Sumps, It's Always Being Asked About

[weathermen]

Hi all,

Looking into setting up a marine this year, Once the house extension is done! I wonna build a sump from a new 24 x 12 x 12 glass tank, with refugium in the middle, is it ok to use 6mm clear Perspex acrylic plexiglass for sectioning off?

Thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

Hi all,

Looking into setting up a marine this year, Once the house extension is done! I wonna build a sump from a new 24 x 12 x 12 glass tank, with refugium in the middle, is it ok to use 6mm clear Perspex acrylic plexiglass for sectioning off?

Thanks

For baffles and bubble walls, go nuts. Just use lots of silicone

 

[bobf]

Just be a bit careful with what your using here...

I was discussing making a condensation cover for my tank with the owner of a LFS I respect and he told me Acylic is fine but dont use Perspex (two different things apparently). Perspex will react to salty water and can give off some chemical but Acrylic doesn't.

Just passing on what I was told here - can't say I know the difference!

 

[SkiFletch]

Interesting, thats news to me. Then again, perspex is NOT common here in the States...

 

[weathermen]

thanx and I have taken note!

maybe it's better to use glass, I can get it cut to size no problem, just wonna get a head start on things, loads more questions will following in the coming months, thanx guys,

 

[mantis147]

I ended up going with glass in my 24" sump the cuts cost about £10. just seems more solid & rigid with glass.

 

[andywg]

Just be a bit careful with what your using here...

I was discussing making a condensation cover for my tank with the owner of a LFS I respect and he told me Acylic is fine but dont use Perspex (two different things apparently). Perspex will react to salty water and can give off some chemical but Acrylic doesn't.

Just passing on what I was told here - can't say I know the difference!

Perhaps your lfs is not as sage as he appears.

Perspex is a corporate tradename for ... Acrylic! They are one and the same. To quote from wiki:

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or poly (methyl 2-methylpropenoate) is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. This thermoplastic and transparent plastic is sold by the tradenames Plexiglas, Perspex, Plazcryl, Acrylite, Acrylplast, Altuglas, and Lucite and is commonly called acrylic glass or simply acrylic.

Based on that, I would say feel free to use perspex.

 

[bobf]

Just be a bit careful with what your using here...

I was discussing making a condensation cover for my tank with the owner of a LFS I respect and he told me Acylic is fine but dont use Perspex (two different things apparently). Perspex will react to salty water and can give off some chemical but Acrylic doesn't.

Just passing on what I was told here - can't say I know the difference!

Perhaps your lfs is not as sage as he appears.

Perspex is a corporate tradename for ... Acrylic! They are one and the same. To quote from wiki:

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or poly (methyl 2-methylpropenoate) is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. This thermoplastic and transparent plastic is sold by the tradenames Plexiglas, Perspex, Plazcryl, Acrylite, Acrylplast, Altuglas, and Lucite and is commonly called acrylic glass or simply acrylic.

Based on that, I would say feel free to use perspex.

Maybe it was "...don't use polycarbonate" then?

From the ever helpful Wiki..

Potential hazards in food contact applications
Polycarbonate may be appealing to fabricators and purchasers of food storage containers due to its clarity and toughness. Polycarbonate has been described as lightweight and highly break resistant particularly when compared to silica glass. Polycarbonate may be seen in the form of single use and refillable plastic water bottles.

More than 100 studies have explored the bioactivity of bisphenol A leachates from polycarbonates. Bisphenol A appeared to be released from polycarbonate animal cages into water at room temperature and that it may have been responsible for enlargement of the reproductive organs of female mice.[1]

Don't let your mice read this!

 

[SkiFletch]

Heh, I've had polycarbonate in my reef for almoast a year now... No problems

 

[bobf]

Heh, I've had polycarbonate in my reef for almoast a year now... No problems

...well just don't be putting any mice in there!

 

[SkiFletch]

very well then