building acrylic sump... need advice

[geckoejon]

hello,

i would like to build my first acrylic project... a sump for my 75g mixed reef / 60g nem cube system. i have some sheets of cast acrylic that i picked up locally.

i was thinking somewhere around 48" x 16" x 18", and make it out of 1/2 - 5/8" acrylic.

??? would i need any type of cross bracing?

??? what is the "pin method" that i keep seeing mentioned? would i need to do this on this sump?

??? would it help to silicone the seams after sealing with acrylic sealant? i have read that the sealant is supposed to weld it together. i'm just kind of paranoid about a leak or something coming apart. lol

thanks....

 

[mcgyvr]

Assuming you are adding baffles too they should be more than sufficient to not need any other bracing.

The pin method is using small pins to keep the joints apart while you squirt the solvent between the seams. Then you pull the pins and the parts go together.

And no silicone does not adhere to acrylic.

 

[BeanAnimal]

http://www.beananimal.com/projects/acrylic-sump.aspx

No cross brace needed, but I would use a eurobrace. It will not likely fail without, but will bow and be ugly...

Pins method... Shown in my build, but details will be easier to google than for any of us to explain in a short paragraph.

No silicone.. It will not stick well to acrylic. You need to concentrate on strong well formed joints. If you do it even half right, they will not leak.

 

[1234]

i was thinking somewhere around 48" x 16" x 18", and make it out of 1/2 - 5/8" acrylic.

Acrylic doesn't come in 5/8". 1/2" would be kind of over kill, I use 3/8" for all of my customers up to 24" wide, then 1/2" up to 36". As bean mentioned no cross bracing but euro brace will be needed

Just some bells and whistles