My DIY acrylic sump

[johnsutter71]

After I broke a baffle in my glass sump I decided to make an attempt at building a acrylic sump. After I got all the pieces cut This is the finished project. I have zero past experience with acrylic and watched a lot of youtube to put this together right.

[ramsey]

Dude, that's really nice! It being your first time certainly doesn't show! I cut some acrylic to make a lid for my 20g long and that's all I needed to let me know I have no business making a sump. Yours is awesome though! Are you going to add anything else onto it, or is it a done deal?

[johnsutter71]

Thank you. I have some scrap pieces left and I have a couple ideas. The first small chamber on the left is a bubble chamber and since I don't use a filter sock also a sand trap. Total dimensions are 36x12x15. I might add a section for my media reactor pumps.

[glarior]

Looks good. The hardest part is holding it all together while you glue. That DIY fishkeepers youtube videos were good.

[allan]

recommend putting a rim around the top for some extra "hold her together" strength.

[aquasport24]

+1 on the rim (brace) for extra strength. BTW good job

[johnsutter71]

I used double sided tape to hold the pieces together when I attached the sections.

[johnsutter71]

Third time is the charm. After two unsuccessful leak tests this time it's holding water. My question is how long should I allow it to sit before going forward. I've waited this long so I'm in no hurry.

[JerryD120]

I have always done 24hrs+ sometimes 2-3 days to be extra safe.


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[johnsutter71]

I'm at 48+ hours for the leak test with non detected however I am concerned about some bowing that I see in the largest compartment. I have it filled up all the way to the very top though. Is this an issue I should be addressing or is this pretty normal.

[reefreak]

This you can fix by putting a 1" brace around the rim similar to "Eurobraced".

[Big_Pun]

recommend putting a rim around the top for some extra "hold her together" strength.


+1 on the rim (brace) for extra strength. BTW good job

im thinking they had some good suggestions

[hobogato]

yep, as others have said, a eurobrace around the top will prevent the bowing. i always do a double layer at 1" wide as pictured below with the two layers "woven" in the corners for extra strength.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/48a0194b-f7fe-41f6-aef1-a178faabef06_zps20cd957d.jpg

[johnsutter71]

Cool Thanks. One more trip to Lowes.

[glarior]

Cool Thanks. One more trip to Lowes.


It's always one more trip lol. Every time I add something I buy everything and end up missing one piece.

[leliataylor]

Plan it, buy the pieces and always buy a few spares. That way when you need something for another build you don't have to drive to the store again, you can find it in your box of spares.