Destroyed my Icecap 36 sump. Dont be a Bonehead like me

[Ashish Patel]

This is pretty devastating and easily the single more expensive thing I have damaged in an instant.
I used a regular wood drill bit to make a hole of a float valve and the sump shattered.

I think this actually happened 4 years ago in my head, 4 years ago I used the same drill bits to drill holes in a rubbermaid containers and other plastic containers received from Homedepot. I wish I could get it back but now I am stuck without a sump for my QT, and reefapalozza is in 1 day.

Anyone think I can get this fixed? The main body is not damaged, I figure front and side panel replacement and few in the middle, new top bracing i can use this sump in the future.

 

[dmsc2fs]

If it was me and I had time to repair I wouldn't replace the panel but I am ok with it being somewhat imperfect in some instance. A sump on a frag tank would be an instance like that. I would use weldon #3 or #4 and flow it into the crack. You could use weldon 12 to fill the drill hole. let it cure, fill it up outside and see how it goes. If you have any leaks where the 3/4 didn't flow into the crack you could top dress it with 12.

 

[Ashish Patel]

If it was me and I had time to repair I wouldn't replace the panel but I am ok with it being somewhat imperfect in some instance. A sump on a frag tank would be an instance like that. I would use weldon #3 or #4 and flow it into the crack. You could use weldon 12 to fill the drill hole. let it cure, fill it up outside and see how it goes. If you have any leaks where the 3/4 didn't flow into the crack you could top dress it with 12.

Yeah may work but the top bracing is split too. The only way I could savage is it cutt of the ATO reservoir and return pump chamber, which is what I am probably leaning toward since this sump is only going to have LR and a return pump can go in the main chamber.

 

[fishguy242]

weld on ,and scrap acrylic , weld and reinforce ,good as new ,if don't mind looks...

 

[Ashish Patel]

weld on ,and scrap acrylic , weld and reinforce ,good as new ,if don't mind looks...

Thanks, I will give it a try.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I think we’ve all had a bone head experience or two…well except for that one guy, there’s always that one guy that will post about being perfect! I hope you can at least throw back a cold one and laugh about it!

 

[Breadman03]

Thanks, I will give it a try.

There’s a bunch of different types of Weld-On. You’ll want one of the thinner versions so that it can flow into the cracks and seal them up. You better believe I’d try that, quite possibly successfully, before ordering another sump.

 

[Aquavaj]

Is it common for normal wood drill bits to cause acrylic to crack like that?

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Is it common for normal wood drill bits to cause acrylic to crack like that?

I’m no expert but they do have specialty acrylic bits and some run the drill in reverse with other drill bits also step drills seem to work

 

[G Santana]

If you wish to save the sump, go to Home depot and buy a couple of pieces plexiglass and silicone and use alot of silicone and sandwich the crack on the inside and outside.

I drilled my glass sump and set my pump through the hole, I kept messing with it until I cracked the tank where the hole was. I took two pieces of plexiglass and did what I described above, I took the bulkhead threaded through and tightened it. It has been like that for 18 months.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Thanks All, feel much better now.

I will try to fix it later but will use the below rimless as a sump. I probably won't ever get around to replacing it once established, but my plan was to build a tall stand with space next to the tank for easy dipping, and space next to the sump for a 30 gallon trash can with Kalk that drips to the sump, and just let it be!

 

[Ashish Patel]

If you wish to save the sump, go to Home depot and buy a couple of pieces plexiglass and silicone and use alot of silicone and sandwich the crack on the inside and outside.

I drilled my glass sump and set my pump through the hole, I kept messing with it until I cracked the tank where the hole was. I took two pieces of plexiglass and did what I described above, I took the bulkhead threaded through and tightened it. It has been like that for 18 months.

Yeah, i am pretty attached to this sump, i spend a good few hours cleaning it yesterday and by nighttime crack! This is why I refuse to drill holes in my display tanks or up until this point never choose to drill any acrylic sump i owned. My better judgement got the best of me when I know its "right tool right job" for everything! A $20 bit wouldve saved me $600! AHHH

 

[Ashish Patel]

I was planning on drilling a hole in this blue barrel with a similar bit. How would this work?

I used similiar bit to drill my polypropylene sump but the blue barrel is far more rigid (see below).

his blue barrel, now

 

[Hairyteeth]

I’ve done this on acrylic too, stepper drill bit, lubricant, tape both sides, brace the exit side with something as well and good to go…but it sucks when ur like one hole and we’re good to go lol

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I could be wrong, but I doubt the top "brace" that cracked really gives much structural support... If you can repair the sides, hopefully it will work as good as new

 

[fishface NJ]

Wow Ashish! Do as @fishguy242 said with Weld On for acrylic and sheet of acrylic and you will be good to go

Enjoy tomorrow at RAP

 

[dmsc2fs]

There’s a bunch of different types of Weld-On. You’ll want one of the thinner versions so that it can flow into the cracks and seal them up. You better believe I’d try that, quite possibly successfully, before ordering another sump.

Weldon 3 or 4 is water consistency and will flow into the crack. Weldon 12 is gel like for building up a seal.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Frag tank done but cheap bulkheads don't work. The seals are bogus so will have to silicone