My Refugium

[trigger]

I would like to thank AJ & Fishlips for all their help!
I had some questions to be answered about constructing a refugium. It took me a few trys as you will see from the pictures.
My first attempt to bond acrylic fustrated me enough to construct a refugium out of a recycle box (no I'm not kidding). It cost me $8.00 & I put 4 drilled faucet covers ($4.00 each)in the side to drain back to the tank. A egg fit perfectly in the top & it already had a built in support rim as part of its construction. On top I placed a PVC condit housing containing a compact floresent to feed as a light source. It works effectively. Believe it or not it cost about $40.00 including the light.

:poke: :thanks: Trigger

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Recycle Refugium 1
Showing recycle box & PVC lighting in action!

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Refuge Recycle 2

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I have now constructed 3 new (hang on the back) refugiums from acrylic. Found the right bonding solvent cement! Vola!

Trigger :victory:

Thanks Guys :cheers2:

New refugium 2

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New refugium 2

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Cheap lighting 1
No its not Cool Touch Lighting, their much better!
It's waterproof too!

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Cheap light 2

Showing compact floresent & pig tail socket installed, shrink tubing & wiring. Socket fits PVC plug exactly! No mess or fuss!

:thanks: Trigger

[Hark]

very cool....good work.

Keep up the DIY, you are doing some great work and at a fraction of the cost....

Hark

[thezookeeper]

Kewl, where did you get the lamp cover

[trigger]

It's an electrical grey PVC box & can be found at Home Depot or Revy.
Look for the 2" LB size with a cover retails for $10.00.
Trigger :poke:

[awcrimety]

Hey Trigger,

I'm just starting to put a plan together to build one of these myself. I don't suppose you could send me any plans of yours, or some tips and suggestions? Which bonding cement did you use? I was just going to use aquarium silicone,...will that work?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Logan

[trigger]

Hi Logan, I have tried everything & forget the silicone it won't work. The 2 things that worked for me were weldbold3 or Methylene Chloride! They physicaly melt the plastic together (no worries mate!). I still have some Methylene Chloride left if your interested for $15.00 there is about 3/4 of a can left. Your welcome to come & have a look at the refugiums. I'm in Mississauga area.

Trigger:blob:

[Cellenzweig]

I'm just starting to put a plan together to build one of these myself. I don't suppose you could send me any plans of yours, or some tips and suggestions? Which bonding cement did you use? I was just going to use aquarium silicone,...will that work?

Hello,

Silicone does not bond the acrylic. You have to use a solvent that actually fuses the plastic. It isn't difficult to do, but it does take some practice. (To do a nice job with clean edges and no air bubbles) My advice is to call a sign shop (or other business that regularly works with acrylic) and ask what they suggest. There are many common solvents that will work. They may even give you some advice on the bonding process.

The best way to apply the solvent is with a syringe, allowing the solvent to flow along the seam.

Some products that will work:

Weldon 3
Methylene Chloride
Chloroform
Dichloromethane


Good luck!

[TJ_Burton]

Hey trigger... what would it take to convince you to make me an acrylic Bio Ball chamber to go ontop of a ten gallon sump?

Or just the whole sump ;)
I will pay! lol
http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=30975

[awcrimety]

Thanks for the advice!!! I will look into those products, and I might take you up on your offer Trigger! Thanks again

[trigger]

TJ, I have no problem making a container for your Bio Balls! lol.
What size are we looking at? The solvent you can use weldbold3 or Methylene Chloride! With 1/4" acrylic! Both fuse the acrylic together. Super strong if you have faith in plastics! It took me ages to figure this out Home Depot couldn't help & just kept giving me the wrong bonding cement! (part timers!) I should have known. Eventually I contacted a plastics distributer & they set me straight. The truth is that every acrylic has a designed load & the material used to bond these has an impact on its strength IE:Silicone bonds but doesn't hold the pressure that is needed to retain the weight of the water. I was lucky to resolve my quest.I figured out that there must be a better way & there was. I just needed to resolve what the manufactures were using to bond like CPR & their refugiums etc.

Trigger


Trigger:jumpin:

[kadaytar]

Trigger,
Could you post a close up pic of your new acrylic refugium showing how you attached the hangers on refugium and what type of pump and plumbing you used. I think the hangers must be strong enough to carry the weight so they must be attached very strongly.

Kadir