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Merv's new 40 gallon build
- Thread starter concept3
- Start date
Materials:
1. Acrylic pieces (I precut them earlier today)
2. Weldon 3 (water consistency)
3. Syringe tube squeezie thingy
4. Weldon 16 (thicker)
So basically, after looking at pics and looking at a few things from Melev's reef, I went ahead just like everything I do- Head first! Play now, practice now, fix later!
So I started!
I peeled just the outer edge of the acrylic pieces, just so there will be contact between the joints:
here's the outer edges of the protective film peeled back and cut off:
then, taken from Melev's site, I used the squares (edges cut off so it won't touch and adhere too)
then the applicator bottle with Weldon 3. I used to build model planes (the ones that fly) and it's just like using cyanoacrylate glue on balsa. It just soaks it up!
1. Acrylic pieces (I precut them earlier today)
2. Weldon 3 (water consistency)
3. Syringe tube squeezie thingy
4. Weldon 16 (thicker)
So basically, after looking at pics and looking at a few things from Melev's reef, I went ahead just like everything I do- Head first! Play now, practice now, fix later!
So I started!
I peeled just the outer edge of the acrylic pieces, just so there will be contact between the joints:
here's the outer edges of the protective film peeled back and cut off:
then, taken from Melev's site, I used the squares (edges cut off so it won't touch and adhere too)
then the applicator bottle with Weldon 3. I used to build model planes (the ones that fly) and it's just like using cyanoacrylate glue on balsa. It just soaks it up!
make sure ALL the edges are squared up!
that's what these boys are for!
also a word of advice on the joints- apply firm pressure between the joints to make sure there is contact between the two pieces of acrylic. It should set in about 15-30 seconds, but FULL BOND strength takes longer than 24 hours.
I did a little bit of overlap since I'll be utilizing a borrowed plunge router tomorrow and that could clean up the edges purty goooooood
here's the "box" soon to be a sump or refugium. This one measures 14"W X 12"H X 24"L
and here it is with baffles for bubble reduction.
I also placed another piece of acrylic on top of the box thereby "sealing" it completely. I will use a router to cut the center section out thereby creating a Eurobrace helping reinforce the acrylic panels and to prevent further stress on the plastic. I didn't take a pic of that one since I wanted to do something else.......
that's what these boys are for!
also a word of advice on the joints- apply firm pressure between the joints to make sure there is contact between the two pieces of acrylic. It should set in about 15-30 seconds, but FULL BOND strength takes longer than 24 hours.
I did a little bit of overlap since I'll be utilizing a borrowed plunge router tomorrow and that could clean up the edges purty goooooood
here's the "box" soon to be a sump or refugium. This one measures 14"W X 12"H X 24"L
and here it is with baffles for bubble reduction.
I also placed another piece of acrylic on top of the box thereby "sealing" it completely. I will use a router to cut the center section out thereby creating a Eurobrace helping reinforce the acrylic panels and to prevent further stress on the plastic. I didn't take a pic of that one since I wanted to do something else.......
so I wanted to do something else.............
because.......
THE LAST ONE WAS MY PRACTICE SUMP!
Didn't you guys notice it was 24 inches long? The internal dimensions of my stand is 23"
So..... I made my REAL sump- but instead, used 1/4 inch acrylic-
applicator bottle (more careful this time, no drips!)
All peeled up and cleaned
because.......
THE LAST ONE WAS MY PRACTICE SUMP!
Didn't you guys notice it was 24 inches long? The internal dimensions of my stand is 23"
So..... I made my REAL sump- but instead, used 1/4 inch acrylic-
applicator bottle (more careful this time, no drips!)
All peeled up and cleaned
and I went ahead and taped off the insides of the new sump so I could apply Weldon 16 to the larger gaps that I could see. I'm going to give it the weekend (since I'll be back in AC this weekend) before I water test. It's not 100% pretty like the store bought sumps and all, but I'm dang proud of it!
And here it is sitting inside under the tank with no baffles. I'm gonna wait until I get my pump from the group buy and figure out where to put the "bubble box" and where to drill the hole for the Panworld external. I'll also figure out then how much space I'll need for the skimmer too.
Anyone want to buy a perfectly watertight "practice sump" in the next two weeks since I still have to route it out and finesse it? It'll be perfect for a fuge or an actual sump, it's just not as pretty since it was my first one!
