Build your own sump - best practice question?

[Theulli]

Hello!

Curious to know if anyone has an opinion on this. I am building my own sump with sheets of acryclic glued into a 29 gallon tank. It’s going to be super simple, essentially a mimic of sump designs I have seen and uses, but one dimension I am unsure of. Once the water goes over the first baffle, how much space should I leave between the second baffle and the bottom of the tank? I was thinking one inch, but was curious if there is a reason to make it more or less. As you can see in my super technical diagram, the acryclic dividers are 12’ and the tank itself is 18’. I want extra empty space in the sump for protection against pump failure/electrical outage, which is why I went with 12’.

thanks!

 

[Jekyl]

Add a bubble trap before the final chamber

 

[Theulli]

Add a bubble trap before the final chamber

Is that exclusively for catching fish that ended up in the sump?

 

[Jekyl]

Is that exclusively for catching fish that ended up in the sump?

Keeping bubbles from getting into the return pump I believe.

 

[homer1475]

Also be aware of your gluing acrylic to glass.....

Acrylic expands when exposed to water, unless you cut your baffles a little short, they will expand and break the glass tank. Seen it happen many times on posts here and on RC.

 

[WVNed]

Leave enough room under the baffles that you can clean in there or remove a snail.

 

[Theulli]

Also be aware of your gluing acrylic to glass.....

Acrylic expands when exposed to water, unless you cut your baffles a little short, they will expand and break the glass tank. Seen it happen many times on posts here and on RC.

How much are we talking here? 1/4 inch short?

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

How much are we talking here? 1/4 inch short?

0.3%.........you just don't want them tight.

as for your original question, it's really not important so long as it's enough that it doesn't cause suction from the flow thought. don't make it too low, but it's no biggie if it's a few inches off the bottom.

 

[Spieg]

I prefer glass or even Lexan (polycarbonate) to acrylic for baffles or lids. Acrylic just reacts to water in strange ways.