I took your word for it, but I screwed up....

So I took everyone's word for it and decided to go big. I bought a 20G long from petco and going to make my own sump. I went to Lowes and got some nice acrylic cut, but here is the but. I measured it 0.5cm too small! Is this acrylic still salvageable? I feel like it i gooped a ton of silicone it would not cure or seal well. What should I do?

 

3 options

1- use it and silicone it real thick
2- have new ones cut
3- use containers in containers (like I do and have done on my sumps) that perform the same task as a siliconed in baffle in a sump. ?'s - just ask

 

I think the silicone would work. It will dry all the way through. Just might want to run an extra bead around the sides for reenforcement. I'm sure Todd's other suggestions would work too.

 

The silicone will be fine. To err on the side of safety, I'd allow an extra day for it to fully cure.

 

It should work just fine. Acrylic swells a little once its put in water anyways. If you use rtv silicone it will have a stronger hold than regular type 1 or 2.

 

I agree with the others,silicone it and let it dry out

 

+1

 

Silicone it...... lol

 

Silicone a little strip of arcylic on the pump side of the baffle you are installing. That will give extra support to the baffle, placing less stress on it. Also if the baffle silicone gives way, this is like a second line of defense.

I'll go get a pic of our sumps to show what I mean. We always put them in there, even with well fitted baffles or if the baffles are removable. Also, set up your sump so that if it all should fail, it won't lead to catastrophe.

 

That was a photo fail.... lemme try again. This is where I, like you, cut the baffles to where they weren't wide enough. This is a top down photo The blue arrow shows the gap. The red arrow is pointing to an acrylic rod I siliconed in place, to act as a bumper. You wouldn't have to use acrylic rod, I just happened to have it around, so I repurposed it.

Is that clear at all, or no?