Baffle Help!!

DisneyMatt10 · May 6, 2016

Hey all,

As many of you know I am in the process of setting up my saltwater aquarium. Now that I am back from vacation I can focus on the aquarium again! The next step(s) for me is getting the baffles into my sump tank, and getting my stand built. However, today when I went to a local place that cuts and installs baffles they told me that they can not glue the plexiglass baffles to a glass tank. They said they will gladly cut them for me, but I have to glue them in the tank myself. . . Okay, well that can't be that hard! Right?? My only question is what do you use to glue the baffles in place, and can I glue a plexiglass baffle to a glass tank?? Anyone ever done this?? If so how did you go about doing it?? What kind of glue did you use? Ect...!

Any advice you can provide is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
~Matt

mcarroll · May 6, 2016

They may have objected because what bonds to glass doesn't really bond to acrylic and vis versa. Most people try silicome...some get away with it. I haven't read of a suitable alternative, but hopefully someone will chime in.

I like to use a wide-open tank as a sump - eliminates the problem at the root. ;)

redfishbluefish · May 6, 2016

I have made multiple sumps with both glass and acrylic baffles. For most of these I've used GE Silicone I. The secret is to use a lot of silicone. Not just between the edge of the baffle and the side of the sump, but include a bead of silicone on either side of the baffle edge to trap the baffle in place. It won't be pretty, but it also won't go anywhere.

DisneyMatt10 · May 6, 2016

redfishbluefish said:
I have made multiple sumps with both glass and acrylic baffles. For most of these I've used GE Silicone I. The secret is to use a lot of silicone. Not just between the edge of the baffle and the side of the sump, but include a bead of silicone on either side of the baffle edge to trap the baffle in place. It won't be pretty, but it also won't go anywhere.

Awesome!! Thank's for the feedback! :)
~Matt