Sump, fuge, return line, skimmer :)

[BullSnapper]

Overflow boxes: I personally don't like them because they pull water over the edge of your tank. Once it's outside of you tank it is a lot easier to get on the floor.

I do know they have a purpose and a place. I just try to steer people in the direction of drilling.

With that said. You would want to get one that is able to handle the amount of water your return will push and then some just to be safe. So if you go the mag 5 route. You would want to get one the would handle 650-700 gph. It looks like the 800 would be a really safe bet. So that's $53. I don't think you could drill it (unless someone has all the tools and does it for free) for that price. Bulkheads will cost about $10 each x3.

In your first sentence, What do you mean?

Why would I need to drill the overflow box?

 

[BullSnapper]

I have a sump and skimmer. I an currently adding a fuge as well

Did you make it yourself? Cheap route or those 300$ ones loll

 

[BullSnapper]

Now for skimmer. Let's say you go with the 40 and 20 combo. You will probably have 40 gallons of water once it's all said and done. I always like to go +1 in the skimmer department. So find a brand you like and that has good reviews. Rev just started a thread about the best skimmer manufactures. That would be the perfect place to look . Find the skimmer they have rated for your tank size (40 gal) and go plus one. I would try to end up with a skimmer rated for 75-125 gallons.

I have 150 gallons of water and my skimmer is rated for 250 gallons.

Doing this may cost a little more than you want but I promise you will never regret getting the better skimmer.

Is better skimmer good for keeping fish healthy or just for SPS corals etc?

Ps: all this is enough for sps corals outside of lights correct?

 

[Loki]

I read someone did it at lowes...do they have glass there that they can cut? Any specific type of glass I need?

Silicone is for attaching the baffles (that the glass dividers we create?)...and in the future I can tear it out or it's stuck as a sump forever?

I know lowes has glass but I do not know anything about the quality of it. The glass I got was 1/4" thick. I wouldn't recommend going any thinner because it has a higher chance of breaking.

There isn't any special type of glass. Once it's cut my people asked if I wanted it tempered. I didn't want to pay for that so I passed.

The silicone is for attaching the glass baffles to the tank. You can remove it at any time with a razor blade. Just be careful not to break the glass or cut yourself.

 

[Loki]

In your first sentence, What do you mean?

Why would I need to drill the overflow box?

An overflow works by creating a siphon that pulls water from your display over the edge of the tank into a box. The box drains through a tube into your sump. Since it's working by a syphon and instead of gravity it has a greater potential to overflow your sump and potentially get water on your floor.

You wouldn't drill for an overflow. I was just showing the cost difference between it and drilling.

 

[Loki]

Is better skimmer good for keeping fish healthy or just for SPS corals etc?

Ps: all this is enough for sps corals outside of lights correct?

It would be both. It makes water quality much better for all inhabitants.

Yes. It's much better to have a sump for SPS. It increases your water volume and gives you more room for equipment.

 

[BullSnapper]

quick question because I am about to call lowes to find out about the glass situation, what do you mean by they asked to temper it?

BTW thanks for all the help man !

I also read some DIY and they said use acrylic or something? maybe i have something confused.

 

[Cooper32803]

Thank you for this thread. I am a newbie and still considering things such as this for a bigger tank I am thinking about. Lots of great information and explainations here!

 

[Loki]

quick question because I am about to call lowes to find out about the glass situation, what do you mean by they asked to temper it?

BTW thanks for all the help man !

I also read some DIY and they said use acrylic or something? maybe i have something confused.

Temper refers to a process that makes the glass stronger. It also makes it unable to be drilled. From my understanding they heat it up and it makes it stronger. When they do this it also will shatter into smaller pieces (like a car door window) instead of big sheets (like a house window).

I wouldnt use acrylic because it has a tendency to expacd and contract with temperature. I don't think it would in a tanks water that it almost always mid 70's, but you get the idea. If it expands it could put pressure on the glass and break it.

No problem. That's why we have forums . Ask any questions. I'm sure with all the members here we can get it answered

 

[BullSnapper]

I just called lowes they have 2.5 mm thick glass for 3 pieces of 8x11 it'll cost $7 ... I need 3 correct? Also, I think that is too thin no?

 

[BullSnapper]

An overflow works by creating a siphon that pulls water from your display over the edge of the tank into a box. The box drains through a tube into your sump. Since it's working by a syphon and instead of gravity it has a greater potential to overflow your sump and potentially get water on your floor.

You wouldn't drill for an overflow. I was just showing the cost difference between it and drilling.

