Building a sump?

[dadyoj21]

I am going to build a sump for my 90. I have a 29 gal tank, a G-3 skimmer and was wondering about baffle materials and where to get them. I know acrylic and glass can be used, but what about other plastics? Also can you pick up silicone sealant from lowes or do you need aquarium silicone.

also ideas for sump design, I would like a refugium but with a 30 x 12 footprint and a G-3 skimmer, not very much room.

all thoughts and ideas would be appreciated, I know we have some people with experience in this matter, and I would like something better than a plastic tote with a 5 gallon bucket in it (like my 120 sump)

 

[manderx]

there's other stuff you can use (sheet pvc, starboard), but acrylic/glass are the easiest to come by. if you do use anything other than glass, be aware that some materials (like acrylic) can expand just a little as the absorb water, so don't cut the baffles so they are too snug since they can pop the glass as they swell.

if you want acrylic, lemme know what sizes you need. i might have some in my junk pile.

you used to be able to use one of the flavors of 'windows and doors' (since kitchen/baths has mold inhibitor in it), but i read a random and totally unconfirmed post a while ago how the formulation was maybe changing to be more paintable or uv resistant or something so it might not be reef safe anymore (but it's probably fine). so just to be safe and lazy, i've been using stuff marked for aquariums. you can get a small tube of aquarium silicone from most hardware stores, but it probably won't be enough for a baffle or two.

dunno if the in-store price is anywhere close, but:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754549
it's really not much more than the GE or DOW stuff, so why not just to have one less thing to worry about.

 

[ade]

I would just do a filter sock and not bother with baffles. The only reason for baffles imo would be if you are doing a fuge and like you stated a 29 with a G3 would not allow you to do that.

 

[Virginia Reef]

Jorge,

Beware silicone sealants not intended for aquarium use. I believe that some of them may have antifungal components. I did this before and used sheet acrylic from Lowes. Also, Commercial Glass on Lakeside should have some scrap acrylic as well as AMG Plastics (I think that they are located next to Candlers Station).

Matt was using a plastic tote of some description as a sump and was fighting algae problems for quite a while. He finally eliminated the tote and the problem disappeared. I guess that not all plastic is created equal.

 

[vetdog]

Matt and I built a sump which is working out very well.....here are some pics for ideas....
<a href="http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/?action=view&current=Sump1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/Sump1.jpg" border="0" alt="Sump (Front)"></a>

<a href="http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/?action=view&current=Sump2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/Sump2.jpg" border="0" alt="Sump (Left and Front)"></a>

<a href="http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/?action=view&current=Sump4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/Sump4.jpg" border="0" alt="Sump (Front Right Corner)"></a>

<a href="http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/?action=view&current=Sump5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/Sump5.jpg" border="0" alt="Sump (Bird's Eye)"></a>

<a href="http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/?action=view&current=Sump6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/jstot13/Tank/Sump/Sump6.jpg" border="0" alt="Sump (Sock View)"></a>

 

[dadyoj21]

Nice work on that sump guys and with that skimmer I know it is larger than it looks

 

[ade]

That's what she said.