Sump tank build thread

[sponger0]

Lol...yeah only one way to find out is to make it and test it, which i am going to test my sump out this weekend or next and make sure it all works well.

Well make the acrylic as tight as you can and the silicone will act as a sealant to prevent water from leaking though the baffles. Measure and cut the baffles to size. Use the silicone to hold it in place and create a seal. Do one at a time on each set and let it dry. I waited an hour for each and then did another.

And Ill take that beer!! lol

 

[Mr.Tan]

....

 

[Mr.Tan]

Lol...yeah only one way to find out is to make it and test it, which i am going to test my sump out this weekend or next and make sure it all works well.

Well make the acrylic as tight as you can and the silicone will act as a sealant to prevent water from leaking though the baffles. Measure and cut the baffles to size. Use the silicone to hold it in place and create a seal. Do one at a time on each set and let it dry. I waited an hour for each and then did another. is 1 inch between each baffle to much space?

And Ill take that beer!! lol

Yeah i kind of figured that was what I would have to do, want to get it tested before i install it and then have a huge overflow and flood my basement, my mom would probably kill me hahaha.


Alright i'll do that. I'm sure i'll have more questions as I go along, since i constantly ask because i always want to know more and more haha. But i'll give it a whirl and see what I come up with and then report back. Aquarium safe silicone can be picked up from home depot hopefully?

haha you got it! :beer:

 

[Mr.Tan]

oh and I have to ask...about how much $$$ did your piece of acrylic cost? and how big of a piece did you buy? im looking on there website and it looks extremely expensive.... I found some lexan, but i dont know if that will work?

 

[sponger0]

Make sure the silicone is 100% silicone or go to your local fish store and get aquarium sealant. I got my sealant from Home depot but it was pretty hard to squeeze out but made me feel better using it.

I got an acrylic sheet that was 2' x 4'. Cost $50

Lexan could work but i would go with at least 1/4 inch thick. Acrylic is alot stronger and harder

 

[demonnite57]

+1 on the adivce from sponger0. Especially with the Acrylic over Lexan....I bought the Lexan for my first sump and it didn't last very long. Be careful as well when you're placing the baffles. The baffles can cut into the silicone at the bottom of the tank and if you don't notice you might have a leak. My first sump was a disaster, it only lasted maybe a week before it basically exploded due to my poor construction. Baffles were too wide and pushing too much against the edges of the tank which caused them to crack the sides of the tank.

 

[Mr.Tan]

Make sure the silicone is 100% silicone or go to your local fish store and get aquarium sealant. I got my sealant from Home depot but it was pretty hard to squeeze out but made me feel better using it.

I got an acrylic sheet that was 2' x 4'. Cost $50

Lexan could work but i would go with at least 1/4 inch thick. Acrylic is alot stronger and harder

100% silicone, alright.. i'll make sure of that when I go to home depot. I'll check petco, although i know they wont have it probably.. and i don't want to drive over the that fish place again even though its only 15 minutes, i always want to spend money when i go in i need to pace myself on the trips i take haha.

Oh word, thats not TO bad, but im going to see what i can find and if they'll give me a good deal on something haha.

I'l lstick with the arcylic, don't want to take the risk of having something fail.

+1 on the adivce from sponger0. Especially with the Acrylic over Lexan....I bought the Lexan for my first sump and it didn't last very long. Be careful as well when you're placing the baffles. The baffles can cut into the silicone at the bottom of the tank and if you don't notice you might have a leak. My first sump was a disaster, it only lasted maybe a week before it basically exploded due to my poor construction. Baffles were too wide and pushing too much against the edges of the tank which caused them to crack the sides of the tank.

Oh wow, yeah i don't want that to happen! I'd rather spend the little bit more on some acrylic and not worry about it breaking or something in the future.. I will take extra care of be careful when I am placing the baffles. I'll most likely smooth the edges down with my dremmel so that nothing is to sharp and could potentially cause a leak.

thanks for the input on that, i don't need anything failing since my mom is allowing me to drill the wall and do a basement sump haha

 

[peppie]

I dont like to be a bubble buster. But a check valve is not a real good idea. I have read many thread were they have failed do to the crud build up in the unit. Most state that it must be activated often(possibly every other day) to be clean enough to function properly. If you do a search for check valve here at RC it will be an eye opening read.

