Building a sump/refugium

[Psiber_Syn]

was wondering how to bond acrylic to glass i read some where acrylic and silicon dont mix do you have to glue it to the glass of the 30 gal or what any info would be greatly appreciated

 

[jsker]

read this guys post and ask question there https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/acrylic-fabrication-q-a.224773/

 

[Psiber_Syn]

will do jsker thanx alot

 

[Psiber_Syn]

Im about to start building my sump/refug gonna baffle it off but dont know where or how high etc to put them how do you go about setting this up properly?

 

[Psiber_Syn]

30 gal tank baffles are 11 1/4 wide and 3 of them 13 inches tall other one 12 inches tall how much room does the return pump need also u can see how high the skimmer pipe is that sets the water level in the skimmer at about half the inside of the cup

Any advice criticism or questions?

 

[blackdogal73]

I would use the skimmer recommended water depth to set my baffle height.

I made one once and didn't realize I could "flood" my skimmer with having the water to deep and causing the skimmer to overflow.

If you are trying to maximize the volume in your sump, and have the height available in the stand, you can set the skimmer on a stand.

And don't forget to account for the water that will be in the sump once the return pump is off.

 

[rayn]

Skimmer water height is a good starting point. Remember you can always raise the skimmer in the sump, but not lower it. As a general rule I use a 2*4 as a spacing on the bottom to raise the middle baffle up.

 

[ReeferBob]

That is too small for 3 compartments, lose one and go with two. You should not use acrylic with glass. 100% chance you will eventually leak between compartments and a smaller chance you will crack the glass when the acrylic swells. Leaking between compartments is not a huge deal accept most disaster plans bank that the amount of water that will be pumped up to the display tank in the event of drain failure is limited based on how much water is in the return chamber. Once (not if) your acrylic baffles start to leak, you will lose this safety. Your return should have enough water to fit your return pump with maybe 1/2" to and inch on each side. Depth of your main section is dependent on your skimmer. At least as deep as the skimmer requires. You can always prop the skimmer up on a platform though. Contact a local glass shop and have proper baffles made.

 

[rayn]

That is too small for 3 compartments, lose one and go with two. You should not use acrylic with glass. 100% chance you will eventually leak between compartments and a smaller chance you will crack the glass when the acrylic swells. Leaking between compartments is not a huge deal accept most disaster plans bank that the amount of water that will be pumped up to the display tank in the event of drain failure is limited based on how much water is in the return chamber. Once (not if) your acrylic baffles start to leak, you will lose this safety. Your return should have enough water to fit your return pump with maybe 1/2" to and inch on each side. Depth of your main section is dependent on your skimmer. At least as deep as the skimmer requires. You can always prop the skimmer up on a platform though. Contact a local glass shop and have proper baffles made.

I disagree on the acrylic baffles leaking. I have built numerous that didn't leak. Caulk correctly they work. Never had one break the glass either, IF cut correcty and not tight.

 

[ReeferBob]

I disagree on the acrylic baffles leaking. I have built numerous that didn't leak YET. Caulk correctly they work. Never had one break the glass either, IF cut correcty and not tight.

Fix it for you! Seriously, silicone does not stick permanently to acrylic. Hence, they will never maintain a permanent bond. They may look good, and they may not leak yet, but they eventually will. This is physics. For a sump, it really only effects the return water compartment in that when the seal breaks, you will pump up more water than you planned for if your DT drain should fail. This is the only real downside.