How do reef companies bond acrylic to glass in their AIO tanks

[MalDyl]

How do reef companies bond acrylic to glass in their AIO tanks, cause from what I know. Many people state it just doesn't work or bond at all.

 

[KrisReef]

I think they use a mixture of solvent and silicone to "glue" them together, but no, the glass and acrylic are not bonded in a chemical sense like acrylic to acrylic bonded joint.

Glass to glass doesn't bond either in aquariums. The joints are glued together with silicone sealant.

What they use modernly for the glue, I am not current with, ???

 

[ca1ore]

Same way larger tank manufactures install overflows: with regular silicone sealant. In most cases the tanks are designed so the acrylic dividers are not holding back pressure.

 

[Aquavaj]

Silicone will work well enough to hold the back wall into place. Most of the pressure will be against the back wall pushing outwards.

 

[reefsaver]

I think they use a mixture of solvent and silicone to "glue" them together, but no, the glass and acrylic are not bonded in a chemical sense like acrylic to acrylic bonded joint.

Glass to glass doesn't bond either in aquariums. The joints are glued together with silicone sealant.

What they use modernly for the glue, I am not current with, ???

This is pretty much it. Sometimes the bulkheads have threaded internal plumbing that kind of force it all in place too compresing the sealant you have used in conjuntion with plumbing just for the purpose of sercuring the overflowbox to the back of the tank.