Seattle05 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I made a media reactor this afternoon out of acrylic using 1/4 acrylic and liquid bonding agent. 5 to 6 hours later I started to put it together and next thing I knew it was sitting in my sump doing its job. I guess I got so excited about seeing it in action that I forgot to find out how long before I can put it in the water. Anybody happen to know? Link to comment
gulfsurfer101 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 What agent did you use. If it's fast acting like weldon 3 or 4 your good to go. Weldon 16 I'd give at least 24hrs to dry. Bonded a 130g acrylic tank that had a leaking seem with Weldon 4 and filled it 12hrs later. It's holding well 12hrs later no signs of leaking and stress. It doesn't take long to seal and dry up at all. Nice job btw. Link to comment
Seattle05 Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Thanks! I used Weldon 4SC fast set. I figured its bonded well enough because that stuff sets up fast. I guess I'm more worried that it will leach chemicals and kill my inhabitants. Link to comment
rafastank727 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Looks good. Can we get a picture of the front Link to comment
Seattle05 Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Thanks. Here's the closest I got to a front shot. Its now sitting in my sump facing the back. Link to comment
rafastank727 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 What are you planning to put in there? That's awesome Link to comment
Seattle05 Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 I got it running with some PhosGuard now. Link to comment
Seattle05 Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Was thinking of running half PhosGuard half charcoal, but I've read somewhere before that charcoal is not a good idea in reef tanks because it absorbs iodine. So not sure how that would work. Link to comment
StevieT Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 instantly. I have welded acrylic and after 1 minute it was underwater. 5-6 hours is plenty Link to comment
Seattle05 Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 Awesome! That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks everyone for your input. Link to comment
Seiryoku Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I have an odd question (even though I'm sure of the answer), but didn't want to create a new thread for it... Any way to unbond acrylic once welded (other than cutting it)? Want to move the baffles in an acrylic sump... Link to comment
Seiryoku Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Nope. The solvent basically melts the acrylic and they fuse together and become a single piece of acrylic. If you bond two pieces of acrylic together and try to break them apart it will break everywhere except at the joint. That is what I told myself before asking! Was hoping there was some super secret magically way to undo it. Link to comment
StevieT Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 No secret. But you can get the weld to break depending. But it's not pretty. Cutting is ideal. Link to comment
Seattle05 Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Yeah you're screwed. Once bonded they never come apart and acrylic never breaks where you want it to. Cutting is your only option. Link to comment
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