Joshlikesfish Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Could I use plywood and polystyrene to make a small sump? My friend that is designing my betta barracks plans to do it that way and i'm making sure its alright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Whats they polystyrene for?? IMO you'd be better off using plastic bins unless you're going for something big. I considered all sorts of DIY options for my big tank and TBH with the price Greg charged for my glass one its hardly worth messing about to make something less than ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 i wouldnt bother you will have a hard time making it waterproof , . you would be better off designing the whole thing around a suitable plastic container Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Could I use plywood and polystyrene to make a small sump? My friend that is designing my betta barracks plans to do it that way and i'm making sure its alright Yeah, but you'd probably need to fiberglass the inside of it or carpet it and use pond liner. There's really no point when you can buy secondhand tanks for pretty cheap on trademe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted April 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 It needs to be custom built and made by him. Polystyrene would be to make it waterproof, his teachers reckon its alright but I want to double check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 some polystyrenes aren't water proof :oops: Just resin and or fibreglass the ply to make it waterproof. You can also get some good waterproof paints and sealers nowadays. but make sure what ever you use is non toxic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 this is for that school project isnt it? if you have a limited budget you dont want to be playing around with nsealers or resins(not to mention it being messy) perhaps someone in your area would like to show your friend how to cut glass as its quite cheap (compared to perspex) someone may even donate some unwanted glass for the project . or cut and glue plastic salvaged from something else got to be easier and more professional looking than trying to seal polystyrene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 It needs to be custom built and made by him. Polystyrene would be to make it waterproof, his teachers reckon its alright but I want to double check. Polystyrene won't make it waterproof, maybe teacher means polythene? Could have a ctack at making it from glass, with a decent cutter and set square it shouldn't be too hard to cut, then silicone it up. How big are we talking here? Design? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted April 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 He is already making containers so he can have a crack at the sump. The budget is limited to what I can fork out. Off the top of my head the sump is 70ish long 30ish wide and around 40 high. Also has to build a waterproof lid etc etc. Will get him to rethink his design tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Slightly off topic but a while back I took Ryanjury and Caryl to a facility that used Polystyrene bean bag balls as wet/dry filter media Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Interesting, did they have them in big mesh bags to stop them floating everywhere? Josh he/you could always pull an old tank to bits and re-make it as a sump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zayne Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Slightly off topic but a while back I took Ryanjury and Caryl to a facility that used Polystyrene bean bag balls as wet/dry filter media Thats pretty cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Yeah it was very cool The whole aqua culture setup was very cool too, but yeah they had a wet/dry polystyrene ball filter it was over the top and had a pump in the tank pumping water up then through the balls using a spraybar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 So were the balls submerged or were they above the water with it flowing thru them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted April 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Josh he/you could always pull an old tank to bits and re-make it as a sump? I'll have a chat to him about it tomorrow. If that what we do, i'll just pull apart a 60x30x30 and make him put it back together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 So were the balls submerged or were they above the water with it flowing thru them? Above the water with water flowing over them, in a container with holes in the bottom.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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