interesting sump kits for AGA's

[shiveley]

(note: the brown protective covering on the acrylic was apparently left on in the pic for visibility/photography purposes)

I have no first hand experience with these, but they appear to be a very inexpensive alternative. Check them out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PRO-Refugium-kit-for-g...oQQcmdZViewItem

what do you guys think?

 

[theatrus]

Interesting idea, but that acrylic looks super thin (3/16"?) and will bow like crazy. The auction doesn't have any pictures of it "normaly full" either, just full to the top

 

[dots]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10372185#post10372185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by theatrus
Interesting idea, but that acrylic looks super thin (3/16"?) and will bow like crazy. The auction doesn't have any pictures of it "normaly full" either, just full to the top

How much pressure did you find that is exerted on the centroids of these acrylic baffles in 12 inches of sand and water? How much deflection did you calculate with that pressure exerted on the baffles? At what load causes deformation in acrylic of that thickness?

Build a million of these and price out 3/8" versus 3/16" material. See how much your profit margin is decreased or your retail pricing is raised because you have to overbuild it.


I like it, it would be cool if the baffles were adjustable and tuneable so one could create thier own water path.

 

[mpoletti]

I used 1/4 inch as my refuguim/DSB and it has held up fine in my sump. I did not realized it was so thin when I went to TAP plastics, but nonetheless, it works just fine.

 

[dots]

It really depends on the dimensions, spans of the material without reinforcement, as well as the load that the part is subjected. Not to mention the function of part as in this case. Even if it did "bow" a little, there is nothing wrong with elastic deformation when subjected to loads.

Bridges are built this way to flex under loading. Next time your driving down the road look at how an unloaded flatbed trailer is "bowed" when empty.

Cyclic loading and large loads that get into the plastic deformation region is when you should worry and doubt we are in any fear of that.

"Its just a box that holds water!!!"