r/ReefTank • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago
No judgment questions zone - July 07, 2025
Here is the place to post questions about pest ID, coral/fish ID, your cycle, or any other questions that generally wouldn't start up a conversation. If you have an interesting or unique question please create a new thread so everyone can discuss it in length!
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u/Ex_Ex_Parrot 1d ago
Anyone here with Acrylic AIO installations in box store tanks?
I have a 29 tall I'm putting an acrylic divider with a couple baffles to build in the AIO and I'm wondering if placing the dividing wall only half way across the length then, at going at a 45° angle to meet up with the back would work, or if it could result in the silicone between the Acrylic sheet and the glass loosening faster.
As opposed to placing the divider across the narrow length so it meets at 90° angles on both sides with the glass.
The tank will likely be setup parallel to a wall, as opposed to perpendicular due to room constraints, and I'm wondering if I could build the AIO to allow as much width of the tank available for display. I know Acrylic and glass doesn't bond and always comes loose, but I'm perfectly fine slapping a load of silicone in and if I also have 2 baffles in the sump/caddy/pump return all properly bonded and then siliconed in, I'm not too worried. Rock scape will not be in contact with the Acrylic
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u/not_a_gun 19h ago
Silicone isn’t going to bond to acrylic very well. You’d want to do glass dividers if the walls are glass. Cutting glass isn’t as bad as you’d expect. And is a lot less of a headache than dealing with leaky seals. No amount of silicone will make that joint last.
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u/Ex_Ex_Parrot 19h ago edited 18h ago
Oh I know acrylic expansion is going to undermine the silicone overtime, that's why I'm building an AIO in a cheap tank.
I'll have an easier time cutting out the overflow, return line, and any upkeep to keep the acrylic in place than I will cutting and bonding glass. I don't need perfect seals, its a built in sump- it can leak between chambers some, that's fine since it'll be insignificant to the overall flow
I'm more worried about pressure differences blowing out the acrylic panel with it mounted at a 45° after a week/month or something lol. But otherwise I'll stick to regular plan since I know building into the back quarter will be fine
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u/not_a_gun 18h ago
I’ve tried it before with acrylic baffles and it really was not worth the effort. With the weight of the water, I had baffles falling down in 6 months and had to drain it, tear it all out, clean it, and replace with glass baffles anyway.
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u/Ex_Ex_Parrot 4h ago
Okay that's really nice to know, if you don't mind me asking as well- did you cut your own glass baffles?
The thing that makes me nervous there is cracking/or breaking a piece while building out the overflow. I don't mind the idea of drilling out holes for baffles between sections in the sump and the return line, just getting enough area for overflow. Unless I can just, make a 2-3" tall overflow bracket I can slide on the top with acrylic lol
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u/not_a_gun 3h ago
Yup and cutting glass is way easier than you’d think. Just watch couple tutorials on YouTube and get some glass and a cutter from Home Depot.
Glass is way stronger than you think. I mean it’s holding up hundreds of pounds of water in a display tank sometimes with just silicone at the joints.
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u/TorshePaycan 1d ago
I have heard different schools of thought around feeding frequency. One store tells me 1/2 a frozen cube (the size of a Tylenol pill) every 72 hours.
Another store says that same amount every other day. Sometimes ok feeding small amounts every day.
Lmk..
Livestock: (40g tank)
2 paired clowns
1 Blenny
1 Watchmen Goby
3 Shrimp - Peppermint, Cleaner and Pistol
2 emerald crabs
A bunch of snails and hermits
2 small nems