Fill drilled tank holes?

[mskurdah]

After my latest round of plumbing issues I've decided to forgo the closed loop and just have an in-tank heater and powerhead/pump.

My current cube (20") has two holes in the bottom for the closed loop. Does anyone have an idea regarding whether I could plug these holes / recommendation for how / or am I better off just buying a new tank?

thanks!

 

[Wy Renegade]

After my latest round of plumbing issues I've decided to forgo the closed loop and just have an in-tank heater and powerhead/pump.

My current cube (20") has two holes in the bottom for the closed loop. Does anyone have an idea regarding whether I could plug these holes / recommendation for how / or am I better off just buying a new tank?

thanks!

Get two pieces of glass cut the same size as the inside bottom of the tank; silicone it top and bottom to your tank - be sure and get the edges well siliconed. Make a sandwich of your tank bottom so to speak, should work, especially with that small of a tank. I know someone who patched a 125 gallon the same way.

 

[Blackhawk Fan]

Use threaded bulkheads and silicone threaded pvc plugs in them. Teflon tape would work too with the plugs, but there may be salt creep.

 

[mskurdah]

Thanks for the help!!!!!

 

[Troylee]

I would perfer a patch over the hole instead of the bulkheads just in case one decides to leak... You can use glass or acrylic and just silicone a square over it...

 

[Wy Renegade]

I would perfer a patch over the hole instead of the bulkheads just in case one decides to leak... You can use glass or acrylic and just silicone a square over it...

I wouldn't use Acrylic on glass - every case of siliconed acrylic on glass that I've seen has eventually failed. Go with glass, you'll be much happier.

 

[Troylee]

I wouldn't use Acrylic on glass - every case of siliconed acrylic on glass that I've seen has eventually failed. Go with glass, you'll be much happier.

This couldn't be more far from the truth!!!! I have seen acrylic baffles and overflows in sumps for years!!!! If you use the rite silicone dc732 or rtv999 I think it is there is no problems at all.... So you mean to tell me that top manufactures are not building there tanks correctly like leemar??? Thy use acrylic overflows with silicone all the time....

 

[Wy Renegade]

This couldn't be more far from the truth!!!! I have seen acrylic baffles and overflows in sumps for years!!!! If you use the rite silicone dc732 or rtv999 I think it is there is no problems at all.... So you mean to tell me that top manufactures are not building there tanks correctly like leemar??? Thy use acrylic overflows with silicone all the time....

Fair enough, let me clarify - perhaps with the correct silicon, this can be done. Every case of DIY patching or acrylic baffles that I've seen done locally with the standard Aquarium silicon and/or the GE type silicon has failed eventually (on multiple drilled tanks and multiple sumps), no exceptions - including those that were done with large amounts of silicon. Even those placed as a build-up around drilled bulkheads have curled up and eventually leaked. Those that are done with glass don't. In my experience the glass patches have never leaked. For a DIY project, I recommend glass. Just my experience - take it for what its worth.