DIY Sump for my 180 Gallon

[Tasher80]

I am building my 180 gallon in wall setup. I am just brainstorming on what to use for a sump. I like the idea of using those rubbermade tubs you find at the tractor supply store. I don't know if they will fit depth wise. If I were to make an acrylic sump about 28 inches wide, 68 inches long and about 20 or so inches high would i have to use 1/2" Acrylic or 1/4"?

[Fly Guy]

I would use 1/2" on a sump that big. With good top bracing and the baffles for support, 3/8 would probably suffice as well. Personally id go 1/2".

FWIW, you are building a sweet system here Tasher, ive seen your build thread......i recommend NOT using a rubbermaid. Not that it wont work, but you will regret cutting this corner IMO.

[Geoff]

with 1/2" acrylic that will get pretty expensive. would 1/4" hold, yes, but it would bow like crazy and look bad. i like using those rubbermaid sumps. i have a 100g i use for emergency major water changes, and i have a 50 i use for my sump.

have you thought about using a connical settling tank? the longer i have my tank setup the sooner i want to get mine installed.

G~

[wharyat]

Wow, that is a big sump 164g. That will be awesome!

3/8" will be fine if you brace it quit a bit. 1/2 would be minimum (but quite expensive, as Geoff pointed out) if you don't want much bracing.

[Tasher80]

I plan on put a solid top on top of the sump then routering it out so there is about a 2 inch lip around the edge. I already found the saw blade I need. I have a router I just need to go buy a router table to trim the edges for gluing. I am going to call a few plastics places to find a "cheap" supplier. Cell cast is what im looking for I know that.

[Tasher80]

I saw this sump and I like the idea of it. I will probably make it out of 3/8" acrylic. I have two questions for you. I have dual drains and will run a dart sequence for my return. If I run on return into the main area and the second drain into the refugium will that be too much flow in the refugium? Also, I am going to have my plastics company cut all the acrlic to size. Should I have them make the base and the top an inch bigger so I can glue it all together then router everthing smooth?

[Tasher80]

Forgot the link.
http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/s.../80g_sump.html

[Geoff]

what size are your drains? you would need 2-1.5" drains to have a chance of keeping up with a Dart at 4'. why do you want a Dart as a return? it would make more sense to use it as a CLS pump.

G~

[Tasher80]

I do have dual 1.5 drains. I am using another dart on an ocean motions 8 way as well.