Acrylic sump - DIY

[AquaForge]

DIY Acrylic Masters!


So I have a DIY 75 gallon sump that I made the baffles for on my laser cutter. The issue is it’s an Aqueon 75 and I’ve found that it is tempered glass so no drilling. What I want to do is tie in my 50 gallon lowboy frag into my sump so the water is identical across my 150 gallon DT, sump and frag tank. I think my best shot is making a sump out of 1/2 inch acrylic. I can then plumb it in to the frag tank.
Questions I need help with;
1. The frag tank sits about 12 inches below sump. How would I plumb this in? Have a return pump to bring it back up to the sump?

2. I’ll be welding it with acrylic weld. Should I still put a bead of silicon on the inside for added strength

Here is my current setup:

 

[Formulator]

Is there any way you can raise your frag tank to sit slightly above your existing sump? Then you could tee your return from the DT to feed the sump and frag tank and let the frag tank drain into the sump. I setup my fuge like this. Works great.

 

[AquaForge]

I have back problems and the height it is now (frag tank) is perfect height for working. I would have to raise the frag tank above chest high to make it higher than the sump which would make working on it impractical.

 

[Zelly]

If your frag tank sits below the sump then you would need a return pump in the frag tank and an overflow in the sump to return to the frag tank.

Acrylic weld literally melts the acrylic and bonds it together, so you shouldnt need silicone. Silicone also does not stick to acrylic as well as it does to glass.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Are all the panels tempered?
IF NOT then you could make them the same height & plumb together.

 

[AquaForge]

Are all the panels tempered?
IF NOT then you could make them the same height & plumb together.

Yea they switched to cheaper tempered glass on aqueon above 40 gallon.

 

[AquaForge]

Yea they switched to cheaper tempered glass on aqueon above 40 gallon.

Well I finished it today. Lots of work and ton more to do but the tank is working again.

 

[Zelly]

Well I finished it today. Lots of work and ton more to do but the tank is working again.

Looks good! What kind of laser are you using for cutting the baffles?

 

[AquaForge]

Looks good! What kind of laser are you using for cutting the baffles?

Thanks! I have an Omtech 60w it’s only 21 inches at its widest and this sump is 25 so I had to make those tabs. It worked out though. I’m just so impressed how the solvent weld is so strong. Way better than silicon and acrylic or glass.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

if you use the proper acrylic solvent and technique, silicon is never needed. acrylic solvent bonds the two edges together by softening up the acrylic chemically. silicone and glass does not involve cross bonding the two materials together.