To All of You Sump Builders.

[markw]

I will be putting up a 75g reef (

). I will be building a custom sump out of a 20g long tank. I was wondering where all of you get your acrylic from and where do you get it cut to size? I understand if you have to PM me if it is an online source because of forum rules.
Thanks all!
Mark

 

[king_neptune]

Lowes and home depot sells acrylic and glass.
like 2.50 a sheet. 10x12
they cut it to your needs as well.

 

[markw]

Oh, okay. I didnt know it was that simple. Ill definately have to look into that.
Thanks!
Mark

 

[marchingbandjs]

Umm.. Home depot... and i get a 8x4 sheet for 100 bucks.. i dunno where people get it cheap.. and most places wont cut it.. they will sell hand cutter to do it where you keep scoring it...
Im making a DIY myself.. What return pump are you thinking of useing

 

[king_neptune]

Then your home depot is lame.
They sell it in small sheets. I have 3 in my area and two of them sell as small as 8x10(thats inches).
Personally I prefer lowes because they have the better prices, and they DO CUT. I know because I have personally had them cut it for me. I got all my baffles done for 12 bucks. But I broke a couple peices, and had to go get replacements for $2 each. $16 for baffles on my 55sump. Cant beat that.

 

[marchingbandjs]

Really im going to lowes...

 

[king_neptune]

Be sure to check out the pre-cut peices. They ironically sell in sheet sizes that fit perfectly into most standard aquarium sizes.
If I remember right I only had to cut 2 peices to 12x8 the rest were 12x16 already pre cut. which was perfect for my 55g sump height.

 

[markw]

Im not sure about the return pump.

That was going to be the subject of another thread. I dont know much about them so I wouldnt even know where to start witht he return pump. The build is still a while down the road. Any ideas would be great though. It will have to get the water from the sump into the top of a 75g tank.
Mark

 

[king_neptune]

Mag 12-18 is plenty. I would go larger and then cap it with a ball valve to throttle it down as desired. You can always tune a pump down...you cant tune up. And the cost is relatively low. I payed $120 for a brand new mag 18.

 

[adurost]

Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/3122625
Mag 12-18 is plenty. I would go larger and then cap it with a ball valve to throttle it down as desired. You can always tune a pump down...you cant tune up. And the cost is relatively low. I payed $120 for a brand new mag 18.
I've seen a lot of suggestions to do this lately... Won't you wear out the pump faster by reducing the outflow with a ball valve on a continual basis?

 

[xcali1985]

I can tell you right now with a 20 gallon long that you will need width pieces at 11 7/8 cuts. heights are up to you. Ive made 2 of them over the last month. Ill posts some pics. I dont take credit for the design as i got it off of YT.

 

[markw]

I was going with the Limpitz Reef build iff the tube also. Seems practical and I already have the tank. I was going to ask about the width of the pieces. I didnt want to get them too thin.
Mark

 

[fender]

Originally Posted by adurost
http:///forum/post/3122633
I've seen a lot of suggestions to do this lately... Won't you wear out the pump faster by reducing the outflow with a ball valve on a continual basis?
Maybe a little bit, but you are also generating more heat and wasting electricity.

 

[spanko]

IMO go with glass, not acrylic or plexiglass. You will get a better bond with glass on glass and silicone than with plastic on glass with silicone.

 

[fender]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3122664
IMO go with glass, not acrylic or plexiglass. You will get a better bond with glass on glass and silicone than with plastic on glass with silicone.
For baffles it probably doesn't matter - I sanded mine to rough them up and cleaned both with rubbing alcohol before gluing with silicon. I had to cut the silicon out and scrape it when I wanted to move them - they really bonded well. In a none pressure application the acrylic does fine, is easier to work with and can be trimmed at home, unlike glass.

 

[adurost]

Originally Posted by fender
http:///forum/post/3122663
Maybe a little bit, but you are also generating more heat and wasting electricity.
So, on several points it would be better to more evenly match the return pump to the rate of flow of overflow rather than dialing back the pump? Yes?

 

[fender]

Originally Posted by adurost
http:///forum/post/3122667
So, on several points it would be better to more evenly match the return pump to the rate of flow of overflow rather than dialing back the pump? Yes?
Yep, slightly under the overflows rate. Remeber to take into account headloss.

 

[adurost]

This may be a really stupid question, but can you modify a tank while it is in use?
My sump is a 20G long with an free-standing acrylic box with bio-balls on one end and a 5-6 pieces of rock rubble in the tank. I've been told that a refugium would help lower my nitrates, but is it possible to add that to what I have now or do I need to buy/build another sump?

 

[fender]

Originally Posted by adurost
http:///forum/post/3122671
This may be a really stupid question, but can you modify a tank while it is in use?
My sump is a 20G long with an free-standing acrylic box with bio-balls on one end and a 5-6 pieces of rock rubble in the tank. I've been told that a refugium would help lower my nitrates, but is it possible to add that to what I have now or do I need to buy/build another sump?
If you have room and the layout of your sump works, sure. Perhaps the area where the rubble rock is. Add some macro algae, a light, more rubble and voila, a refugium.

 

[vince-1961]

I found cutting acryllic to be kind of tricky. I used a wet tile cutter.