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How hard is it to build a sump

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Anonymous

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Pricing for a 40 breeded is looking like it will run me $150. How hard is it to build an acrylic sump? Also thinking about building a top off container a, tall think box I can fit under my stand since I have lots of room.
 
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Anonymous

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The only reason I don't build my own acrylic sump is because my table saw doesn't have a very good fence. It's a cheapo.

With the cost of a sheet of 1/2" or 3/4" acrylic being what it is, messing on one sheet would be disastrous.

That being said, the cost of acrylic varies greatly from one city to the next. There is no cheap suppliers in the area I live, and I don't feel like making a road trip to get it.

So start out by finding out if you can get acrylic for a reasonable price, then decide if you have the right equipment to do it right the first time.

Acrylic scrap piles will make you cry.

Louey
 
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Anonymous

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I do not have the tools to cut the acrylic so I would need to find a supplier to cut it for me.
 
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trido

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I built my 30 gallon fuge for around $100 (Tap plastics cut it in the bay area) with eurobracing on all the joints. As it was my first acrylic job I was paranoid. I have since butchered and remodified my existing (cost me a fortune for a peice of junk) sump which only had one baffle. It now has five.
Bingo is right. If you can build that stand, you can build a sump. The biggest bonus I see in it is that you can build it to the exact dimensions you want to suit your needs and also add bulkheads and more baffles later if you do some remodeling in the future.

Also, you just picked up a nice chopsaw. Now its time to get the cheapo Ryobi or Delta table saw. I used them for work for several years and they are a great saw for only $100. :wink:
 
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bleedingthought

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Wazzel":2zgatz0r said:
Pricing for a 40 breeded is looking like it will run me $150. How hard is it to build an acrylic sump? Also thinking about building a top off container a, tall think box I can fit under my stand since I have lots of room.
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Matter of fact, Bingo had pointed out that petco was having a sale on their tanks and I know that 40 breeders were 40 bucks. The sale is over now, but I'm not sure how often they have it. Also, I would expect the normal price for it to be much cheaper than $150. I would be expecting something around $70. You might want to give them a try. HTH
 
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Anonymous

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I have checked at petsmart and they do not have teh 40 breeder. I am on a mishon after work today to see if I can find a 40 breeder I can afford.
 
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Anonymous

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waz, do you have a cirular saw, a couple of clamps, a straight edge?

Then you have the tools to cut acrylic. You might want a regular plastic blade, but that's optional.

Check with sign companies by you. they might be able to cut pieces for you.

However, I built a 24x15x16 sump from 1/4" and materials alone (from a plastic store) were $120.

B
 
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Anonymous

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bleedingthought":23ydjul2 said:
Just called Petco here in Atlanta and their 40G breeders are $99.99.
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Same price here. Picked on up and it is sitting under my tank. Got 3ea 17 1/4" x 8" baffles for 21. Will silicone them in later. Then I got to run my pipes then I can add water.
 
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Anonymous

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Yes but after a while the plastic will fatague and fail. Not interested in redoing the sump or having a flood.
 
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Wazzel":2o6kxp6f said:
Yes but after a while the plastic will fatague and fail. Not interested in redoing the sump or having a flood.
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Understand. my sump has only been in use for three years. Thank's for the heads up.
 
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Anonymous

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I had one fail on me after a while. I think it was three or so years. I have heard of others having the same thing. If I would to use a rubbermiad type container I would plan on changint it out every two to three years.

BTW, I just put the baffles in my 40 breeder.
 
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