How hard is to cut acrylic?

[mpoletti]

here's my problem. I want to add a small refugium to my sump. I have the 30 inch truvu with my euroreef skimmer in sump. I want to add a small refugium after the skimmer and before the return pump. I am limited with space due to my calcium reactor and blue wave ballast.

1. I might add some dividers to my sump which means I need to carve out the top to make more area when I neef to clean my skimmer.

2. ?

3. Buy a smaller sump and add a refugium

4?

5. Any other ideas

Thanks

 

[eagleONE]

If you're really limited by space sumpwise, you can add a HOB fuge to the sump.

How much space do you have to work with?

 

[mpoletti]

I have a 90 gal stand and tank. Does anyone know if these work?

 

[late2wake]

The HOB refugium is an easy solution provided you cut the 30 inch truvu.

the other option is to shut water off to you sump, suck it dry, and install your dividers. of course you'll need to provide current and some sort of airation of the next 24 hours while you install and at least let the glue sit.

OSH/Homedepot will cut acrylic for you. The critical part is to get the inside dimentions correct.

I used a 36 inch long, 30 gallon AGA for my sump. I had a euro reef with a foot of 10 inches, a refugium in the middle, and the mag 18 on the other side. Space was tight and I personally wish I could have done better. I would have given the refugium more surface space had i planned it better. I would have also like to use an external pump to take advantage of the tank space and decrease heat.

thinking about it, my modified plan would use a 20 gallon long sump. 1/2 for the skimmer, the other 3/8th for a refugium and a small baffle/skimmer set up to feed the external pump.

 

[funman1]

Brian Prestwood (Club prez) has a blade to cut acrylic.
We did it on the DIY skimmers.

I'm sure you could hook up with him.

 

[mpoletti]

Late 2 wake-- Do you have any pics of yours. It would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mpoletti]

New option. Get a 30 gallon glass tank. Divide 1/2 for skimmer, half for refuge, bulkhead out to external pump that can run both my ruturn and my chiller that I just ordered.

 

[eagleONE]

yeah if you start with a glass tank it might be easier. Just pick up some acrylic like TAPs ( they have scrap cheap pieces), take a router and make baffles and your dividers

 

[mpoletti]

I just got back from TAP Plastics and I think I am going to try to $20 build, instead of the other options.

 

[Sparkss]

To answer your original question about cutting acrylic, it is not that hard. A decent router and bit to route out the piece you were talking about is all you really need.

We also happen to have a HOB fuge that I picked up from Warren a while back to use on our prop tank (that we now no longer use). How soon do you need it Mark ? The trick is if there is room in the stand to hand the fuge off the side of your sump. You may also need to route the top out a bit to allow the HOB fuge to hang properly (IE: if you have euro-bracing or a closed top to your sump)

Another thing you could always do is just create a basket, using egg crate and tie wraps, and sit it in the corner of your sump and fill it with macro algae and/or LR rubble.

The other question would be what are you trying to accomplish with a fuge ? nutrient export or live food production ?

 

[mpoletti]

The other question would be what are you trying to accomplish with a fuge ? nutrient export or live food production ?

-Nutrient reduction.

 

[Sparkss]

RDSB will give you better results with that than macro will.. for that the HOB fuge would not really buy you much.

Have you considered building a "sand box" for your sump ? We did it for clams and softies in our prop tank, and for a small RDSB in our old sump. Just a basic acrylic box to hold the sand contianed for the water to flow across. Here is what we did for our old sump :

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7278379#post7278379

We built it up to 5"+ of sand eventually (when the pictures were taken we didn't have enough sand to fill it to the level that we wanted).

HTH

 

[mpoletti]

That is the idea that I am trying to do...Just not as nice. Thanks Tom for the offer. I think this just turned into a mini build thread. I am breaking down my sump components as we speak.

 

[Sparkss]

The onew advantage to building a sand box versus building the fuge as a separate compartment in your sump is that the sand box is removeable.. which has advantages if you need to clean it or perform other maintenance or if you change your mind later and need to reclaim that space.

Just a suggestion . Best of luck with whatever you decide to go with

 

[mpoletti]

I love the idea and I am going to have to see your system one day. I think I am heading to ATL this weekend.

 

[Sparkss]

hehehe, well, that sump is currently sitting in the backyard, we completely revamped our filtration with the new tank. The 100g sump was replaced by two 150g sumps. If you missed it, I think it is around page 16 of our tank build thread :

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=990537

We hope to be ready for visitors next month sometime.. after the new skimmer arrives and we finish up the plumbing, etc.

EDIT : We will be down in SJ this weekend, picking up from the Keys Critters group buy. We will be looking for a few specific fish at the LFS down that way.. maybe we will run into you ?

 

[mpoletti]

that would be nice.

 

[mpoletti]

In sump skimmer rufuge build

In sump skimmer rufuge build

This day has turned into a project day. No more thinking about a refugium as I try to go to sleep. I finally took some action.

So the demensions are 9 inches wide, 12 tall-10 to the bottom holes, and 11 inches accross.

I had to trip the top ring, but nothing my Dewalt tools couldn't handle. I am off to glue everything in place.

 

[mpoletti]

I just got done with the silicon. How does that always get all over the place. I was able to squeeze out a 10 inch refuge without making it too tight when I need to do work in the sump.

 

[Sparkss]

silicone is not known to adhere well to acrylic, just as an FYI. If you were after a permanent bond weldon 3/4 would have been better (and quicker... we have filled tanks built with weldon within hours of gluing them. albeit smaller tanks.. with fish and all).