or stands in the sump.... just let the solvent evaporate , thus letting the glue dry and then give it a rinse with some tap water...

The acrylic cement " melts " the acrylic thus letting you put a fine layer of sand onto it. Might want to look into some clear two part epoxy paint also.. guys used to make wood aquariums then paint the inside with epoxy paint, the paint generaly comes as a clear and then you add pigments to get the color you want.give the acylic a good sanding to rough up the surface if you go the epoxy route.

The place I picked up the arcylic cement was johnston industrial plastics in edmonton..
http://www.johnstonplastics.com/

daplatapus
07-31-2012, 04:29 AM
Home hardware also sells stuff under the "Weather shield" brand. It's kinda green label 35 year Silicone. Says water proof seal on it. and right on the main label is one of the only silicone's that says right on it "Aquarium safe"

Actually after writing that I decided to take a pic :)

http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x353/daplatapus/IMAG0081.jpg

damtrees420
07-31-2012, 10:13 PM
Just make sure that the sand isnt to small i tryed the same thing looked good but had to do it twice as the sand was to fine the first time and it didnt cover enough redid it with bigger sand and looked sweet but turned in to the tank of death because i used the wrong stuff