And here it is sitting inside under the tank with no baffles. I'm gonna wait until I get my pump from the group buy and figure out where to put the "bubble box" and where to drill the hole for the Panworld external. I'll also figure out then how much space I'll need for the skimmer too.
Anyone want to buy a perfectly watertight "practice sump" in the next two weeks since I still have to route it out and finesse it? It'll be perfect for a fuge or an actual sump, it's just not as pretty since it was my first one!
I'll bring the sump to the meeting, you're going right?
Went to home depot and lowes today, had some lowes coupons that I used to get me some gardening supplies (we're setting up a garden in Philly since we
have a small back yard), some more plumbing and then got a router and table combo...... I've always wanted one anyways, and at 99.99 it didn't decline the credit card.
Went to home depot and lowes today, had some lowes coupons that I used to get me some gardening supplies (we're setting up a garden in Philly since we
have a small back yard), some more plumbing and then got a router and table combo...... I've always wanted one anyways, and at 99.99 it didn't decline the credit card.
Baxreefs said:
Practice makes perfect Bax!
I thought I would post some pics here for the "practice sump"
It's all sealed up, torched up, sanded down, cleaned out, bubble-boxed (an original with the help of RichT!) and semi packed in the trunk ready for its new home to the lucky owner picking up at tomorrow's meeting
Here is the sump being water tested- yep, it was full of water for 72 hours- no leakage!
The bubble box installed:
and the mandatory FSS (Full Sump Shot
)
(Man, I ruined the dining room table again didn't I?)
Here's part of what I picked up at the March meeting in Rod's house; the stuff I ordered from the Group buy:
(Reflector, Heater, Skimmer and pump below) I already had the Ballast.
Proposed locations for the skimmer and the pump...
Hmmmm, I have 3-5 more inches in width to spare, I didn't realize the Panworld 40 was gonna be this petite.
Should I build a wider sump?!?!?
I think I may just end up building another sump after all-
I think I may make it 15 wide instead of 12" maybe even throw in a refugium of some sorts....
and maybe even a sponge catch. . . I have enough space to spare.....hmmmmmmmmmmm
Here's the mess I am starting to accumulate.
I'm getting tired of seeing my mess everyday at dinner on the couch (since I took over the dining room table)
(Reflector, Heater, Skimmer and pump below) I already had the Ballast.
Proposed locations for the skimmer and the pump...
Hmmmm, I have 3-5 more inches in width to spare, I didn't realize the Panworld 40 was gonna be this petite.
Should I build a wider sump?!?!?
I think I may just end up building another sump after all-
I think I may make it 15 wide instead of 12" maybe even throw in a refugium of some sorts....
and maybe even a sponge catch. . . I have enough space to spare.....hmmmmmmmmmmm
Here's the mess I am starting to accumulate.
I'm getting tired of seeing my mess everyday at dinner on the couch (since I took over the dining room table)
JRWOHLER said:
that's what's in the works
I'm designing it right now as I type- pics soon to follow of course
evoIX said:
Eshopps skimmer. Cheap and the ratings weren't that bad, supposed to be rated for a 75-100. The only thing I didn't like about it was the way the pump sat. There were no brackets to hold it in place so it may have a tendency to spin on its axis a bit (over time I presume). I will be building a bracket for it so it's stable- I may also build a feed for it, directly from the output of the overflow, but I'll probably do that in the future since I have other things to setup-
the proposed new and updated sump design:
I'm debating on how I'd be able to fit this under the cabinet and still make it somewhat functional and accessible. I may or may not do this since it's getting pretty tight in there and then there's the added extra light fixture I'll need. It's still in the works, but I can always make another sump when I'm ready to make the jump. In the meantime, I ordered an RO unit for the house for both drinking water and for the tank- I can't wait until I no longer get to spend money on this.... Tax return? What tax return?
I'm debating on how I'd be able to fit this under the cabinet and still make it somewhat functional and accessible. I may or may not do this since it's getting pretty tight in there and then there's the added extra light fixture I'll need. It's still in the works, but I can always make another sump when I'm ready to make the jump. In the meantime, I ordered an RO unit for the house for both drinking water and for the tank- I can't wait until I no longer get to spend money on this.... Tax return? What tax return?