Sump material question?

[davidgnome]

For a 40 breeder sump first what type of glass do I use for making dividers? Plexi glass from hardware store? Also for my design my return comes down on the left side into filter socks and skimmer section, then through the baffles i will be adding. Since i can only fit a 10 gallon refugium is it worth adding if I grow algae in that by itself and use my center portion of the 40 breeder for additional live rock for pods. Being that I will have a wrasse population. Would this be ok to split the benifits of a refugium into two seperate areas and will it still be of value?

 

[davidgnome]

So something like this picture attached. Skimmer on left, return in middle, refugium would be 1/3 of sump or 1/2 on right. Leave off ten gallon addition? Or add that.

 

[sleepydoc]

You can either use cast acrylic or glass. I would recommend using glass. Acrylic expands in water and there have been several reports of sump failures caused by baffles expanding and putting strain on the glass.

If you use acrylic, allow 1/16" ~ 1/8" on either end for expansion space, and try not to fill up the gap with silicone. Also realize that silicone will not bond long term to acrylic. The beads you put down will hold to the glass and essentially wedge the baffles in place, which is generally fine for a sump.

Whichever you end up using I would use ¼" stock. thinner glass stock is more prone to breaking, and the thinner plexiglass bows too much. You'll likely have to go someplace other than a hardware store or home Depot, though; they usually don't carry the thicker stock.

 

[crocogator106]

I used 1/4" glass for baffles. I got them from a local glass shop, 3 pieces for $20. FWIW I just used 2 baffles for the bubble trap which will give you about 1"-1 1/2" to use in another area. I've got a 29g sump. My 3 pieces were all 11 5/8 x 10, 9, and 15. I tried the plexiglass, it didn't work and looked like crap!

 

[davidgnome]

Thanks guys! Yup I believe I'll go with glass then.