40 gallon breeder sump

[mandi29221]

I'm trying to use a 40gal breeder tank as a sump
Can I remove the black bracing. Or keep it on. Second any pictures of breeder sumps I can refer to as ideas for mine.

 

[Brad Miller]

On a 40B, it should just be the outer rim black plastic.
If you were to remove it, the glass would be a rough cut under it and not a polished finished surface.
Depending on the tank, removing it would cause a bit of flex on the long sides too.
If using for a sump, it may not flex too much if not filled up all the way.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I haven't removed the whole top plastic frame, but I have cut the middle support that goes front to back.

As far as design (baffle location) it all depends on what you want to put in there and your drain configuration. I have a DIY sump that was sold to me as a 40B, but later found out the store actually sold me a 50B (same foot print, just slightly taller). I also have two, 1 1/2 inch drains that each come into the sump in the rear corners of the sump. It's set up, from left to right as: Filter sock/skimmer section / Return section / Refugium.

Here are a couple pics when it was being built:

And here's a pic when I also was running a biopellet reactor in the middle section....that has since been removed.

 

[X-37B]

Keep the top trim on its for support. I run no baffles on mine.