I called my LFS they said acrlyc only, and they won't advise on glass because its easy to break. I think I may skip this step and go overflow loll...sounds scary.

 

[Loki]

I just called lowes they have 2.5 mm thick glass for 3 pieces of 8x11 it'll cost $7 ... I need 3 correct? Also, I think that is too thin no?

Yes. That, in my opinion, is to thin. 2.5mm is 1/10". I would use 1/4" or 6.35mm. Look in your phone book or online for a local glass shop.

Also wait until you have decided what skimmer you get to cut the glass. Some skimmers require a certain water level height.

For skimmers there are two different options. You have an in sump skimmer(one that sits in the water) and a HOB skimmer (hang on back).

In most cases in sump skimmers are the better route to go. See if you have a local forum that may have one for sale. Used equipment can be a great way to save money. Also check craigslist. If you see an add and don't understand anything post it here and we can let you know what you think.

People on craigslist will often say that things are " good for coral" when that isn't the case.

 

[Loki]

I called my LFS they said acrlyc only, and they won't advise on glass because its easy to break. I think I may skip this step and go overflow loll...sounds scary.

They said to use an acrylic sump or acrylic baffles?

I think an overflow would be the easiest way to go for you.

If you get thicker glass it is durable. I agree acrylic is harder over all. After all it isn't glass

 

[Loki]

For the stages of you dump I would recommend a fuge area first (where the water comes into from the overflow) one piece of glass. Then I would put your skimmer in the middle chamber with a bubble trap (see below). Then your return pump area.

In your return pump area it needs to be a decent size because all of the evaporation from your tank will show up in this area. It will basically be the only part of your tank that has a fluctuating water level.

Bubble trap: bubble traps are designed to stop harmful micro bubbles making it back into your display. Your skimmer will mix water with very fine bubbles that could harm fish (from what I hear). A bubble trap is three separate pieces of glass that are placed in such a way to make it very difficult for bubbles to go through.

It forces water to flow under a baffle that bubbles can't go through simply because they float.

This is a very rough drawing of what I am talking about.

 

[Mike171]

Newbie to newbie advice: I built my sump/Fuge (30 gallon) and it looked great... But I killed everything in my tank because I used GE Silicone II. Research everything you do multiple times. And in doing that I learned the baffles are removable but it sucks.... I ended up just going back to my old two chamber 10g for now.

 

[Pappy]

For the stages of you dump I would recommend a fuge area first (where the water comes into from the overflow) one piece of glass. Then I would put your skimmer in the middle chamber with a bubble trap (see below). Then your return pump area.

In your return pump area it needs to be a decent size because all of the evaporation from your tank will show up in this area. It will basically be the only part of your tank that has a fluctuating water level.

Bubble trap: bubble traps are designed to stop harmful micro bubbles making it back into your display. Your skimmer will mix water with very fine bubbles that could harm fish (from what I hear). A bubble trap is three separate pieces of glass that are placed in such a way to make it very difficult for bubbles to go through.

It forces water to flow under a baffle that bubbles can't go through simply because they float.

This is a very rough drawing of what I am talking about.

I heard it was bad to skim after fuge because it could skim the pods and what not..is that not true?

 

[BullSnapper]

I called a few places for a quote on a 8x11 glass a quarter inch thick they said around $7a Piece..they asked if I need it polished?

Also, do I need to drill holes in any of them?

 

[Loki]

I heard it was bad to skim after fuge because it could skim the pods and what not..is that not true?

Oops. Yes change those out. Lack of sleep and a real quick drawing. Sorry. Skimmer first (bubble trap), then fuge (one baffle) then return

 

[Loki]

I called a few places for a quote on a 8x11 glass a quarter inch thick they said around $7a Piece..they asked if I need it polished?

Also, do I need to drill holes in any of them?

If polishing is free have at it, but I don't know to be honest with you.

No holes. They need to be solid pieces to force water to go over them.

 

[Loki]

Newbie to newbie advice: I built my sump/Fuge (30 gallon) and it looked great... But I killed everything in my tank because I used GE Silicone II. Research everything you do multiple times. And in doing that I learned the baffles are removable but it sucks.... I ended up just going back to my old two chamber 10g for now.

I was told to avoid GE II because it has a mildew inhibitor. I was told that it could wipe out a tank. I used GE I and it has done no harm to my tank.

Side note. The silicone comes in different colors. The color doesn't matter, but get the clear. It will look strange to have white caulk around baffles. I know because my friend refused to get the clear