26 gallon acrylic DIY sump failed leaking test

Lemeshianos · 07/29/2008, 12:35 AM

Well title sums it up.
I guess my mistake was making its length too long.
I only have 10.25 inches(26 cm) of width under my stand so I made the sump 9.8 inches(25 cm) in width and 39 inches in length(100cm) with 15.75 inches height(40 cm).
I haven't added the baffles yet and no bracket support. When filling it up (only up to 3/4) the bend on the length was obvious, but since it didn't start to leak, I tried to support it by moving the sump to a wall. One wall was supporting the one side and I placed another heavy object on the other side for support. It looked ok but when I got back after 3-4 hours it was leaking pretty much.

The good thing is I know where its leaking from and plan on removing that piece, cleaning the leftover silicone and trying again.
My thoughts on the second try is to add the baffles also this time before testing. Maybe the extra pieces will keep the acrylic from bending. And I'm thinking of adding a piece (15 x 9.8) on top right in the middle since I'm going to need a place to have the lights for the refugium and brackets maybe closer to the ends of the sump.

Does anyone have any other recommendations on how to make a stronger structure?I was thinking for metalic support going around the sump on the middle of it keeping it "wrapped" but I'm afraid of corrosion and the fact that I won't be able to keep completely leveled, thus adding stress to the structure.

Breaking it down to one sump and one refugium as seperate containers is also an option since I have 2 overflows. But I will have to make adjustments so none will overfill in case of a powerfailure, which I'm not sure if they're going to work fine in such case.

Any help/advice is very appreciated

BurntOutReefer · 07/29/2008, 12:39 AM

just buy a 25 g tank maybe?

Lemeshianos · 07/29/2008, 01:08 AM

If it was an option I would, but the space inside the stand is very limited.
Here is a picture that shows how the glued points where made

And here is a before and after design. Maybe it will give a better idea on what i plan to do next. I've drawn a larger center piece size (30cm x 25,8cm)(11.81x10.16 inches)
The left and right brackets are 2 inches x 10.16inches.

I'm trying to change the pictures to thumbnails since they are to big and messing around with the forums layout.

Lemeshianos · 07/29/2008, 06:30 AM

sorry for the bump guys. But I m going home in a few hours and need to start working on the sump. Any advice to avoid a flood?

FBNitro · 07/29/2008, 07:46 AM

You're using Silicone on an Acrylic sump? You can't do that... Silicone will not stick to the Acrylic well enough to hold together the sump walls. Search around and read about "Weld-On" products, it's an Acrylic bonding glue (and you should practice on some scraps with it before doing your actual sump).

2004jetta · 07/29/2008, 08:46 AM

I was just about to post that^^

jsmall79 · 07/29/2008, 11:35 AM

You may be able to get a thicker scrap to put from wall to wall pre-drill then screw it in the middle

_____________
( : )
(_______:____)

The dots are the screwed piece

inachu · 07/29/2008, 11:45 AM

Silicone wow....... come home to one major flood.

inachu · 07/29/2008, 11:47 AM

What program are you using to design?

Power Point?

FBNitro · 07/29/2008, 02:07 PM

That would be Google Sketch.

Lemeshianos · 07/30/2008, 12:37 AM

thank you guys. I will try to look for weld-on at the local diy stores.
I'll google weld-on and what is made of so I can try to find an alternative if they don't have it. Do you know what kind of glue it is so I can ask if they don't sell weld-on? And other than being non-toxic is there anything else I should check in its contents?

My tank wasnt predrilled, but it has 2 big holes on the top(left and right - 2-3 times a bucklehead) and I was planning on glueing pieces of acrylic on it, to make an overflow box and have my plumbing there. The display tank is made of glass. Do you know if weld-on will be able to glue glass and acrylic together, or should I visit a glacier and get glass pieces to do this work with silicon(glass to glass)
The holes were there for the wires of the light fixture and the filter which I removed.

inachu the software is google sketchup. Very easy to work with, and you can even create a design of your house and have an idea how things will look inside or outside.

jsmall79 i really don't get what you meant in that post. Are you saying I should get some thick pieces drilled and screw wall and bottom together.
Or top bracket and wall together?

FBNitro · 07/30/2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lemeshianos
thank you guys. I will try to look for weld-on at the local diy stores.
I'll google weld-on and what is made of so I can try to find an alternative if they don't have it. Do you know what kind of glue it is so I can ask if they don't sell weld-on? And other than being non-toxic is there anything else I should check in its contents?

You need specifically Weld-On #4 Acrylic Glue.

