To Those Who Have Built Your Own Aquarium Or Sump out of Glass or Acrylic How Has You

[hotelbravo]

This is the start of my new sump/refugium. It's just clamped together to check fit and finish of the glass cutter. I'm always impressed at how accurate and straight their cuts are!

Where do you buy your clamps?

I am wanting to build a 40g-60g cube but have been unsure where to start with equipment needed

 

[Ron Reefman]

The big end clamps can be found at most any hardware store. I think the corner clamps can as well. I had one I inherited and got the other 3 from Home Depot. If they don't have them, maybe a picture framing shop would have them.

A tip: when using these clamps, do NOT over tighten and use some kind of cushion where they touch the glass. My glass comes with cork squares to keep the glass from rubbing together, you can see them on the glass laying in the bottom of the sump. I just use some of them on the pads that press against the glass. It's fairly easy to chip the edge of the glass if you over tighten. And the big clamps can squeeze out too much silicone if you over tighten.

My build thread shows how I made the 2'x2'x20" cube that I added to my 125g tank system.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

 

[Lsufan]

To me the corner clamps make it much easier & I wouldn't try to build one without them. They shouldn't be hard to find & Home Depot will more then likely carry them. It's one of those things that u don't notice until u are looking for them. They also sell a bunch of different lengths of clamps all the way up to 3'. I have only built a couple, a 40 & 75 gallon. I clamped them exactly how Ron has his.

Like Ron mentioned, When clamping u have to be careful not to put to much pressure & create pressure points on the glass. I would get the glass set where it needs to be by hand & use the clamps to hold it in place. Don't use the clamps to get the glass where it needs to be, that's how u create pressure points.

 

[scubadan206]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2553967
My build thread. I built the sump from plywood and glass. Used the series from DIY fishkeepers on Youtube as a guide. Messy but not too difficult. Saved a lot on materials vs buying pre-fab. Tools bought and used are another story