DIY Plexiglass sump Question...

ScottT1980 · 02-08-2004, 06:28 PM

I am currently considering building a plexiglass sump. The dimension will be 30X18X14 and will probably have no more than 25 gallons in it (max is 32 I believe). I will three "compartments" and therefore two baffles (area for skimmer, area for fuge, area for return).

Anyway, what thickness would you guys reccommend? I was thinking 3/4" but if I could get away with less, then obviously that would be preferable but I also want this thing to last. Any thoughts for those of you that have done it yourself?

Thanks
Scott T.

Maxx · 02-08-2004, 06:31 PM

I think 5/8ths would be plenty large.....but I'm not the plexi expert.
Nick

Pro_builder · 02-08-2004, 06:39 PM

Hiegth is the determaning factor. I have one that I built from 3/8" Acrylic that holds 50 Gallons of water over a year ago. It is still in good shape. 2 baffles like yours. but only 13" tall.
You would be ok with 3/8" acrylic

ScottT1980 · 02-08-2004, 06:46 PM

Ok, I'll split the difference and go with 1/2"

I guess it is better to ere on the safer side and spend a little extra cash.

Thanks Guys, karma coming your way!

Take er easy
Scott T.

tommyp · 02-08-2004, 06:49 PM

Pro is right

Height is the determining factor as well as how many glued in baffles you are using. My sump is 1/4" but is only 12" high. I think 1/4's maximum height is 12" but I am not sure. Found a chart somewhere when I was building my sump but haven't been able to find it again.

It also depends on how well you brace it. If you have baffles every few inches you won't flex but if you have a long unsupported side it is going to flex. I built mine with out anything on top and it flexes if you had a lip of plexi on top it would flex less. My sump fits tight inside my stand so I new the front and back of the sump would be supported so i could get away without a top to hold the sides.

I think you would be okay in 3/8's too.

Tom

Pro_builder · 02-08-2004, 06:51 PM

no top on the one I built either. Doing great, no crazing or cracks.

ScottT1980 · 02-08-2004, 06:55 PM

Ok, I will probably get them to cut some sort of center brace as well, I forgot about that...

Thanks again
Scott T.

Craig Manoukian · 02-08-2004, 09:39 PM

3/8" is what I used for my baffles and I believe it woul be plenty strong for what you are doing. You want to have 60% or less volume in your sump/refugium anyway.

Tosh_Auer · 02-10-2004, 06:47 AM

Um im looking at making a similar sized sump and was wondering how thick 3/8th glass was in cm?

ScottT1980 · 02-10-2004, 08:36 AM

2.54 cm in an inch...

Therefore, .375 in. * 2.54 cm/in. = .9525 cm...close to 1 cm

Take er easy
Scott T.

MojosReef · 02-10-2004, 01:04 PM

I built mine out of 3/8" acrylic and the baffles are out of 1/4" acrylic. Mine is very similar in size to yours. Here is a pic of it just after fininshing the construction and it has now been in operation for over 1 year with no porblems.

Craig Manoukian · 02-10-2004, 02:11 PM

Very nice Jeff, how about a picture of it in action?

wildcat · 02-10-2004, 06:20 PM

If you put a top brace around the entire top and then cut out the middle, you could get by with 1/4". Much cheaper than 3/8". Obviously, the larger you can afford, the better the product and longevity. Less worries

MojosReef · 02-11-2004, 08:38 AM

Here is a pic just after setting everything up. It is a litter harder to see through the sump after it has been running for over a year.

Pro_builder · 02-11-2004, 09:08 AM

looks good MojoReef

02-08-2004, 06:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,484 View Gallery Karma Komment	DIY Plexiglass sump Question... I am currently considering building a plexiglass sump. The dimension will be 30X18X14 and will probably have no more than 25 gallons in it (max is 32 I believe). I will three "compartments" and therefore two baffles (area for skimmer, area for fuge, area for return). Anyway, what thickness would you guys reccommend? I was thinking 3/4" but if I could get away with less, then obviously that would be preferable but I also want this thing to last. Any thoughts for those of you that have done it yourself? Thanks Scott T.

