Building a new Sump

turtlefan · 07/25/2011, 06:54 AM

OK first off let me preface this post by saying this is for my turtle tank, not for a reef setup. However very few people do this sort of filtration for a turtle setup so I could not get an answer over there. My question is I am looking at replacing the current W/D (sump) setup I have (a couple plastic storage containers) with a custom built acrylic setup. I want to build a new acrylic setup that would allow me place the sump on the stand under the tank, allowing me to push the whole setup closer to the wall as my 1 year old is starting to crawl behind it now. Now my question is I can get some 1/8" acrylic (plexiglass) for very cheap. The dimensions of the sump I am going to build is 48" (L) x 12" (w) x 12" (H). The tank would be 8" full 99% of the time, except during outages. Would 1/8" acrylic stand up to the pressure of 8" of water? Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

jeff@zina.com · 07/25/2011, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlefan

Would 1/8" acrylic stand up to the pressure of 8" of water?

No, 1/4" minimum. And that's with bracing. Look at Melev's Reef for help (Google/Bing it).

Jeff

125mph · 07/25/2011, 10:59 AM

Why only 12" high? It should be 16" to make room for when power is down (outage or maintenance). Otherwise, you could get a flood.

turtlefan · 07/25/2011, 11:42 AM

In order to get it to properly fit under my tank on the stand and have the room needed for piping it can only be 12" high.

125mph · 07/25/2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlefan

In order to get it to properly fit under my tank on the stand and have the room needed for piping it can only be 12" high.

Sounds risky to be that low. I think you will be okay but one day you'll end up with a flood.

turtlefan · 07/25/2011, 02:33 PM

I have it figured that a tank setup the way I described will hold just shy of 30 gallons. If I only make the baffles 6 inches instead of 8, that leaves a capacity of 15 gallons for overflow. 15 gallons of water will drop my tank about 1 1/2 inches total, and I have 1 inch bulkheads drilled in. By my calculations I should be fine.

07/25/2011, 06:54 AM	#1
turtlefan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13	Building a new Sump OK first off let me preface this post by saying this is for my turtle tank, not for a reef setup. However very few people do this sort of filtration for a turtle setup so I could not get an answer over there. My question is I am looking at replacing the current W/D (sump) setup I have (a couple plastic storage containers) with a custom built acrylic setup. I want to build a new acrylic setup that would allow me place the sump on the stand under the tank, allowing me to push the whole setup closer to the wall as my 1 year old is starting to crawl behind it now. Now my question is I can get some 1/8" acrylic (plexiglass) for very cheap. The dimensions of the sump I am going to build is 48" (L) x 12" (w) x 12" (H). The tank would be 8" full 99% of the time, except during outages. Would 1/8" acrylic stand up to the pressure of 8" of water? Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

07/25/2011, 10:59 AM	#3
125mph Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,405	Why only 12" high? It should be 16" to make room for when power is down (outage or maintenance). Otherwise, you could get a flood. __________________ 180G Rimless Starphire 72x24x24 (Miracles) 3 x Ecotech XR15w G4 Pro \| T5 x 4 \| 2 x Mp40wQD GEO 612 Cal Reactor \| Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| Chaeto Reactor Synergy Reef CL44 Sump \| Neptune Apex

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07/25/2011, 11:42 AM	#4
turtlefan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13	In order to get it to properly fit under my tank on the stand and have the room needed for piping it can only be 12" high.

07/25/2011, 02:33 PM	#6
turtlefan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13	I have it figured that a tank setup the way I described will hold just shy of 30 gallons. If I only make the baffles 6 inches instead of 8, that leaves a capacity of 15 gallons for overflow. 15 gallons of water will drop my tank about 1 1/2 inches total, and I have 1 inch bulkheads drilled in. By my calculations I should be fine.