 

[demonnite57]

I personally don't use check valves. I tried it in the first sump... didn't work too well. I just use ball valves.

 

[Mr.Tan]

I dont like to be a bubble buster. But a check valve is not a real good idea. I have read many thread were they have failed do to the crud build up in the unit. Most state that it must be activated often(possibly every other day) to be clean enough to function properly. If you do a search for check valve here at RC it will be an eye opening read.

not busting any bubbles at all! i'm glad that you stepped up and said something, thats why i made this thread so people could lend experience and knowledge on things to prevent me from doing wrong :thumbsup:

i think i might have used the wrong word.. one way valve? i mean maybe put that on the return pipe so water can pass through but not come back in incase of power failure?


I'll look in to ball valves though for sure regardless if i want to shut off water flow when i would be doing any maintanence

 

[demonnite57]

a one way valve is a check valve. Usually they work through pressure. Have to have enough pressure to push against the valve to open it when it's going the proper direction. The one I had was basically a spring operated valve. The one I had was so noisy and it limited flow way too much (to my liking). I just went to ball valves so I could regulate the flow to and from the sump.

Note: I'm not a professional plumber...just going off my own knowledge base

 

[Mr.Tan]

a one way valve is a check valve. Usually they work through pressure. Have to have enough pressure to push against the valve to open it when it's going the proper direction. The one I had was basically a spring operated valve. The one I had was so noisy and it limited flow way too much (to my liking). I just went to ball valves so I could regulate the flow to and from the sump.

Note: I'm not a professional plumber...just going off my own knowledge base

ha alright, makes sense. I'll just get a ball valve then to work with. thanks! :beer:



question... i have a place that might possibly be able to do glass for me for the baffles. Is 1/4" glass to thick or not thick enough?

 

[sponger0]

1/4" glass should work fine for the size tank you have.

And demonnite57....are you following me around on forums today? lol

 

[demonnite57]

LOL! Nah, just trying to help people out

 

[Mr.Tan]

awesome, thanks for the clarification! my dad knows the owner so hes gonna give them a call for me and see what they can do. hopefully they dont charge to much... after all i just need 2 9x12" , 1 10x12" and 1 11x12" pieces

 

[demonnite57]

It should be fairly inexpensive. Especially glass just for baffles. At home Depot / Lowe's the glass is fairly cheaper than the Acrylic

 

[sponger0]

LOL! Nah, just trying to help people out

Lol...sorry I had to say something. I noticed your pic and knew it from our local club lol

And Mr.Tan, look if your friends can help you get things. Some of the things I found people used are the most unlikely objects or trades. Especially when trying to save a penny or two

 

[Mr.Tan]

It should be fairly inexpensive. Especially glass just for baffles. At home Depot / Lowe's the glass is fairly cheaper than the Acrylic

i was told before the glass from HD/Lowes is fairly thin and cheap, don't want it busting on me in the sump and then havng glass particles floating around everywhere ya know?... if this guy can't get it cheap then i'll just stick with some acrylic.

And Mr.Tan, look if your friends can help you get things. Some of the things I found people used are the most unlikely objects or trades. Especially when trying to save a penny or two

Yeah my one buddy is like that, he has been very helpful and given me some stuff and pointers along the way....however he hasent been nearly as helpful as all of you haha

 

[sponger0]

Thats cause we rock lol.

Not trying to bust your your thread, but demmonnite57 got any pics of your setup? See you have a 75 and interested.

So mr.Tan, have you thought as to what you wanna get? 29 gallon with a 20 sump you should be able to keep a few fish. I had a regular 29 with 2 damsels and 2 clowns

 

[Saadatski]

Sorry tran, i have been working all day,
attached are my designs for my sump
all is made with 1/4in glass or acrylic,

this is a very basic design, but it will give you an idea of what a sump is supposed to be.