Uggh 2020 off bad start

[Paulie069]

Help I broke a piece of glass in my refugium while I was cleaning tank. Can it be replaced or do I need to get new refugium. If I can fix it what kind of silicone do I wanna use

Please help!!! Heck u can text me. 6092905252

 

[Silent]

Which glass? A baffle? Any pics?

 

[Paulie069]

Which glass? A baffle? Any pics?

 

[Shirak]

Is that just an internal baffle? Yes you can replace/fix glass. For an internal baffle I would just use 100% pure GE silicone - no mold inhibitors etc just to be safe. If you were building a tank I would look for a stronger silicone like Permatex RTV silicone.

 

[Silent]

Scrape all the silicone off the glass and replace the glass with new glass or even acrylic and use aquarium silicone.

 

[Shirak]

Up to you if you want to try to glue the cracked piece or go to the hardware store and have them cut you a replacement piece.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Whichever silicone you use, ensure that it is acetate-cured (smells like vinegar) and not ammonia-cured. I wouldn't want you to have an ammonia spike in the system from the ammonia-cured silicone.

 

[Paulie069]

Up to you if you want to try to glue the cracked piece or go to the hardware store and have them cut you a replacement piece.

Oh you guys are awesome thank you so much for the advice it’s exactly what I was hoping and it’s exactly what I’ll do it’s just going to delay putting my tank together. dang big gorilla hands

 

[Schnizzle]

GE SIlicone 1 should be available at most any hardware store as well. Here's a link for a bunch of other brands too.

Aquarium Safe Silicone - Best, Safest & Strongest | FishLab

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Here’s how it works. I think you’ll agree with me when I say: Silicone sealant is one of the most important parts of an aquarium. After all, silicone is what holds your aquarium together. Without it, your aquarium is little...

fishlab.com

 

[Schnizzle]

Oh you guys are awesome thank you so much for the advice it’s exactly what I was hoping and it’s exactly what I’ll do it’s just going to delay putting my tank together. dang big gorilla hands

lol The gorilla mits strike again. First my coral, now your sump.

 

[Shirak]

Oh you guys are awesome thank you so much for the advice it’s exactly what I was hoping and it’s exactly what I’ll do it’s just going to delay putting my tank together. dang big gorilla hands

Dry and clean everything as best you can. Silicone won't stick to wet surfaces and you want to try to remove oils on the glass from your fingers. Caution wiping the cracked area or even the edges of a new piece of glass!

 

[Squidward]

Replace that cheap glass with 1/4" thick glass from a glass shop. Those cheap thin glass from lowe's easily crack.

 

[Paulie069]

lol The gorilla mits strike again. First my coral, now your sump.

Funny guy

 

[Billdogg]

Replace that cheap glass with 1/4" thick glass from a glass shop. Those cheap thin glass from lowe's easily crack.

^^^This^^^

IMHO, there is no place at all in a sump for single strength glass. Sure, it will hold the water back if the pressure on both sides is close to equal. As you have found, however, is that all you have to do is look at it sideways and it cracks. The last thing you want to do is break it while you are doing something in your tank and slicing yourself wide open on dirty, salty glass. It's just not worth the risk!

Call any local glass shop and have them cut a new piece of 1/4" for you. Whatever height you want and ~1/8" less than the inside width of the tank. A little bit of silicone to hold it in place and you will be good to go.

 

[Dom]

That's an easy fix.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its a baffle and easy fix. 2 part epoxy or you can silicone glass scrap on both sides to reinforce it.
If it is silicone in place- easy to scrape away and replace

 

[Paulie069]

Its a baffle and easy fix. 2 part epoxy or you can silicone glass scrap on both sides to reinforce it.
If it is silicone in place- easy to scrape away and replace

I know all that it’s just frustrating and eats up time and I’m pretty hard on myself. I just gotta step away n take deep breath. Maybe some Oregano will calm nerves

 

[Paulie069]

I know all that it’s just frustrating and eats up time and I’m pretty hard on myself. I just gotta step away n take deep breath. Maybe some Oregano will calm nerves

I also appreciate everyone’s advice and help means a lot to know support is a post away. Thank you all