Acrylic Project: Smitty's Sump

This one has been a while in the making, and Murphy has shown his ugly head at nearly every turn.

Once I got the material in stock and design done, getting parts cut took a lot longer than expected. Once the CNC shop got to cutting them, they were short a sheet! It was a mistake on the order. Getting the additional sheet took almost 2 weeks because of an ordering snafu. Once it was in, they cut the sheet...using the wrong programming.

Luckily they were able the get a replacement sheet and get the right parts cut in 2 days.

Cleaned off my work table and started welding today! Bonding each panel one at a time with a few hours in between. So this phase takes a while.

Here is the back panel with the left end bonded on (return end)



A few hours later, here is the last "down" baffle.



I'll post more as I get 'em done. Off to dinner!

 

@Smittybuilt 03 proof that it's actually happening bro. Can I get a thumbs up? Your good one that is sorry I had to do that

 

One more baffle in before dinner

 

Back from dinner, 2 more baffles in

Up baffle



Down baffle

 

Bud, how many projects like this have you done? This is extremely cool. I have done some limited research on how to do this as I want to build an acrylic frag tank some day. Please keep the photos coming!

 

@wouldtick quite a few, most of them are posted in this sub-forum.

Last end installed. Now to let it sit for a day.

 

Impressive.

 

That means so much more when it is said in a Darth Vader voice. But you have to follow it up with "Most Impressive"

 

Ha!

 

Good luck from this point on Bud I'm sure the quality will be rock-solid just like the frag tank you built me Tagging along!

 

3 hours of joint prep for 2 minutes of excitement

Close ups of pins in joint






And there it is!

PS I have to get my Diet Barqs brought down from Minnesota, they don't sell it in Des Moines

 

Made some snow today



@Smittybuilt 03 DISHES ARE DONE MAN!!!

 

For water changes. He's going to hook up a pump to push it up and over to the laundry drain

 

2 holes for return pumps on end (one is extra), the other 2 holes drain the first and second chamber during water changes

 

Awesome build Bud! Looks great.

 

Dimensions? Acrylic thickness? Why the euro bracing?

 

72 x 23.5 x 23.5, 3/8" all the way around, except for the "up" baffle which is non-pressure, so it's 1/4"

It would be a bigger question if I didn't put it on there, because without it, it would be severely under built. IMO every acrylic sump should have one or very think walls to compensate (or a very low volume/height). Eurobracing prevents bowing and vertical seam (corner) failure. On power fail this thing will fill up pretty high.

 

Do you build frag tanks too? I am thinking of a 48 inch long by 12 inch wide by 12 inch deep. I want something narrow that will hug my wall by my existing tank. Im not going to build until spring but would love to have it built local.