New System Update:

K

Katmanblue

New member
First, thanks to all for the valuable input in my previous post. Just to update, I have decided to go with the 90 gallon reef ready (drilled) tank. I did take a good hard look at the 120, but the ones available to me had the overflows (2) in the center of the tank. So my decision was based on the additional $$ and pure aesthetics of the corner overflow.

I did get what I believe to be a fairly good price--tank, stand, canopy and plumbing kit for $550. Then the salesperson started to get fairly aggressive trying to push the $300+ wet/dry and the metal halides. Luckily I had already ordered my t5s and I plan on a simple 29g under stand sump. But I don't blame him for trying :)

I'm sure I'll have MANY questions when I actually begin to set up the plumbing, but for now my first question is:
are baffles an absolute must in the sump?

I'm not about to start cutting and sanding glass or acrylic and I'd prefer not to shell out additional $ for a pre-made set up when a 29g tank will cost under $50.

Thanks again. I still cant believe I went with a drilled tank, but then again I didnt think that computer fad would last either :mixed:
 
A sump has baffles... period. lol

Get the 29g, get the 6 pieces cut at the glass shop (get the tops rounded too... don't need the extra red protien in your tank)... and silicone them in. easy peasy.



... wet/dry... :rolleyes:
 
well I think I've found someone who's fairly confident he can make a sump based on the above unit for sale on ebay...plans are moving along unless someone can spot a major design flaw...
 
Yeah, I did look through his site earlier today. Honestly some of his more basic models dont look too far off the one I picked. But man you could spend as much on a sump as the whole tank/stand....geeze...
 
Jet--BRILLIANT! Wow.
It's so funny how at the end of the day there are infinite variations on the "standard ideas". Everyone does what works best for them.
One of the pics on page 2 of that thread has a small tub within a larger tub. The skimmer is in the small tub and there is a horizontal cut-out to allow the water to flow down into the larger tub--thereby addressing the bubbles issue.
If I can find the right size rubber maid tub to sit in a 29 gal tank, bing bang bong, it's done. Maybe some eggcrate separators if I want to add macro...
Thanks for the thread!!
 
No problem.
I used a similar setup using Rubbermaids before.
Good luck and post pics when you are done :)
 
sumps don't have to have baffles. I ran a 20g sump and a now have a 40g sump without baffles no problems on my end.
 
In the 40g sump I have almost 4' between the the pump and where the overflow enters the sumo. I have a very slow flow through my sump, I think it is around 650gph. I also run a filter sock that get changed as needed.
 
Low flow through the sump can do amazing things. I have a single baffle right before the return pump, and have no issues with bubbles. I'm only running ~110 gph through a half-filled 15 gallon sump.

External skimmer dumping into it at the far end, chaeto in the middle, a baffle, the return pump. Very basic, very stable.

You can get the glass cut, or you can make your own baffle easily enough too. I bought my glass at Home Depot. Two thin sheets sandwiched together with silicone in the middle. They're thin enough to snap-cut no problem, but siliconed together they're strong enough to not visibly flex with a 10" water height differential.



Edit: I should clarify, I have 110 gph returning back up to the tank through the pump, but I also have powerheads and media reactors in the sump to keep detritus from settling etc.
 
It's very low. My return is also directly feeding my skimmer, so 100% is skimmed before going to the sump. It works for me. I get all my in-tank circulation from other means, my return is simply for filtration.
 
I don't understand your opposition to baffles. You're looking at $15 worth of acrylic that can be cut with a razor blade and a straight edge, there is nothing complicated about it.
 
I dont have an opposition to baffles per se, its an opposition to having to find a glass cutter, paying for the cuts/rounding then gluing them hoping they will hold, etc etc. But in talking to a friend last night and reading more posts, the baffles dont have to be glass necessarily so there are other options there. And I'm still considering the rubbermaid tub inside the glass tank option based purely on convenience even though I'd still have to make some cuts in it.
 
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