Overflow box fell off.

[pdiehm]

just bought RTV 108 silicone. Going to figure out how to support the box while it cures in the meantime.

 

[143MPCo]

546thMPCo

FT SILL, OKLAHOMA?

 

[143MPCo]

Going to figure out how to support the box while it cures in the meantime.

This is what I use along with carpet squares for padding...

 

[pdiehm]

I presume clamp as close to the corners as possible

 

[143MPCo]

I would set it up like this...
clamp> 3/4" plywood> micro-fiber cloth (protect the overflow)> overflow> glass>small carpet square> clamp...
two should be more than enough. (probably don't need to say it but, go easy on the clamping force used)

the plywood will help to spread the force of the clamp more evenly across the overflow.

 

[hybridazn]

Even with the better rtv silicone the acrylic box will eventually let go. Silicone bonds to glass because the surface of glass is imperfect allowing it to get a very good bond. Acrylic is veey smooth and doesn't allow silicone to bond properly, you have to weld acrylic together to get it water tight.

The rtv will hold to the glass perfect, it might hold the box for a short amount of time but it will fail. Best bet is to go to a local glass shop or a local lowes or home depot and get glass cut and make your own box.

Best of luck

 

[pdiehm]

I would go with glass, but I am not sure how long to have the glass cut

 

[143MPCo]

@hybridazn, I agree one trick I have used is to sandpaper the ends of the acrylic to create grooving.

 

[hybridazn]

Haha after I posted I realized I should have put that too. It def would help but again I am not too sure on longevity

 

[hybridazn]

I would go with glass, but I am not sure how long to have the glass cut

A tape measure could help ;-)

Lol!

 

[pdiehm]

Used one. Just had arm surgery. Not easily done with one arm

 

[beaslbob]

you could build an overflow from pvc pipe.

my .02

 

[Saybng]

Can you possibly post pics of your progress? You can also use painters tape to give extra hold..

 

[pdiehm]

Just cut a piece of pvc to about 59.125. Was able to get it in. Thinking if I have enough wood, I can make a table for it to rest on while it cures.

 

[TaylorPilot]

Another thing to not, is if you are going to use glass, you don't want to clamp it too hard, because it will squeeze all of the silicone out from between the two pieces. Typically when they build glass tanks, they use little spacers to keep the glass from actually touching. But I agree, figure out how to use glass. It is fine when it is an internal box where water pressure holds it against the tank, but if it is an external box that is just held on with gravity working against it, then it will fail.

 

[143MPCo]

It is fine when it is an internal box where water pressure holds it against the tank, but if it is an external box that is just held on with gravity working against it, then it will fail.

Couldn't agree more!

 

[pdiehm]

What size glass thickness is recommended for an internal overflow box? I used 1/4" on my sump, would that work, or should I bump up to 3/8"?

 

[143MPCo]

3/8

 

[pdiehm]

Overflow box is installed. used 1/4" and Momentive RTV108 translucent silicone. I'm not real good at siliconing, so it's not as neat as other can do. Made some supports to hold it in place while it cures.

Figure cure time for this stuff is a week to 10 days. Was able to run a bead along the inside and outside of the vertical piece, and on the top and bottom of the horizontal piece in the back.

Pretty sure that I'll have to go through a short cycle again but it is what it is. making water is going to suck, but that's how my luck runs. 100 acrylic boxes are attached to an aquarium and mine would be the one that falls off. Hopefully that is rectified now.

 

[zwulfke]

when you do this put tile spacers in there to allow room for the silicone. you will squeeze it all out and not have enough volume to form a real bond