Gargoyle Gecko tank (kinda experiment)

[West1]

I purchased a 36” tall Dubia Roaches PVC enclosure and attempted to make a waterfall.
I was successful in achieving the look and when building the PVC enclosure, I used 5 tubes of silicone, putting the pieces together, then sealing the bottom 6” tall area with globs of silicone in all seams.
Let cure for a week or so and filled with water… leaks. I did this for roughly 2 months and finally had is water tight.
Went to Italy on vacation and came back to a leaking enclosure!

With all the work I put into the waterfall, I’m stumped on how to seal it.
Can someone recommend a pet same aquarium sealer that I can roll on?
When I google products, ALL the ones that pop up have nightmare leaks!!

Here’s a pic of the enclosure. Not sure where the thread belongs so move it where it needs to be.

Thanks for looking and any suggestions to get it sealed over the silicone!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@Troylee

 

[386reeftrader]

I have quite a few vivariums. Silicone has always worked for me sealing the enclosures. I would find where the leak is coming from, make sure it's completely dry and reseal the area. Does the waterfall drain into a container with the pump? That's the easiest solution to keep a waterfall contained.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Silicone adheres to PVC very poorly -- I've been through the same challenges you have, @West1 .

Lexel can work -- it is the sealant that Animal Plastics ships with their enclosures. I've not researched the animal-safety of it, but many people use it with reptiles (including me).

I'm surprised that more keepers haven't tried solvent welding on these PVC enclosures.

I personally would simply forego the waterfall, since the garg doesn't benefit from it in any way that can't be dealt with in some much simpler fashion.

 

[West1]

I have quite a few vivariums. Silicone has always worked for me sealing the enclosures. I would find where the leak is coming from, make sure it's completely dry and reseal the area. Does the waterfall drain into a container with the pump? That's the easiest solution to keep a waterfall contained.

I’ve looked for the leak for months and thought I had it. Enclosure has a diy overflow that leads to a 5gl exterior reservoir. Reservoir has a Sicce pump that return the water at the top of the enclosure.

Silicone adheres to PVC very poorly -- I've been through the same challenges you have, @West1 .

Lexel can work -- it is the sealant that Animal Plastics ships with their enclosures. I've not researched the animal-safety of it, but many people use it with reptiles (including me).

I'm surprised that more keepers haven't tried solvent welding on these PVC enclosures.

I personally would simply forego the waterfall, since the garg doesn't benefit from it in any way that can't be dealt with in some much simpler fashion.

I’ve given up on the waterfall for a bit and recently had a gust of 2nd wind Lol.
I carved the driftwood to create the water, we did a lot of work on it, specifically for the water fall. Hence the thread, giving it another shot before calling it quits on the aesthetic of the waterfall.

Solvent welding, that’s an idea. I actually have some from an acrylic build! If I can just get the enclosure to hold 2” worth of water (possibly less), I’ll be golden with the overflow I have.
Overflow has a 3/4” gravity fed to a 5gl reservoir.
1/2 return line, about 5’ up from a Sicce pump.
Worked fantastic for the short period it worked.
If I use solvent on the exterior of the enclosure, you think that it’ll hold water? Seems like it would.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Solvent welding, that’s an idea. I actually have some from an acrylic build!

I'm pretty sure that acrylic and PVC call for different adhesives.

If I use solvent on the exterior of the enclosure, you think that it’ll hold water?

No, solvent welding would be done on (in) the joints as it is assembled. I mean, you could slop some on the outside and see if it works, but that's not ideal -- you'd have a very thin layer of adhered material that way, as opposed to the entire mating surfaces of the joint being adhered. Without a good seal from the inside, you'd have funk migrating into the joint, too, so you'd get permanent filth in the joints.

Keep in mind that this -- solvent welding PVC sheets -- isn't widely done with PVC enclosures as far as I'm aware, so there's not a whole lot of direct advice that the hobby would be able to provide. Most water-holding builds are glass, and the many disadvantages of PVC are only really worth it when you're keeping an animal that needs the heat held in the enclosure and the insulating value of the material becomes a real selling point.

But whatever you end up doing, I'd love to hear how it works. :)

 

[West1]

I'm pretty sure that acrylic and PVC call for different adhesives.


No, solvent welding would be done on (in) the joints as it is assembled. I mean, you could slop some on the outside and see if it works, but that's not ideal -- you'd have a very thin layer of adhered material that way, as opposed to the entire mating surfaces of the joint being adhered. Without a good seal from the inside, you'd have funk migrating into the joint, too, so you'd get permanent filth in the joints.

Keep in mind that this -- solvent welding PVC sheets -- isn't widely done with PVC enclosures as far as I'm aware, so there's not a whole lot of direct advice that the hobby would be able to provide. Most water-holding builds are glass, and the many disadvantages of PVC are only really worth it when you're keeping an animal that needs the heat held in the enclosure and the insulating value of the material becomes a real selling point.

But whatever you end up doing, I'd love to hear how it works. :)

Darn it. That’s kinda what I was thinking with trying to seal the exterior.

I need to do some searches on plywood builds, maybe that blue stuff they use could create a mold to the lower portion of the enclosure?