Mixed material construction/modification?

[Edwii]

I have this tank mod I want to attempt



How it works is the little box inside the aquarium will house the intake/outtake lines for a canister filter; they come from under the base of the aquarium and go in thur the water tight cube in the center.
The purpose of this mod is so that no wires/tubes/etc will be hanging off any side of the tank, allowing it to become a perfect center piece to be seen from any and all sides with out any hardware in direct view.

My tank is 30x12x13 (20gal)

► The question I have is can I construct the box out of something other then glass(lexan,plexi,acrylic,pvc,abs,other?) AND be able to get it to seal to the glass? As far as I understand an aquarium safe silicone wont make a seal to plastics against glass, there for I have two options I want to ask about:

◘ Is there a sealant/epoxy/etc I can use that will be strong enough to make a seal between a plastic material and glass and is fish safe?
◘ Is there a material I can use that will seal against the glass bottom using standard silicone? (it doesn't have to be transparent)

►Why not just make it out of glass?: Because I need holes drilled into it; 1 in the bottom of the tank, 3 or 5 in the sides of the box. To get the local glass shop to drill the holes he quoted me roughly $30 per hole($180). As long as it's not glass I can drill it myself. (unless some one know's some one who may drill it for cheaper?)

Thank you for any help and words of wisdom.

[MEDHBSI]

Link doesn't work

[Edwii]

Link doesn't work

Sorry, I clicked post before i was finished editing, all fixed.

[christhefish]

i would be a little worried of it imploding
what i would do is just have two holes in the bottom of the tank for pvc input and outflow i would also reinforce the holes

[Edwii]

i would be a little worried of it imploding
what i would do is just have two holes in the bottom of the tank for pvc input and outflow i would also reinforce the holes

My image does not display all the holes:
I need 2 for the filter,
1-2 for co2/air
1 for a wire conduit to the surface for lighting.
(+1 for all the wires/tubes to go thru the bottom)
Drilling that many holes directly into the bottom of the tank would probably be worse I would think and still just as expensive. I can always brace the inner walls of the cube to help prevent imploding.

[Rastapus]

Good idea, not safe. Any leak will result in the entire aquarium draining. Better to have a PVC inlet and outlet and closer to the surface of the aquarium. What if the canister leaked? Very bad.
If you want to pursue this, yes the box would have to be glass as well, bonding plexi or other material to glass generally does not work. Although it is true that overflows are done in this way, if there is a leak the aquarium would still function and not cause a leak by design and the drain is at the top minimizing serious accidents.

[christhefish]

oh ok i think i understand it should look nice if you could pull it off
i'll keep thinking

[christhefish]

i cant think of a way to do it with a glass tank
if it was an acrylic tank i think it could be done
this is going to bug me lol

[Edwii]

►What if the canister leaked?
►Although it is true that overflows are done in this way, if there is a leak the aquarium would still function and not cause a leak by design and the drain is at the top minimizing serious accidents.

►I was planning on installing shut off valves to the lines going to the canister, if that's what you mean?
►I haven't been at this very long, What is the difference between my concept and and Overflow?

[Edwii]

(double post)