How did you secure your ABS bottom?

[Tyler White]

Straightforward. How did you all secure your ABS bottoms out of curiosity?

I haven't had the best of luck with siliconing it in place as it tends to let go and bow up

 

[PedroYoung]

Straightforward. How did you all secure your ABS bottoms out of curiosity?

I haven't had the best of luck with siliconing it in place as it tends to let go and bow up

I used silicone. Made a big zig zaggy pattern underneath then went around the edges. Left a ton of books on it for a week while it cured.

 

[Tyler White]

Decided to do a test on which was better (besides sillicone) between super glue and epoxy putty

The glue is a darn near permanent bond and the epoxy was just good enough to hold onto the glass and let go of the epoxy with just a little effort.

I went with these two as a quicker fix to getting this bottom held down in one place.

Drained the tank glued it down let it cure and started filling.

This doesn't fix it i give up!

 

[Weasel1960]

Dumb newbie question...what is ABS please.

 

[mikee002]

Decided to do a test on which was better (besides sillicone) between super glue and epoxy putty

The glue is a darn near permanent bond and the epoxy was just good enough to hold onto the glass and let go of the epoxy with just a little effort.

I went with these two as a quicker fix to getting this bottom held down in one place.

Drained the tank glued it down let it cure and started filling.

This doesn't fix it i give up!

Thanks for the testing!

Do you have a link for the abs that you’re using? Thx

 

[Tyler White]

Thanks for the testing!

Do you have a link for the abs that you’re using? Thx

No problem! I used a sheet from Eplastics.

General Purpose ABS Sheets In Stock

General Purpose ABS Sheets In Stock at ePlastics. Custom Cut for Your Next Project.

www.eplastics.com

Best thing is they do cutting for you as well!

 

[Tyler White]

Dumb newbie question...what is ABS please.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

Tough plastic that's reef safe.
I'm pretty sure a lot of pumps are made from the stuff in some aspect.

 

[Weasel1960]

So is it like acrylic? What do you use it for? Can it be used to make sump dividers, etc? Sorry for all the questions, just diving into some of the DIY stuff and trying to learn more. Have been reading the DIY forum From oldest to most current so I can get some context of progression within the hobby, etc.

 

[Soren]

So is it like acrylic? What do you use it for? Can it be used to make sump dividers, etc? Sorry for all the questions, just diving into some of the DIY stuff and trying to learn more. Have been reading the DIY forum From oldest to most current so I can get some context of progression within the hobby, etc.

From my research, ABS can be used for almost any purpose similar to acrylic. The main difference is that ABS does not truly react with any adhesive (unlike acrylic which bonds at molecular level with acrylic adhesive), so there is no easy way to attach ABS other than mechanical connection (such as screws) and silicone or other filler to try to seal it. Since the adhesive does not actually bond to the ABS, it should not be trusted as a leak-resistant joint without mechanical means like a gasket compressed between pieces.

As I understand it, ABS was developed for the purpose of preventing reactions with other materials, so adhesion is difficult.

 

[Weasel1960]

Thanks for the info I think I know which plastic you are talking about now, it’s the black corrugated drain piping often used in landscaping, heat molded into shapes like pond liners. Didn’t know you could buy it in sheets. Originally thought ABS was a reefing acronym for something else. Appreciate your clarifications.