Tank Build - Bad News

philg3 · #1 10-09-2011, 03:08 AM

Got some bad news from the glass shop working on my aquarium.

I dont have any pics, so paint will have to do while im at work.

While making the notch cut for an external overflow box, the glass cracked and went lower than the 3/4" that i had planned. Now it almost steps down another 3/4" which makes the overflow 1.5" deep and not uniform in shape, ie:

Notch Overflow Fail.jpg

What are your guys thoughts?

Silicone something along the overflow edge raise the bottom part to where i had planned?

What if i added a piece of black acrylic (similar to what standard internal overflows are usually made of) the correct shape and dimensions and just siliconed it to cover the entire back wall? do the same thing with a thin peice of glass?

The plan was to drill two 3/4" holes for the return in the back panel as well as add eurobracing to the top.

The overflow would probably function fine as is, but the water level would be lower than i wanted and every time i looked at it i would know its wrong, not to mention some loss of surface skimming.

What do you guys think of these solutions, and does anyone have any better ideas?

MarkoD · #2 10-09-2011, 03:12 AM

make an acrylic overlay with teeth and glue it on at the height you want.

lastlight · #3 10-09-2011, 03:21 AM

My suggestion is get what you agreed to. Doesn't sounds like it's your problem unless I'm missing something here.

philg3 · #4 10-09-2011, 03:28 AM

Wasnt a new tank build, the glass shop was making the cut in an existing Oceanic tank i picked up on craigslist. I figured the glass shop would be better equipped to make the notch opposed to me doing it myself.

I had a discussion with the guy before working on it, and i agreed that i wouldnt blame him if the notch didnt go as planned.

Blom · #5 10-09-2011, 03:31 AM

That would be like a mechanic telling me its not his fault if my brakes dont work....

Money pit · #6 10-09-2011, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blom

That would be like a mechanic telling me its not his fault if my brakes dont work....

Not even close. Glass breaks in glass shops quite often, its part of the business. The shop warned of the risk, and it was accepted.
MarkoD has a good idea with the acrylic.

emerald crab · #7 10-09-2011, 05:24 AM

I would silicone a strip of glass to get it to the right level. I don't trust silicone on plastics.

MarkoD · #8 10-09-2011, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emerald crab

I would silicone a strip of glass to get it to the right level. I don't trust silicone on plastics.

huh? they build whole tanks out of acrylic.

emerald crab · #9 10-09-2011, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

huh? they build whole tanks out of acrylic.

Yes, but they don't silicone them. I trust glueing plastics together, but I don't trust silicone on plastics.

Nate · #10 10-09-2011, 04:32 PM

Hes right about siliconing not bonding to plastic... But this a pretty low pressure situation. It should work fine