Sump chamber

[ThisCityIsDead]

So, I have a 75G tank. I have a 10G spare tank. I was thinking of using the 10G tank as the sump.

I also have sheets of acrylic. They're very thick. Would I be able to just make my own sump out of the acrylic sheets. Not sure if it's a bad idea or if the acrylic/acrylic glue will mess with the water chemistry.

Also, I've heard and seen people spray paint their acrylic sheets black to prevent or help reduce algea. Is this just ordinary spray paint or is it a special kind of reef safe paint? Hmmm

 

[uncleof6]

So, I have a 75G tank. I have a 10G spare tank. I was thinking of using the 10G tank as the sump.

Though folks do it, a 10 gallon tank is too small for a practical sectioned sump.

I also have sheets of acrylic. They're very thick. Would I be able to just make my own sump out of the acrylic sheets. Not sure if it's a bad idea or if the acrylic/acrylic glue will mess with the water chemistry.

You cannot use acrylic solvent to bond acrylic sheet into a glass sump....unless the sump is acrylic as well...you use silicone, and the bond between silicone and acrylic is very weak.

Also, I've heard and seen people spray paint their acrylic sheets black to prevent or help reduce algea. Is this just ordinary spray paint or is it a special kind of reef safe paint? Hmmm

Again, folks do it, but there really isn't any point to it.

 

[mcgyvr]

I also have sheets of acrylic. They're very thick. Would I be able to just make my own sump out of the acrylic sheets. Not sure if it's a bad idea or if the acrylic/acrylic glue will mess with the water chemistry.

maybe (probably no since you had to ask if its even possible).. "Very thick" is not an actual dimensions so you would need to define that to ensure its structurally sound..
Then you should only use "cast" acrylic sheet and not "extruded" acrylic so you need to know what you've got..

The acrylic "glue" (solvent like weldon 3 or others) will not cause any problems after its cured/evaporated.

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

What glue do you recommend. I am using extrudent acrylic from Home Depot.

 

[uncleof6]

Ok so I can't read......................

 

[uncleof6]

What glue do you recommend. I am using extrudent acrylic from Home Depot.

You do not want to use any extruded acrylic to build a pressure vessal (a tank,) especially the junk you get at home depot or lowes or any other big box store. It is sold as glazing only. Not only is it junk, but it is not thick enough, generally less than 6mm. You need to use a cast acrylic, and only two specific ones are recommended for use in water containing pressure vessels:

Plexi-glas G, or Polycast.

Extruded makes very poor inconsistant solvent welds.

Having the proper type of acrylic, of a suitable thickness, weldon 3 or weldon 4, with the 4 being prefered as it evaps a little bit slower is used to solvent weld the acrylic together. It is not glue, it is a water thin solvent.

There is a large acrylic fabrication thread here on RC and it contains most of the answers to questions you may have...

Sorry, I misread your orginal post (doing ten things at once...)

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

Thanks so much for the help! Yeah, I deffinantly have the extruded acrylic sheets. I guess if they cant hold the water pressure, I'd rather just purchase a 20$ tank at petco which will be a 20G.

I planned on using silicone glue to bond the acrylic.

 

[uncleof6]

Thanks so much for the help! Yeah, I deffinantly have the extruded acrylic sheets. I guess if they cant hold the water pressure, I'd rather just purchase a 20$ tank at petco which will be a 20G.

I planned on using silicone glue to bond the acrylic.

Silicone is not a glue either. It is a sealant, and in industrial quality products an adhesive... sorry could not resist

 

[ThisCityIsDead]

So should I use the pvc cement and seal it with the silicone

 

[uncleof6]

So should I use the pvc cement and seal it with the silicone

Huh? Where did the pvc come from? I am so confused...

Why dont we stick with what you are planning to do now...

 

[Shawn O]

Use the 20 gallon glass tank from petco, as you mentioned. Get some pieces of glass to make baffles and silicone them into the tank. Use silicone rated for fish tanks, your local lfs should have the safe type. It would be best to go with the largest tank you can fit into your stand and still have room to remove the skimmer, etc.

 

[mcgyvr]

20G long is the smallest tank I would ever use for a sump.. notice I said "long"..
A regular 20G is just horrible proportions for a sump.

 

[PhantomAce]

Can you give us some dimensions?

For example:
My Display tank is a "110 tall" (actually 104 gallons) that is 48-1/2" long x 18-1/2" deep x 30-1/2" high.
The area inside the stand for the sump is approximately 45" long x 16" deep x 32" high.
My sump is a "30g long" (36-1/2" long x 10-1/2" wide x 17-1/2" tall, actually 26g volume) with a 37" long x 26" high opening through the doors to load the sump.

Keep in mind that my "example" dimensions are approximate, but you should be able to get the idea from them.
Point being... tell us what you have to work with so we can, possibly, develop an actual picture of what you're working with, and provide recommendations from that.

And, yes, that is a pretty good description of my system, and it actually works pretty well.