Here's a DIY Guide on About.com (There are others and probably better ones out there... I just did a 10 second search). http://saltaquarium.about.com/librar...icrefugium.htm

Page 2 or 3 talks about how to use Weld-On #4. As far as I know, there is no other option in Acrylic Glue.

07/29/2008, 12:35 AM	#1
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	26 gallon acrylic DIY sump failed leaking test Well title sums it up. I guess my mistake was making its length too long. I only have 10.25 inches(26 cm) of width under my stand so I made the sump 9.8 inches(25 cm) in width and 39 inches in length(100cm) with 15.75 inches height(40 cm). I haven't added the baffles yet and no bracket support. When filling it up (only up to 3/4) the bend on the length was obvious, but since it didn't start to leak, I tried to support it by moving the sump to a wall. One wall was supporting the one side and I placed another heavy object on the other side for support. It looked ok but when I got back after 3-4 hours it was leaking pretty much. The good thing is I know where its leaking from and plan on removing that piece, cleaning the leftover silicone and trying again. My thoughts on the second try is to add the baffles also this time before testing. Maybe the extra pieces will keep the acrylic from bending. And I'm thinking of adding a piece (15 x 9.8) on top right in the middle since I'm going to need a place to have the lights for the refugium and brackets maybe closer to the ends of the sump. Does anyone have any other recommendations on how to make a stronger structure?I was thinking for metalic support going around the sump on the middle of it keeping it "wrapped" but I'm afraid of corrosion and the fact that I won't be able to keep completely leveled, thus adding stress to the structure. Breaking it down to one sump and one refugium as seperate containers is also an option since I have 2 overflows. But I will have to make adjustments so none will overfill in case of a powerfailure, which I'm not sure if they're going to work fine in such case. Any help/advice is very appreciated

07/29/2008, 01:08 AM	#3
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	If it was an option I would, but the space inside the stand is very limited. Here is a picture that shows how the glued points where made And here is a before and after design. Maybe it will give a better idea on what i plan to do next. I've drawn a larger center piece size (30cm x 25,8cm)(11.81x10.16 inches) The left and right brackets are 2 inches x 10.16inches. I'm trying to change the pictures to thumbnails since they are to big and messing around with the forums layout. Last edited by Lemeshianos; 07/29/2008 at 01:26 AM.

07/29/2008, 11:35 AM	#7
jsmall79 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 39	You may be able to get a thicker scrap to put from wall to wall pre-drill then screw it in the middle _____________ ( : ) (_______:____) The dots are the screwed piece __________________ ClickRed House To See What I am Working With Current Tank Info: Cycling 44Gal.

07/30/2008, 12:37 AM	#11
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	thank you guys. I will try to look for weld-on at the local diy stores. I'll google weld-on and what is made of so I can try to find an alternative if they don't have it. Do you know what kind of glue it is so I can ask if they don't sell weld-on? And other than being non-toxic is there anything else I should check in its contents? My tank wasnt predrilled, but it has 2 big holes on the top(left and right - 2-3 times a bucklehead) and I was planning on glueing pieces of acrylic on it, to make an overflow box and have my plumbing there. The display tank is made of glass. Do you know if weld-on will be able to glue glass and acrylic together, or should I visit a glacier and get glass pieces to do this work with silicon(glass to glass) The holes were there for the wires of the light fixture and the filter which I removed. inachu the software is google sketchup. Very easy to work with, and you can even create a design of your house and have an idea how things will look inside or outside. jsmall79 i really don't get what you meant in that post. Are you saying I should get some thick pieces drilled and screw wall and bottom together. Or top bracket and wall together? Last edited by Lemeshianos; 07/30/2008 at 12:49 AM.

07/29/2008, 12:39 AM	#2
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	just buy a 25 g tank maybe?

07/29/2008, 06:30 AM	#4
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	sorry for the bump guys. But I m going home in a few hours and need to start working on the sump. Any advice to avoid a flood?

07/29/2008, 07:46 AM	#5
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	You're using Silicone on an Acrylic sump? You can't do that... Silicone will not stick to the Acrylic well enough to hold together the sump walls. Search around and read about "Weld-On" products, it's an Acrylic bonding glue (and you should practice on some scraps with it before doing your actual sump).

07/29/2008, 08:46 AM	#6
2004jetta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alpine, NJ Posts: 191	I was just about to post that^^

07/29/2008, 11:45 AM	#8
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	Silicone wow....... come home to one major flood.

07/29/2008, 11:47 AM	#9
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	What program are you using to design? Power Point?

07/29/2008, 02:07 PM	#10
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	That would be Google Sketch.