DIY sump, Opinions needed please

Scotty LaBeouf · Feb 16, 2016

So I just bought all the acrylic for my sump Im building. Everything is 1/4 thickness, it was about 100$ all together. After the fact I found 3/16 thickness would have been half the price because its not cast acrylic. Is it going to be better in the long run to have gotten the 1/4 thick acrylic?

Ann_A · Feb 16, 2016

I have a 30"x20"x16" sump that's built out of 1/4" acrylic and it was running on someone else's tank for something like 5 years until I bought their system recently. It seems to be very sturdy and I have no complaints about it so I would say the 1/4" should be fine. The 3/8" may be stronger but 1/4" should do the job just fine. As far as whether cast acrylic is stronger than extruded acrylic I don't know the answer to that but I'm sure someone on here will be able to tell you that.

Scotty LaBeouf · Feb 16, 2016

Ann_A said:
I have a 30"x20"x16" sump that's built out of 1/4" acrylic and it was running on someone else's tank for something like 5 years until I bought their system recently. It seems to be very sturdy and I have no complaints about it so I would say the 1/4" should be fine. The 3/8" may be stronger but 1/4" should do the job just fine. As far as whether cast acrylic is stronger than extruded acrylic I don't know the answer to that but I'm sure someone on here will be able to tell you that.

Sorry I just realized I made a mistake, I meant to say 3/16 vs 1/4.

ReeferBob · Feb 16, 2016

Are you building the entire sump out of acrylic or starting with a glass tank and adding acrylic partitions?

Ann_A · Feb 16, 2016

What are the dimensions on the sump you're planning on building? Unless you really need to save money and the sump isn't going to be big, I'd probably say stick with the 1/4" acrylic because you already have it and it's stronger than 3/16" acrylic.

Scotty LaBeouf · Feb 16, 2016

The dimensions are 21x14x13 and the skimmer section will hold 3.5 gallons and then drains to a live rock section that will hold 2 gallons maybe less. heres a pic of the design.

Scotty LaBeouf · Feb 16, 2016

ReeferBob said:
Are you building the entire sump out of acrylic or starting with a glass tank and adding acrylic partitions?

It is all acrylic

michaelrc51 · Feb 16, 2016

You might be able to get away with 3/16" thick acrylic but if I were you I would do it in 1/4" just to be safe.

Scotty LaBeouf · Feb 16, 2016

yea thats what i bought before i realized 3/16 would be cheaper haha

michaelrc51 said:
You might be able to get away with 3/16" thick acrylic but if I were you I would do it in 1/4" just to be safe.

michaelrc51 · Feb 16, 2016

WORLDCITIZEN said:
yea thats what i bought before i realized 3/16 would be cheaper haha

1/4" has much better rigidity than 3/16" acrylic. Even if you could get away with it I would say the extra money you spent is worth it.

Scotty LaBeouf · Feb 16, 2016

michaelrc51 said:
1/4" has much better rigidity than 3/16" acrylic. Even if you could get away with it I would say the extra money you spent is worth it.

Sweet thats what i was hoping for and it sounds like cast acrylic is better too so im glad i got the 1/4". Thanks for the reply!