Equipment Review and Discussion :: Plexi Glass?

[emma]

Can this be ordered from bigals? I was thinking of making an above basking area for the turtles.


Also, I have a question with the xp3... how long before everything should settle in? Like, bacteria start to grow on the rings and the water super clear?

[notoch351]

Any hardware store carries plxiglass, not sure about big als.

[octpusgirl8]

I'm not sure about how long it takes for the bio filter to get started, a couple of weeks maybe? I put the rings from my old filter along with the new rings into my XP3 when i got it, so i never had to go through the new filter headaches. Are you having problems with cloudy water?

[emma]

Well, the water will get cloudy some days then clear up. I think it might be because of all the fish poop in the tank. I try to suck it out but there is always some in there.

[octpusgirl8]

I'd give it a couple weeks before you start worrying about it. The bio filter is probably just not established yet.

[SpotsMama]

Mine took about a week to clear up - maybe a few days more. I jump started the bio filter with Freshwateer Biozyme to speed the process up.

[wezeles]

you can order precut glass and acylic from www.glasscages.com

hardware stores carry both plexiglass and acylic in sheets like plywood... acylic is the clearest just like glass but harder to cut, and much stronger but more liable to crack and scratch like glass. This is the one i see used the most in aquarium setups even for making tanks... also the most expensive

true "plexiglass" is more clouded glass and has more of a forgiving nature when it comes to bending and cracking. Scratches on this will stick out like crazy though. but a bit cheeper and more durable for everyday use. Think of Thick tupperware

Both are commonly reffered to as "plexiglass" just because they are "plastic glass" kinda how tissues are called "kleenex" its just using what is a commonly known brand name for it... So make sure you know what your buying first...

that what i get for working in the plastic industry, useless knowledge to take to the grave.. ha ha

[kgielda]

I got mine from my local hardware store- they also cut it for free (ran about 6 bucks for all the pieces I needed). I also initially went to Home Depot but they were no help- I could purchase it there, but they wouldn't cut it.

[marisa]

I've had the same experience as kgielda.

[emma]

I just got the plexiglass today. I have everything ready to put in the tank. How should i connect the plexiglass to the tank? Silicone, suction cups?

[Bumby's Mom]

If you use silicone (and it HAS to be aquarium grade silicone) I think you have to rouch the edges or the silicone will not stay connected to the plexi as the plexi is so smoothe. I used the aquarium silicone to glue some puffy shelf liner to my basking dock (which isn't true "plexi" glass but it snother form) and after awhile the silicone just peeled right off. Also you have to make sure you let that stuff cure long enough. I was looking at either big al's or dr.s foster and smith and they had this resin stuff called super sticky (or similar) and it says that it cures under water and is safe to use in the water, I would look into that and see exactly what it was.. it sounded like ti would be pretty strong but I have never used it before.

[Blue Flamingo]

I as well had the same problem at Home Depot they sold me this stupid little knife thing to cut it with. After I cracked 1/4 of the sheet I took it to Lowes another hardware store and they cut it there for free. I have banned the home depot from the places that I shop from now!