DIY Alternative sump materials

[SofaSnorkeling]

I've been contemplating building my own sump or ordering bins and connecting them. I see lots of acrylic and also some pvc/glass sumps. I was on custom aquariums site looking at the seemless sumps and they mentioned that the material was less likely than acrylic to grow algae on it. Does anyone know of certain plastics that have advantages like this one (less algae growth) or any other advantages?

Basically what are the lesser known sump materials that have any advantage you can think of?

 

[wtac]

Glass and acrylic are the materials that one can easily DIY.

Other materials are L/HDPE but those are either thermoformed, thermowelded and/or mold injected...not really for the typical DIYer.

One can use various LDPE containers and connect with bulkheads and pipe to make a sump with the various segregated compartments but will lose about 2-6" between containers and find containers with a thick enough wall to minimize bowing at the bulkhead so that you keep a nice seal.

 

[SofaSnorkeling]

Thanks,

What if any would you say the advantages are to those materials? Which would you choose?

 

[wtac]

You're overthinking it all. Algae will grow on anything with light and nutrient available.

If you plan on using a refugium in the design, either use opaque acrylic/glass or opaque vinyl wrap the baffle on either side of the refugium section so there is minimal light spillage for algae to grow in adjacent surfaces, ie panels, skimmer body, reactor, ATO vessel, etc.

The cost for LDPE and equipment is far greater as well as skill set for thermo forming/welding and mold injection than a DIY'er would invest in for a one off project. Only advantage for using LDPE is that it can take more abuse and not need to be on a dead nut flat surface like glass and acrylic sumps require.

If it were me, glass or acrylic. LDPE for water storage containers.

 

[ThRoewer]

For a sump I would go with acrylic as it is easier to machine and work with than glass. It is also more forgiving to impact and insulates better against heat & cold.
Glass I would only use if I would modify a off the shelf glass tank to be a sump. And even there you might rather use acrylic for the baffles and internal structures.
LDPE/HDPE requires special tooling to weld and algae will grow just fine on it.

PTFE would be the material of choice if algae should be easily removable. But PTFE is even more tricky to work with that PE and also quite costly.