Acrylics

[Robster Craw]

In my research on building an acrylic overflow and sump I am still having trouble with the type of acrylic and what should be used on what.

thus far I believe the over flow can be produced from standard extruded acrylic.
I would appreciate some ideas on the best bending method. Should I use a propane torch or a big A@* heat gun? what kind of jigs of forms for making the bend as precise as possible has worked for you guys?
Or would it be better trying to find a U-tube...which BTW I haven't been able to find, any ideas?

does the sump need to be built from the continuous cast acrylic. Is that the "lucite L" stuff?

Not quite sure about the size yet. I have a 90 gal tank using a 30 gal currently for sump. I want to set it up as a quarantine tank.

Thanks for all your help

Rob

[Robster Craw]

what goes into determining the size of the sump or there any online calculators to help?

[Acrylics]

Originally Posted by Robster Craw

In my research on building an acrylic overflow and sump I am still having trouble with the type of acrylic and what should be used on what.

thus far I believe the over flow can be produced from standard extruded acrylic.

Good quality cell cast is preferred but extruded will work.

I would appreciate some ideas on the best bending method. Should I use a propane torch or a big A@* heat gun?

Neither, get a heating strip. Tapplastics.com carries a *cheap* one but very workable

what kind of jigs of forms for making the bend as precise as possible has worked for you guys?

If line bent using a strip heater, this will make a straight bend and you can just hold the bent pc between two fences.

does the sump need to be built from the continuous cast acrylic. Is that the "lucite L" stuff?

Again, cell cast would be prefered but Lucite L can be used.

what goes into determining the size of the sump or there any online calculators to help?

Most folks would recommend the sump be a minimum of 30% of the main display tank's capacity

HTH,
James