DIY sump, Opinions needed please

[Wall Street Reef]

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]

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.

 

[Wall Street Reef]

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]

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

 

[Ann_A]

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.

 

[Wall Street Reef]

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.

 

[Wall Street Reef]

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

It is all acrylic

 

[michaelrc51]

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.

 

[Wall Street Reef]

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

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]

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.

 

[Wall Street Reef]

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!