LCDRDATA August 25, 2012 August 25, 2012 I recently purchased an 800GPH CPR overflow box from another WAMAS member. Yesterday, I had it in my car (was going to go to Home Depot to get correct size fittings/tubing) and before I could go my daughter needed me to check whether an item would fit in the vehicle. In the process, the seat got dropped on the overflow box and snapped the overhang section off from the main body - it broke completely across the U-bend. Here's my question: is it worth the time and effort to try to repair this (BRS gel frag glue and aquarium silicone) or is it essentially a lost cause that will never function reliably again? Thanks.
countryboy August 25, 2012 August 25, 2012 I wouldn't use super glue, I wood use the weld chemical that acrylic builders use. I have some but I'm a little far from you
Origami August 25, 2012 August 25, 2012 +1, you probably need something like Weldon-4 for this job. Not the gap-filling stuff. Check with Adam at Artfully-Acrylic as he's closer to you than, say, Naga. He'll have the right advice and may be able to help you with the repair even.
flooddc August 25, 2012 August 25, 2012 I had the same problem as your. I used welder adhesive to glue it together. Also, you will need to add 2 U or J brackets to keep the 2 pieces from falling apart.
LCDRDATA August 25, 2012 Author August 25, 2012 Use Weld-on and it should work just fine A couple of follow-on questions: Where is Weld-on available? Will it seal was well as join, or will I need to go back over where the break was with aquarium sealant? How susceptible is it going to be to re-breakage? Thanks!
smallreef August 25, 2012 August 25, 2012 Weldon chemically bonds the surfaces together...that ebing said it does take some practice...i think someone else mentioned contacting Adam from artfully acrylic and that i think would be your best bet...i dont think any stores actually sell weldon #4chemically anymlre...so youd have to order it and would be cost prohibitive...
davelin315 August 26, 2012 August 26, 2012 I'd toss it. You need a perfect bond as any leaks will cause the siphon to fail eventually and if the edges aren't perfect you could suffer a catastrophic failure. If you do attempt it, I'd rejoin it with the thicker gel Weldon and then apply a patch on all surfaces with the thinner Weldon. I think that would be 16 and then 4 but I can't remember which is which. This will ensure that it doesn't leak and is strong. Again, though, I'd chalk it up as a loss.
steveoutlaw August 26, 2012 August 26, 2012 I'd toss it. You need a perfect bond as any leaks will cause the siphon to fail eventually and if the edges aren't perfect you could suffer a catastrophic failure. If you do attempt it, I'd rejoin it with the thicker gel Weldon and then apply a patch on all surfaces with the thinner Weldon. I think that would be 16 and then 4 but I can't remember which is which. This will ensure that it doesn't leak and is strong. Again, though, I'd chalk it up as a loss. +1. I've got a 1" diamond holesaw you could borrow to drill it.......then you'd just need a 1" bulkhead.
Steve175 August 26, 2012 August 26, 2012 Agreed: Even though the cracked overflow likely can be resuscitated, it may be a sign from God just to drill the tank.
LCDRDATA August 26, 2012 Author August 26, 2012 Agreed: Even though the cracked overflow likely can be resuscitated, it may be a sign from God just to drill the tank. It's somewhat tempting, but I thought a standard 55 was tempered - is that not the case? I think my wife would kill me if I tried to drill it and it broke; plus she was just getting ready to start aquascaping (although at the moment there is not yet any water in it). Thoughts? Thanks!
davelin315 August 26, 2012 August 26, 2012 Depends on the tank manufacturer, I'd contact them to inquire if there's no label on the bottom.
flooddc August 26, 2012 August 26, 2012 It's somewhat tempting, but I thought a standard 55 was tempered - is that not the case? I think my wife would kill me if I tried to drill it and it broke; plus she was just getting ready to start aquascaping (although at the moment there is not yet any water in it). Thoughts? Thanks! Oh! no water in it. In that case, drill it! much better than the overflow box. Overflow box do loss siphon, especially when you're not home! here is a way to check to see if temper glass. http://www.ehow.com/how_5759804_tell-glass-tempered.html
extreme_tooth_decay August 27, 2012 August 27, 2012 CPR boxes are great, I've been using them for many years. If the break is fairly clean, weld-on will be fine. If the break is not clean, you can weld a scrap piece over the entire crack with weld-on, at least on one side.
LCDRDATA August 28, 2012 Author August 28, 2012 Depends on the tank manufacturer, I'd contact them to inquire if there's no label on the bottom. I was able to find the sticker on the tank, which (among other things) clearly stated "Do not drill." So I guess that's the answer, at least for this tank. CPR boxes are great, I've been using them for many years. My current 75 gallon DT has a CPR box, which I've been using for 4 years now, with only occasional issues (and even those were probably preventable). I also heard back today from Adam (Artfully Acrylic) and sent him a group of pictures, so I guess we'll see what the expert thinks. I do have another CPR box, but if memory serves it's rated at about 300 GPH, which seems a bit low for this particular application.
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