Anthony Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 hi, does any body here have an acrylic sump as seen here on http://www.melevsreef.com/ i was thinking if i was going to get a mairne i would get an acrylic sump what are the positives and negitives of an actylic sump? i wouldnt make it may self i would pay some body to do it but i would need to know about Designing the sump overflow box do i need a flange? cool fans auto top off bracket cacium reactor refeguim Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 Awesome we use an acrylic sump, easy to drill, no risk of smashing it! I'm sure there is a downside someone might jump in here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 glueing baffles in more difficult than glass? i would have gone acrylic if it were cheaper than glass. very solid and durable plus drilling is a bonus (not that you cant with glass obviously, just easier) just be wary of the thickness of acrylic you get, and just like glass it still needs bracing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted October 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 thats what the flange is for braceing how is glueing baffles more difficult? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 Because you need to use acrylic glue, which bonds. so you need clamps etc. Glass is cheap in NZ. Acrylic is used in the USA mostly because its light so easy to freight, where as freighting glass is frought with problems. The only other benifit I can see to acrylic is its easier to drill holes in it. so if your system is going to change, then this may be a plus. go glass, make your dividers out of glass or perspex, can't be any easier. Take the money you saved from the sump, and invest it in lighting or skimmer. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted October 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 o ok thanks pies i will take your advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feelers Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 On the sump topic how do you silicon the baffles for the bubble trap, obviously the first ones easy, but it would be real hard to silicon on the side facing the 1st installed baffle, 1 inch gap. Am I sweet to just silicon on one side? (I will do the baffle on the return side first, as it has to hold the water,) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 It's really not important to have the baffles watertight. Just as long as they're held well enough that the current or occasionally bumping it while moving stuff around in the sump doesn't knock it loose. Soooo...Yeah, just one side will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 but it would be real hard to silicon on the side facing the 1st installed baffle yeah this is difficult to do. i found even more so when i had a centre brace running right across the top of where my baffles are! it is a messy job with silicon, if you get it wrong and have to move it silicon goes everywhere. best thing to do is mark on the outside of the tank, 3 vertical lines on each side of the tank where you want the baffles to go. the first baffle is easiest of course as its accessible from both sides. when you silicon the next in, run a bead of silicon about 2mm outside the 'marked' vivid line. when you put the baffle in, push it evenly so it spreads the silicon across the entire edge of the baffle to your original marked line. make sure the baffles are a couple of mm smaller (on each side) than the width of the tank (in other words dont make it a tight fit or you will find 1. it is difficult to get the baffle in and 2. you'll have a bad join, its the silicon thats doing the sealing) i also gave about 1.5" gap between baffles, 1" is just that much more difficult to work with - and also if you drop anything between the baffles and need to get it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 Anthony - Pies is right, in NZ acrylic is more pricey (quelle surprise !). It looks good though and i am seriously considering it for mine (when i get back from Europe). Ultimately though, you are better off saving money there and spending it on something that makes a difference. Another alternative is one of those plastic storage boxes (they go quite large) that you get at bunnings. I bought two large ones on special for $15 each. Now i dont use them for storage i may even use them for my sump - initially at least until the extra money is free the sump of my choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted October 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 yeah thats a good idea chris and may consider it but it has to look good for my mum to aprrove of it shes already said no more tanks so i have to get rid of alot of my smaller ones which isnt going to be easy hence there all second hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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