02-08-2004, 06:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,079 View Gallery Karma Komment	I think 5/8ths would be plenty large.....but I'm not the plexi expert. Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

02-08-2004, 06:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hiegth is the determaning factor. I have one that I built from 3/8" Acrylic that holds 50 Gallons of water over a year ago. It is still in good shape. 2 baffles like yours. but only 13" tall. You would be ok with 3/8" acrylic __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

02-08-2004, 06:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,484 View Gallery Karma Komment	Ok, I'll split the difference and go with 1/2" I guess it is better to ere on the safer side and spend a little extra cash. Thanks Guys, karma coming your way! Take er easy Scott T. __________________ My Tank

02-08-2004, 06:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
tommyp Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: VT Posts: 659 View Gallery Karma Komment	Pro is right Height is the determining factor as well as how many glued in baffles you are using. My sump is 1/4" but is only 12" high. I think 1/4's maximum height is 12" but I am not sure. Found a chart somewhere when I was building my sump but haven't been able to find it again. It also depends on how well you brace it. If you have baffles every few inches you won't flex but if you have a long unsupported side it is going to flex. I built mine with out anything on top and it flexes if you had a lip of plexi on top it would flex less. My sump fits tight inside my stand so I new the front and back of the sump would be supported so i could get away without a top to hold the sides. I think you would be okay in 3/8's too. Tom __________________ "I think that you can start the bombs of oceanrunner. They are good bombs for a rollback." 190g (60x30x25) upgrade in progress, 90g basement sump Check it out here!

02-08-2004, 06:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	no top on the one I built either. Doing great, no crazing or cracks. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

02-08-2004, 06:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,484 View Gallery Karma Komment	Ok, I will probably get them to cut some sort of center brace as well, I forgot about that... Thanks again Scott T. __________________ My Tank

02-08-2004, 09:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 15,732 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	3/8" is what I used for my baffles and I believe it woul be plenty strong for what you are doing. You want to have 60% or less volume in your sump/refugium anyway. __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

02-10-2004, 06:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tosh_Auer Scopas Tang Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 469 View Gallery Karma Komment	Um im looking at making a similar sized sump and was wondering how thick 3/8th glass was in cm? __________________ You Try Explaining to your girlfriend why you cant take her out cause you just spent $300 on lights for a fish tank. lol

02-10-2004, 08:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,484 View Gallery Karma Komment	2.54 cm in an inch... Therefore, .375 in. * 2.54 cm/in. = .9525 cm...close to 1 cm Take er easy Scott T. __________________ My Tank

02-10-2004, 01:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
MojosReef Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Millington, TN Posts: 142 View Gallery Karma Komment	I built mine out of 3/8" acrylic and the baffles are out of 1/4" acrylic. Mine is very similar in size to yours. Here is a pic of it just after fininshing the construction and it has now been in operation for over 1 year with no porblems. __________________ Jeff http://www.mojosreef.com/files/Header3b.gif My 80g Tank My 20g Tank My other past time http://www.gifs.net/animate/fish08.gif

02-10-2004, 02:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 15,732 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Very nice Jeff, how about a picture of it in action? __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

02-10-2004, 06:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
wildcat Bryozoan Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 49 View Gallery Karma Komment	If you put a top brace around the entire top and then cut out the middle, you could get by with 1/4". Much cheaper than 3/8". Obviously, the larger you can afford, the better the product and longevity. Less worries

02-11-2004, 08:38 AM	#14 (permalink)
MojosReef Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Millington, TN Posts: 142 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here is a pic just after setting everything up. It is a litter harder to see through the sump after it has been running for over a year. __________________ Jeff http://www.mojosreef.com/files/Header3b.gif My 80g Tank My 20g Tank My other past time http://www.gifs.net/animate/fish08.gif

02-11-2004, 09:08 AM	#15 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	looks good MojoReef __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

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