Need overflow box built

Stinger · Apr 5, 2012

does anyone know who can build me a black acrylic overflow box for the right side corner of my new tank. I accidentally broke it. the size is 5 inches wide from back of tank glass toward the front and 8 inches from the right side glass to the 5 inch piece. L shaped. ,20 inches tall, the slots are 1/4 in wide and 1-3/8 " tall to top of the box( open slots). closed slots will have to be 15/16 in tall. please direct me to a builder. here is the pic of the left side box, with a inside cutout for the nozzle fit. last pictured. 3rd pic is the right side i need.

revhtree · Apr 6, 2012

How did you break it if I may ask?

Stinger · Apr 6, 2012

dummy me was cutting out the inside slot to house the return nozzle. I was using a jigsaw, and should have let the blade stop before i removed the saw. when i pulled it out the blade caught the acrylic panel and cracked it in 3 different places all the way 3/4 down the panel , some of the cracks even knocked out large chips. :cry: i tried gluing it with super glue and it didn't work too good. Just a novice mistake that will cost me more time and money. i have already removed the broken panel and silicone . just waiting on quotes and replacement. duh , im sick

REEFKEEPER10 · Apr 6, 2012

I was wondering were I got this cold from. My question is how did you give it to me. Lol:nosebleed_002:

M@! · Apr 6, 2012

Marc "Melev" will make you one. Info here - Melevsreef.com - Reef Store

Stinger · Apr 7, 2012

Thanks M@. I ask him last week but he had alot of thinks going on with the tornado and his 400 gallon tank sprung a leak. But let me say this about marc. He has high standards and is a class act. he will return all emails even with his busy schedule.

boomtown · Jan 16, 2013

wanted to revive this thread. I'm thinking about building a small overflow box for a 40 breeder. What is the best way to build the box? Is silicone the correct sealant to use to join the pieces together to create the box? Thanks for the help!

grumpy-crab · Jan 16, 2013

Here is my over flow i had made. It has five sides and the bulk head also hold the over flow box on. Its easy to do and its more room in your tank then having a bulky corner flow of some sort.

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boomtown · Jan 17, 2013

thats the exact ideaI'm looking to do. Did you cut the acrylic pieces and silicone them together? Or is there a better way to bond them. Also - is that 1/4 in thick acrylic? I think I read that all you really need is 1/8 in thick.

I like the idea of making it five sided and using the bulkhead to secure it. Do you have any issues with water getting between the overflow and tank?

swannyson7 · Jan 17, 2013

The best thing to use for joining acrylic is a product called "weld-on." Weld-on #4 is best suited for that application, but it won't bond to the glass, so you;ll have to use silicone to attach the built overflow to the glass itself. Silicone doesn't stick too well to acrylic, so you'll have to be pretty liberal with it, but it should hold for a low pressure application like this.

boomtown · Jan 17, 2013

what's the best way to cut acrylic and is there a certain type of acrylic to use/stay away from? Sorry I'm obviously inexperienced with this but want to make sure I do it right from other people's experiences!

grumpy-crab · Jan 17, 2013

Really any acrylic will work. And 1/8 is to thin! It will bow from the water pressure over time. And how inset my up is i used the bulk head with two rubber gaskets. In this order so it didnt leak. Bulk head gasket over flow box gasket tank bulk head nut. And any saw will cut acrylic but make sure u take your time cutting it slow or it might break under stress. And silicone wont bond it very well. But they make a weld or even super glue would work. Just make sure you let it cure a few days before u get it wet.

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BamBam88 · Mar 6, 2013

No hijack intended just tryn to keep thread going instead of making new one. I am attempting to build internal curved corner overflow out of a cut up basic 5 gal home depot bucket. It wont harm water, what im wondering is if the buckets plastic will become brittle over time or not. Should I just buy a piece of black acrylic frome home depot and use that?