DIY Acrylic Sump

S

supernovabjt

Guest
This will be my first acrilic project. What do you guys think of my design?
Flow goes from skimmer chamber, to fuge, to return area, water height will be 12.25". I am hoping 1/4" acrylic will be enough, and I think I will be able to get by with two 36" x 48" sheets. I have a buddy with a table saw I can use, but what kind of blade works best for cutting acrylic, and which weld-on should I be using?
Thanks for all your help.
 
tanqueray

tanqueray

New Member
Sorry man i dont have an answer to your question but i do have a question for you. I am thinking of doing a DIY sump, my question is does it matter what section of the sump gets water first? I mean if you were to flip where the FUge and protien skimmer are, would it be any better?Any worse?
2nd question what software are you using to render your design?
 
salt life

salt life

Active Member
Originally Posted by tanqueray
http:///forum/post/2999218
Sorry man i dont have an answer to your question but i do have a question for you. I am thinking of doing a DIY sump, my question is does it matter what section of the sump gets water first? I mean if you were to flip where the FUge and protien skimmer are, would it be any better?Any worse?
2nd question what software are you using to render your design?
to answer your question quick, and then I'll get to the OP...
You should have the water drain into a filter sock or a big sponge, to collect all the bigger things, then drain over to the fuge, then skimmer/RP section, if you put the skimmer before the fuge, the skimmer will suck up all the nutrients a fuge needs to thrive.
OP: nice design, but I would make it a 3 compartment sump, on the right side do your fuge, middle do your RP, and on the left put your skimmer, split your drain from your tank so water is draining into the fuge side and the skimmer side, then both will overflow into the middle section where your return pump is, and I would put ball valves on the drain lines just incase you have to kick one side back a little. this is the way I would do it but JMO
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
For cutting acrylic, you can get a blade specifically designed to cut acrylic. I think it's made by Forrest, but it's freaky expensive... I think about $150.
I use a Freud Avanti laminate blade that I got at Lowe's for around $50. I am going to assume it's a 10" table saw. Any 10" blade that is 80 tooth or so will probably be alright. In particular, if it's rated for laminate, it should be okay. You want to always use a sharp blade, and I prefer to keep the blade I use for cutting acrylic dedicated for the purpose. Dull blades melt the acrylic leaving a crappy cut and causing huge problems with bonding.
For this size sump, I'd really recommend 3/8" acrylic. You can use 1/4" for the bottom as long as it's supported across the entire bottom (resting the sump on foam works well for this). 1/4" would probably suffice, but it tends to bow badly.
Also keep in mind that the acrylic sold by home improvement stores is almost always (if not always) extruded acrylic, which doesn't hold up very well when continuously exposed to water. It swells up over time and yellows. You want cell cast acrylic, which you'll need to go through a plastics company to get. Unfortunately, it's also expensive. Expect a 24x48" sheet of 3/8" cell cast to go for about $100.
Weld on #3 or #4 with a needle applicator is what I use. A number of dealers sell the stuff under various names. US Plastics has their own house brand, this stuff is exactly the same product at a lower price. You may also want to order a tube of #16, which is a thicker product. It comes in handy when pieces don't weld just right, as it fills small gaps.
I also would like to know what software you used.
 
tanqueray

tanqueray

New Member
Originally Posted by Salt Life
http:///forum/post/2999231
to answer your question quick, and then I'll get to the OP...
You should have the water drain into a filter sock or a big sponge, to collect all the bigger things, then drain over to the fuge, then skimmer/RP section, if you put the skimmer before the fuge, the skimmer will suck up all the nutrients a fuge needs to thrive.
I was looking on Melev'sreef.com and most if not all of his design's has water flowing from skimmer section first them refugium section second. ANy thoughts???
 
salt life

salt life

Active Member
Originally Posted by tanqueray
http:///forum/post/2999393
I was looking on Melev'sreef.com and most if not all of his design's has water flowing from skimmer section first them refugium section second. ANy thoughts???

I don't know how he does his but think about it, if your fuge needs nutrients to thrive and do its job at feeding your macro algae, how could it if not all but most of the nutrients needed get sucked up into your skimmer? it is JMO, my sump has my sponge,fuge,then skimmer/rp. everyone does it differently though
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Actually it should never be in one line.
The skimmer and the fuge are two different methods of filtration. Needless to say, filters work best when they are fed the dirtiest possible water.
The skimmer can remove beneficial organisms that breed in your fuge, so you don't want it after the fuge. You won't get all the benefits of the fuge if you skim the water first, so you don't want the skimmer first.
Ideally, you should feed both the fuge and skimmer compartment from the tank, then have them feed into a common return section. The most common three compartment sump design places the skimmer on one side, the fuge on the other, both dumping into a center return section. The drain line has a "T" that allows water to feed into each side.
 
S

supernovabjt

Guest
Thanks for all the advice. Looks like this is going to cost way more than I was expecting. I think i am just going to build a glass sump using a 29g tank with the skimmer on the left, return in the middle, and fuge on the right(if I can fit one).
I used Google Sketchup for the rendering, it was the first time I have used it and is pretty user friendly.
Thanks
Bret
 
salt life

salt life

Active Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2999700
Actually it should never be in one line.
The skimmer and the fuge are two different methods of filtration. Needless to say, filters work best when they are fed the dirtiest possible water.
The skimmer can remove beneficial organisms that breed in your fuge, so you don't want it after the fuge. You won't get all the benefits of the fuge if you skim the water first, so you don't want the skimmer first.
Ideally, you should feed both the fuge and skimmer compartment from the tank, then have them feed into a common return section. The most common three compartment sump design places the skimmer on one side, the fuge on the other, both dumping into a center return section. The drain line has a "T" that allows water to feed into each side.
damnit I guess I did mine wrong, I should have done it the way I suggested he do it and the way you just said
live and learn.
 
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