Sump questions.....

[Captain Nemo]

So I am in the build stages for my new tank, and I am trying to decide about the sump. My question is this, should I buy a used glass tank and add acrylic baffles to it, with the acrylic I can buy at lowes or home depot.... OR.... Buy some acrylic and build my own acrylic sump? I have about 4 feet I can play with under the tank but only 16" width.... So thoughts and suggestions? I have to be able to fit my Hurricone Cat 1 skimmer into this sump. Its got a 14x14 footprint. If I do glass, I am thinking a 30 or 38 gallong tank would be fine.... Anyways, all opinions are appreciated and welcomed. Thanks in advance guys!!!!:high5:

 

[Mike in CT]

I think a lot has to do with how much time you want to spend on it. I used a 29g from petco for 29 bucks. Had some baffles made from 1/4 glass from a local glass shop.... I think maybe 40 bucks for 3 baffles (glass and cutting included...nice thick glass that won't bow, nice bevels on the glass and silicone sticks better then acrylic). It fit well under my 75. I did put a riser under my stock stand to give me more height for my skimmer. Making your own from acrylic might take longer, but then again you will learn a lot too.

 

[Reefing Madness]

All your call. With either your customizing it anyway so it really doesn't matter. Time and $$

 

[Captain Nemo]

Thanks for the responses guys!!

 

[Reefer_lou]

Why don't you want a pre-made one? i'm getting a trigger systems on my next tank i've heard they're really good!

 

[beaslbob]

So I am in the build stages for my new tank, and I am trying to decide about the sump. My question is this, should I buy a used glass tank and add acrylic baffles to it, with the acrylic I can buy at lowes or home depot.... OR.... Buy some acrylic and build my own acrylic sump? I have about 4 feet I can play with under the tank but only 16" width.... So thoughts and suggestions? I have to be able to fit my Hurricone Cat 1 skimmer into this sump. Its got a 14x14 footprint. If I do glass, I am thinking a 30 or 38 gallong tank would be fine.... Anyways, all opinions are appreciated and welcomed. Thanks in advance guys!!!!:high5:

I would just use storage containers from wall mart. On one tank I crammed in one with the long dimension for/aft. the aft stuck out the back so the drain was a straight shot down.


my .02

 

[Captain Nemo]

Nothing against pre made, just trying to save some $$

 

[robbrouse]

Acrylic will bow, warp or what every you want to call it, but I have used it and if you add enough silicone it will hold it.. Might not be 100% leak proof, but will work.. If you can swing the price of glass it will be a better hold... I love some of the pre-made sumps, but I bough scrapes of acrylic for $2.00 a pond and built mine for around $30, it's 20 gallon sump.

 

[Captain Nemo]

Ok... Didn't realize it would bow... Glass it is! Thanks for the info.

 

[Captain Nemo]

And no leaking.... Ruined my last stand and floor with a leak in the sump I didn't know I had....

 

[robbrouse]

If you build the who thing out of Acrylic you will be fine and only the baffles will leak not the sump.

 

[creefer]

If it were me, I'd do the petco thing on a $1/gal sale, or I'd buy a used tank, go to a local glass shop and have 1/4" glass cut and put the baffles in myself. I did mine with the $1/gal petco sale and if I were to do it again, I'd do the same but configure the sump differently. Very easy to work with the glass, too.

 

[Reefing Madness]

The thing with making your own sump, is that you can actually make it as wide as your able to fit, and as low as you want. Most don't want them that high, as it makes it tough to get in and do maintenance.

 

[mcarroll]

Why not skip the baffles altogether as I have? Keeps you from being locked in to one sump level and makes by far the most flexible space for your gear.

$0.02 again!

-Matt

 

[427HISS]

There is a mired,....of cheap DIY sump builds here and on youtube. Do a sump search and you'll find many you'd like. As stated above, Glass is always preferred. A good thing with a acrylic sump is that their easy,.... to drill for bulkheads.

 

[greengeco82]

Just an idea that I am going to do.... Use black acrylic for the baffles that way light from your refugium (assuming you have one) wont cause coraline algae to grow on the inside of your skimmer.

 

[KoleTang]

I would go glass tank with glass baffles (acrylic will bow at the thickness they sell at home depot, etc.)

Sumps don't need to be pretty, just functional and easy to access.

BTW, don't go without baffles if you have a herbie drain. The changing water level when adjusting or shutting of the return will mess with the drain.

 

[Lokii_37]

I found a used acrylic 50g hand had acrylic baffles cut at TAP plastics for about $20. TAP will has acrylic of all thicknesses and they will make straight cuts for free. I siliconed them in places so my skimmer will always be in the same amount of water and it has all been running well like that.