gibs Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Hey guys I assembled my sump the day before and water tested it today I only have 2 small leaks and they are both in the baffles one for the refugium and one in the first bubble trap. Both are minor and both I think were cause by me trying to sand the edges down and I have a small bow on the side where it meets the sump. Only a tiny bit is leaking through and the tops and bottom are perfectly fine. What is a good way to fix this or can it be? I already tried just using a bit more glue but the gap is just big enough where the sides don't meet. I thought about trying to clamp it but worried about causing more stress or something on the acrylic? I hear that weld on #16 is thicker and can be used to fill minor imperfections, I am using #4 right now..what do you think? Its almost a small enough amount that I am even thinking of leaving it alone once the water is both sides I am not going to get a whole lot through there since the pressure should be equalized and most will just go over the baffles as it should? Any thoughts suggesions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 #4 is where it is at. with that you can make #16 take a scape piece of acrylic and grind it up, make a thicker glue and seal the gap. #16 is simply #4 with shavings added to it to make a thicker glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropy Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I have always used #16 on all the seams for a sump. The thing I like about 16 is that it comes in a squeeze tube and comes with tips so it is much easier to apply (basically the same as silicone). Of course it will not be nearly as pretty, but for a sump I am just looking for high strength and no leaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibs Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Thanks for the advice guys as always its really appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 If you do acrylic properly you should get a slight buldge at each edge of the seam, almost as if you laid down #16. Out small wire sections between the two sections your sealing, use capillary action to suck the weldon into the gap then about 10-15 seconds later once it has weakened the material pull the wires out, the weight will allow the weakened edge to smash down and seal everything off. I have sealed leaks in a few different acrylic builds by either allowing #4 to be sucked in with capillary action and seal it or mixing #4 with shavings to make #16 and use a syringe with no needle to apply. I typically use #16 to repair cracks and not just bad seam gaps. You'd be surprised how big of a gap #4 can suck into with capillary action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropy Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I am pretty sure you have a lot more experience than I do. My acrylic skills are pretty much in line with my welding and painting skills. They all look great from about 10 feet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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