Dez' Tank Journal

[Dez]

More progress today: I build the overflow box. First I had to drill my 2 holes for the 1 1/2" drains in the overflow box. Here are both my kids helping me.



The worst part is cleaning silicone off dirty glass. I got the glass from someone who had ripped apart a fish tank so I had to use tons of razor blades and wire brushes to clean up the edges. Here is the mess created!



Finally all the glass cleaned up.



Here is the glass prepped with masking tape to get less smears in the silicone. I am using clear silicone. I know that the overflow box is not seen, but I still want it to look nice.



I cleaned all the edges with vinegar and newspaper (a trick from the guy who used to build tanks for Inter American or Bow Valley Aquariums). Here is the overflow box built. I just have to let the silicone cure and then razor off the edges. All the edges lined up flush and there are no air bubbles in the visable seams so I think that's the most important part.



Thanks for looking!

[Mrfish55]

Looking good, surprising at how clean your cuts are, usually old glass doesn't cut so well, especially thicker stuff. Well Done! Is the extra chamber going to be for your external wavebox?

[Dez]

Originally Posted by Mrfish55

Looking good, surprising at how clean your cuts are, usually old glass doesn't cut so well, especially thicker stuff. Well Done! Is the extra chamber going to be for your external wavebox?

Thanks for the comments. Yes, the extra chamber is the external wavebox. it's 4 1/2" x 5" x 14".....hopefully it'll work. the actual wavebox dimensions are 4 1/2" x 4 /12" x 12". I think it'll work cause it's just displacing water at a set frequency.

[banditpowdercoat]

Thats some thick glass for an overflow. Is there a specific reason you went so thick?

Looks good though, Those siliconed joints will be fine. It's amazing how well silicone bonds to glass. I like how you taped the joints for a smooth silicone edge. Most people me included, would just apply and spread with finger to Fillet the joints, on an overflow LOL

[Dez]

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

Thats some thick glass for an overflow. Is there a specific reason you went so thick?

Looks good though, Those siliconed joints will be fine. It's amazing how well silicone bonds to glass. I like how you taped the joints for a smooth silicone edge. Most people me included, would just apply and spread with finger to Fillet the joints, on an overflow LOL

It's only 3/8" glass. It's external with bulkheads and anytime there's a bulkhead there's extra stress on the glass. There's also not that much room from the edge of the hole to the edge of the glass so I didn't want to risk it. I didn't trust 1/4" glass. Believe it or not, the internal overflow box that I ripped out of the tank was 1/2". That's pretty think, it was probably for it to have a nice surface for the egg crate to sit on though. I don't ever want to have to tear this tank apart because of something I miscalculated. I'm trying to do it right the first time y'know? Thanks for the comments.

[banditpowdercoat]

Oh, thats not that bad. It look's like 1/2" in the pics. 3/8 is not as bad. ya, I woulda gambled with 1/4" If I was buyin the glass. But then. I gamble alot on thing. But NEVER at a casino, go figure HAHAHA

[Dez]

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

Oh, thats not that bad. It look's like 1/2" in the pics. 3/8 is not as bad. ya, I woulda gambled with 1/4" If I was buyin the glass. But then. I gamble alot on thing. But NEVER at a casino, go figure HAHAHA

Funny thing is that I have a ton of 1/4" glass. But I traded for the 3/8" so it cost me nothing