can i use this for a sump?

[sir_dudeguy]

ok, so i know that lots of people prolly use these for sumps...but how do i go about doing the baffles on it? Ignore all the stuff in/around the rubbermaid...

here it is

[/IMG]

but how do i get around the indentations on the inside? how would the baffles go on that? I'm not putting a fuge in it..just a skimmer (css 65 more than likely) and i'll have a 600 gph overflow going into it, and then a pump rated to 600 gph for return, and after the head loss, it will be less than the overflow..

but what do i use for the baffles? can i just use acrylic? i'm assuming yes, but how do i get them on? (the grooves/indentation on the rubbermaid kinda messes it up doesnt it? what glue? would silicone work? i dont know if it does on plastics/acrylic or not...and what acrylic/glass to get? i was at home depot and they have some pre cut pieces...but they were pretty thin...i'm guessin maybe 1/8" thick.. would that be bad to use? the price was prolly right...and if i was to use glass, does any kind work?

the tub is pretty sturdy i think...but would i be better getting one thats got straight/flat sides?

thanks
mike

 

[boviac]

Good luck with baffles in something like that. They tend to bow out at varying widths depending upon depth and temperature. Good for a simple sump but if you want baffles you may want something else.

I like the way you think though.

Chris

 

[sandiegan]

If you want baffles, go find a cheap used glass tank. They're the easiest things to work with for baffles. Rubbermaids bow to much for them, but work great as simple sumps.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ya i know about the used tanks for sumps...i havent found anything tho...i asked around on the az boards, looked on craigslist (all those people wont sell their tanks apart from their "hermit crab/fish"...go figure lol)

so thats why i'm thinkin about using the rubbermaid. I really dont wanna pay much for a sump...i know that an lfs that sells 29 gal. sumps for 29 bucks..but that doesnt have the baffles or anything, or i'd go for that in a heartbeat...where if i'm gonna get a tank, i'd rather just buy a cheap rubbermaid...

are the baffles completely nessesary tho? i'm getting a 600 gph overflow from a local guy, and then i'm getting a via aqua 2300 (600 gph) for my return, and then i'll have a coralife superskimmer 65 in there too...so do i need the baffels? I know that they'd help w/the bubbles, but i also know that if you get the intake from the overflow to be at a 45 degree angle, that its sposed to minimize bubbles...(learned that from science class a couple years ago lol...see? i pay attention )

whad'you think?

mike

 

[sandiegan]

Baffles aren't necessary, but they will help with bubbles, especially if they come out of the skimmer, not just from the overflow. Also, take into account head pressure, as I doubt you'll actually be getting 600gph from the via aqua, if the gph matters that much to you. Easiest way to plumb it all, btw, is to use spaflex.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ah, fergot about the skimmer bubbles lol...hmm...

and yes, i know that it wont be 600 gph..which is what i want right? i want the return to be slightly less than the overflow...right?

and whats spaflex and where do i get it/how much is it? i'm guessing its just the flexible pvc type thing? and i could prolly get it at hd/lowes, or a pool store? i was thinking of using a tube of some sort...a flexible one i mean.

 

[Frostlimit]

Hey there.

I wanted a cheap sump and had the exit water coming from the skimmer going into a smaller tupperware box which I modified with filterfloss and dripplate and then a hole for exit water. Worked great. You can silicon different boxes into the sump if you want a freshwater resovoir or a fuge and just modify them

 

[Bill Z]

I use something like that. Instead of baffles, I found a smaller container that fit inside of the larger one. ie a tank inside of a tank....it works great.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

wow!! thanks for the ideas both of you. never even thought of that lol.

do either of you have pics of that?

frostlimit, would u just put the tupperware thing where the skimmer outlet is? and did you do this w/just a rubbermaid? i know i have extra rubbermaids here, but who knows...maybe i can get by w/just those? the skimmer is gonna be a css...would i just get like a rubbermaid thats about the size of a shoebox (just big enough for the skimmer) and put the skimmer in that? i'm thinkin maybe cut the side closest to the overflow outlet off, so that water can get in, and then it will just have to flow over the other end? i'll try to post a pic of what i'm thinking about later (need some sleep lol...i'm goin on 24 hours no sleep)

but i woudl basically just silicone a smaller rubbermaid into the big guy...and would the one baffle from that be enough do you think?

i'll post pics in the...later morning lol.

thanks for the ideas!
mike

 

[30mini]

I'm doing something similar, just not to such a big scale! I'm putting it all together tonight... I have two 3 gallon containers and I'm using. One for the sump, the other for the fuge. I'm not putting baffles in, I'm actaully going to put some Carbon and a sponge in there to catch any bubbles that occur. I have drilled the bottom of the one for the fuge to fit a bulkhead, and have a standpipe in there, and have my return pump set up with a tee to feed the fuge and having that standpipe go back down into the sump. I'll take pictures tonight and start a new thread!

 

[sir_dudeguy]

cool. People sure are creative here lol. would that be kind of a small sump tho? lol.

pictures woudl be great for all of these

 

[ERICN]

man go buy that 29gal for $29.00 got to lowes buy some glass the right size you can make your 3 Chambers have fuge,baffles, and you equipment in one nice package for like $40.oo sounds well worth it.

 

[30mini]

It's gonna be small, but it's only for a 20 gal tank with a mantis and zoa's. I'll take pictures, don't worry

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ya i was kinda thinkin i might, but i dont have 40 bucks lol.

i'm about to cut the smaller rubbermaids (if i have them lol...i think i do somewhere) and show you what i was thinking.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ok so here's what i was thinking of doing...just take out the side of the smaller rubbermaid...the side that i scribbled over w/paint really quick lol. I would just have the overflow outlet on the right, and then the skimmer right in the smaller rubbermaid, and then have the water flow over (or cut a slot so that it goes under???) the left side of the brown tub...then i woudl have the return pump on the left after the "rubbermaid baffle"

what'dyou think?

thanks
mike

 

[sir_dudeguy]

oops forgot the pic lol

[/IMG]

 

[sir_dudeguy]

anyone?

 

[DannyXL]

KInda hard to see, can you upload a bigger picture? Can't quite make it out. Just Kidding! Have no idea, I like the idea of the cheap fish tank and then getting some glass to place the baffles. Check your local newspaper for anyone gettinging rid of a tank.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ya i said above that theres no go on any cheap tanks that are used. i've checked every classified in the area and nothing lol. checked on my local forum as well.

i would also like to use a tank, but then again, i could care less what it looks like...just as long as it works u know?

lol ya i thougth you were serious at first lol....didnt really feal like takin the tme to resize it (i shot the pics w/my new camera and i dont really know how to adjust the stuff yet..) that is rather large tho haha...but deal w/it!! lol

 

[Cody Ray]

I think the simplest way to do this would be to just place the return pump into the tan container inside that is inside the blue sump. The water level would need to be a couple inches above the lip of the tan container. The sides of the tan container would act like a single baffle.