Turbos Aquatics Scrubber Help

[Gtinnel]

A while back I bought a used Rev 4 L4 Turbo Aquatics scrubber that I recently got around to setting up and I noticed today that it was leaking. The leak was from some joint on the clear inner chamber and when I started looking closely there is water in the end seams and the two halves in certain places aren't connected anymore.

Does anyone know what I can use to try and seal the joints up to make it watertight again?

Im not even sure if I should be using some kind of solvent to weld it together or something else like epoxy.

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

PVC cement should do it. Not too much, because it might fog the plastic; keep a fan on it.

 

[Gtinnel]

Luckily with where I believe it was leaking it is on the end so light doesn't need to pass through that section so if the platic becomes foggy it wont hurt anything.

I believe I still have some Weldon at home that I was going to try to put into the joint to see how it does once the joint has dried out. Where the two halves are separated the seams are milky looking which I've read is common on a failed acrylic joint.

Im honestly not even sure if it is acrylic although Im guessing it is. Will PVC cement work on acrylic, if it is acrylic?

If the weldon doesnt work im going to start trying to use different epoxies or glues to try and seal it. Im sure something will work lol.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

A while back I bought a used Rev 4 L4 Turbo Aquatics scrubber that I recently got around to setting up and I noticed today that it was leaking. The leak was from some joint on the clear inner chamber and when I started looking closely there is water in the end seams and the two halves in certain places aren't connected anymore.

Does anyone know what I can use to try and seal the joints up to make it watertight again?

Im not even sure if I should be using some kind of solvent to weld it together or something else like epoxy.

The growth chambers are polycarbonate, so solvent will not work

Use epoxy

 

[Gtinnel]

The growth chambers are polycarbonate, so solvent will not work

Use epoxy

Awesome thank you.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Luckily with where I believe it was leaking it is on the end so light doesn't need to pass through that section so if the platic becomes foggy it wont hurt anything.

I believe I still have some Weldon at home that I was going to try to put into the joint to see how it does once the joint has dried out. Where the two halves are separated the seams are milky looking which I've read is common on a failed acrylic joint.

Im honestly not even sure if it is acrylic although Im guessing it is. Will PVC cement work on acrylic, if it is acrylic?

If the weldon doesnt work im going to start trying to use different epoxies or glues to try and seal it. Im sure something will work lol.

Weld-on will not work on well (or at all) polycarbonate, unless it's 40. I would not recommend PVC cement either. The panels are bonded together with an industrial grade UV-cured adhesive, if a joint starts to separate it will look white, which is similar to an acrylic joint separation.

Epoxy will work, if you can "push" some into the void that will help, but it's not necessary. Scuff up the area just around where you are applying the epoxy so that it will form a patch over that area and stay adhered well. Epoxy is not flexible, so it may eventually start to detach from the smooth surface, but you can just re-apply (should last years).

 

[Gtinnel]

Weld-on will not work on well (or at all) polycarbonate, unless it's 40. I would not recommend PVC cement either. The panels are bonded together with an industrial grade UV-cured adhesive, if a joint starts to separate it will look white, which is similar to an acrylic joint separation.

Epoxy will work, if you can "push" some into the void that will help, but it's not necessary. Scuff up the area just around where you are applying the epoxy so that it will form a patch over that area and stay adhered well. Epoxy is not flexible, so it may eventually start to detach from the smooth surface, but you can just re-apply (should last years).

I will try with the epoxy and I can absolutely get some into the joint at the top at least. If all else fails I considered cutting a plate to completely cover the seam on the inside.
Now that I know what kind of plastic it is made from I'm sure i will be able to get it sealed. It likely wont look pretty but as long as its functional I dont care.