Custom Wet/Dry/Sump - Acrylic Thickness

[SonsOfLeda]

I'm in the process of designing a 48x18x21 wet/dry/sump and was thinking about which thickness of acrylic to use - 3/8" or 1/2". If I were building an aquarium this size, I would opt for the 1/2" due to the height. But, since it's not going to be even remotely close to completely full of water at any point in time (except in the case of a power outage, and even then it won't be completely full), do I still need it to be that thick to be stable? Or, is 3/8" doable?

Also, to throw a kink into it - could/should I do 1/2" on the outer walls and then go thinner on the insides? If I went this route, is 3/8" fine for inner baffles, or could/should I go down to 1/4"?

Thanks!

 

[BushFishRox]

I would say you are safe doing 3/8 inside and out...

 

[rallysman]

mine is 1/4" but has a big brace in the middle. It's almost exactly the same dimensions as your plans.

 

[SonsOfLeda]

Thanks, guys! I'll end up sticking with 3/8" then like I was planning.

mine is 1/4" but has a big brace in the middle. It's almost exactly the same dimensions as your plans.

Oh, hey - I completely forgot to ask you (this is sort of on-topic - it's related to my sump):

Is this the float switch that you've got for your auto water changer? If so, is the only way to attach it via a tube (PVC or otherwise) on the back like you had it in your setup, or could it be attached flush to the wall of my sump somehow? Thanks!

 

[rallysman]

Oh, hey - I completely forgot to ask you (this is sort of on-topic - it's related to my sump):

Is this the float switch that you've got for your auto water changer? If so, is the only way to attach it via a tube (PVC or otherwise) on the back like you had it in your setup, or could it be attached flush to the wall of my sump somehow? Thanks!

It's not exactly like the one that I'm using, but it's close. You could attach it to the side of your sump by using epoxy or by bolting it, but you may have to make a custom bracket.