Is this silicon "reef safe"?

[ReefMagician]

Hi,

i am about to silicon the baffles for my sump. I read online that this silicon is reef safe, but just wanted to confirm. It will be holding 1/4 inch glass in a 55 gallon sump. The glass is will be holding are:

3x [8 inches high, 11 3/4 width]
1x [7 inches high, 11 3/4 width]

Thank you!

 

[SALTYwaterDOG]

Think that's the same as I used.you should be fine.

 

[ReefMagician]

Think that's the same as I used.you should be fine.

Thanks for the feedback. I have read as much but just wanted to confirm.

 

[homer1475]

All silicone, as long as it doesn't have mold inhibitors in it, is safe if you let it cure long enough.

With that said, I'm not sure why people will spend hundreds of dollars on livestock, but try to save 5$ on cheap silicone instead of just going to petco/petsmart/pet store of some kind, to buy actual silicone designed for fish tanks.

 

[ReefMagician]

Thanks for the feedback. This one is certainly 100% silicon.

Below is my sump design. I was wondering if you guys could give me feedback on it.

The Skimer is a 150SSS
The return pump is a eheim 1262.


With my design, I think it'll work seeing as 8 inches is the recommended height for my skimmer. My only concern is if I am leaving enough water for my return pump. I am using a 55 gallon as my sump. I was thinking of diving it up equally into 3 parts. The total length is 48 inches so that would be 16 inches per compartment. Which would hopefully leave me room to do things in the future.

PS: I'll probably add some filter socks pretty soon. I have everything ready, just wanted to confirm if this design will work or blow up in my face.

 

[mfaso24]

My personal advice would be to lose the bubble trap at the end. I was going to do the same design but opted out of the bubble traps per advice. The bubbles have plenty of time to dissipate before the return

 

[ReefMagician]

My personal advice would be to lose the bubble trap at the end. I was going to do the same design but opted out of the bubble traps per advice. The bubbles have plenty of time to dissipate before the return

I guess since its so long, I don't need the bubble trap. Should the final baffle (before the return pump) be 7 inches, or 8 inches then?

 

[homer1475]

I would loose the bubble trap and do just an over under baffle. The first over baffle height will dictate the water level in the fuge.

 

[ReefMagician]

I would loose the bubble trap and do just an over under baffle. The first over baffle height will dictate the water level in the fuge.

So like this correct?




Also, what height would you recommend for the refugium? 7 or 8? I was thinking 8 to keep the water the same as in the skimmer compartment, so keep the sump's baffle height to all 8s. This way I can fit my Eheim Jager's in there without issue (they are super long)

 

[boojumsnark25]

I've used that exact brand before, you're fine

 

[homer1475]

I personally would go at least 1 to 2 inches shorter then the skimmer baffle. That way the water has room to fall from the skimmer section and break the surface tension. I set my skimmer baffle at 10 inches and set my skimmer on a platform, that way I could keep my fuge section at 7 inches. Not sure what the dimension of the tank your using is, but mine worked out that way and what I found was best when researching for building my sump.

I don't think I've ever seen one setup where all three sections were the same level.

 

[ReefMagician]

I personally would go at least 1 to 2 inches shorter then the skimmer baffle. That way the water has room to fall from the skimmer section and break the surface tension. I set my skimmer baffle at 10 inches and set my skimmer on a platform, that way I could keep my fuge section at 7 inches. Not sure what the dimension of the tank your using is, but mine worked out that way and what I found was best when researching for building my sump.

I don't think I've ever seen one setup where all three sections were the same level.

Thanks! I ended up doing just that.