Building a sump

[emap0225]

You probably won't take this advice, but dump the acrylic and have glass cut. Acrylic does not adhere properly to glass. Best case it just fails and your compartments leak into one another, worst case, the acrylic breaks your glass due to swelling.

I have been wondering about this. I currently have a 29 (first reef) no sump hang on everything, but am trying to upgrade to a 90 and sump. The sump part is really pushing me back. I've heard no acrylic on glass then others say its fine. So after this I'm leaning towards no acrylic because you actually explained why its a problem so thanks for that! So since using glass and getting cut and the tools to build the sump would a diy sump in the long run be around the same costs as just buying one that's ready to go?

 

[ReeferBob]

I have been wondering about this. I currently have a 29 (first reef) no sump hang on everything, but am trying to upgrade to a 90 and sump. The sump part is really pushing me back. I've heard no acrylic on glass then others say its fine. So after this I'm leaning towards no acrylic because you actually explained why its a problem so thanks for that! So since using glass and getting cut and the tools to build the sump would a diy sump in the long run be around the same costs as just buying one that's ready to go?

I've built 2 40b sumps using glass. They cost around $100 each to build ($1/gallon for tanks). I use 1/4" glass with polished edges which are more expensive (2x) than 1/8 glass available cut at most big box stores. Either would work but I tend to over-build. Pre-built sumps almost always cost more and frankly I don't like their designs.

I have seen several glass sumps built with acrylic partitions and in all cases the partitions leak into each compartment. This would be a big issue if you count on your return chamber's specific volume to not be enough to flood your display tank as that has now changed to the entire sump volume being pumped up in the even of siphon failure. Glass is a bit more trouble since cutting the glass is not something most people want to do so they have it done. Acrylic is easy to cut so really it is a matter of convenience.