baffles forRubbermaid stock tank sump..

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dboy999

Guest
iam making a sump out of a 100 gal rubbermaid stock tank just wandering how i could make baffles to help with micro bubbles an seperation ....also making a fuge out of a 150 gal rubbermaid stock tank..any suggestions there also greatly appreciated..these both will feed my 375g main tank
 
trainfever

trainfever

Active Member
You cant really make a baffle in a rubbermaid container because the walls are flexible and anything you attach to the walls will eventually come loose. The best thing to do in your situation is to get a smaller container and place it inside your larger container. The water will drain from your tank into your smaller container and overflow into the larger container which will be your main sump area. The height of your smaller container will determine the height of the water in your sump
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
The walls in the stock rubbermaid containers are that "flexible" so yes it could be possible to put baffles into the rubbermaid container.... I was thinking along the lines at one time that you could possibly use some type of epoxy, and you might want to do a search on the WeldOn acrylic solvents and see what they recommend to use as far as bonding to different types of materials. I'm assuming your going to use acrylic for the baffles???? If that's the case again check out WeldOn, because I have seen that they do list out exactly what each of their products is designed to do
 
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dboy999

Guest
how else you suppose i use 2 of these one for sump and one for a fuge?trying to figure it out..sides are flat easy to make bulk heads...just worried about micro bubbles without baffles an all...any suggestions?
 
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dboy999

Guest
i did find a site that has bulkheads for curved surfaces so can drill anywhere for bulkheads ...
 
bill f

bill f

Member
dboy i got a similar 110 gallon stock tank for my new tank. I bought it for a sump only.
Don't you think if you filter on one end and have a low bulkhead on the other that the bubbles will be a problem.
I've seen your other pictures and your obviously very mechanically inclined. If baffles are a must, can't you make a templet of the angled/irregular sides and use a router/roto zip on some plexi or acryllic to fit.
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Not saying it "can't" be done, but the tub will flex/expand with water pressure and pull bafles loose..
Could be "bolted" into sides, but bolts can cause leaks/cracks...
Cross ties can be used, but then it get's pretty "cobbled"...
Nested tubs can be used for seperate chambers with slots cut in for flow...but then you have square tubs in a rounded tub...
Suggest glass tank for clean setup...
 
bill f

bill f

Member
the idea for getting the stock tank was also to create extra water volume to accomodate more fish and a more stable environment.
If i were to use the tank as just a filter then have it drain into a smaller sump for the return, what could i do to prevent the stock tank 100 gallons from over flowing the smaller sump.
is this possible?
 
farmboy

farmboy

Active Member
Bill,
Just keep the top of the water even(level) with the bigger tank. THe bottom is unimportant. You may have to put the smaller tank on a pedestal of some kind but as long as the water level is even with the bigger tank, it cannot overflow.
 
shiby1510

shiby1510

Member
I constructed a sump/fuge out of a rubbermaid tub.. i used strong plexiglass from h/d for baffles...
i originally used silicone from the lfs and this did not work out at all... however i found some really strong silicone that is much stronger and i feel will work... i will be testing it today and will let you all know... :joy:
in addition... I sanded down the sides where the baffles would be... I'm thinking half of the problem is the rubbermaid tubs are not rough enough for the silicone to adhere.
Lastly, I did have to make a template as bill suggested... this took a bit of time because the walls on the tub i got are not straight up they increase as the rise and also there is a radius at the bottom (not 90 degree angles) however once i made my temp.. we were good to go for all the baffles. :)
I hope this helps.. lemme know if you have anymore questions... and like I said, I will be testing today and let you know how it went.
 
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dboy999

Guest
thanks for input...i dont need baffles definatly just was trying to eliminate bubbles.Heres the deal lets say in the sump tub at one end i have skimmer bulkheaded in an return water from tank an fuge coming in there, an a bulkhead at the other end for return to tank maybe mid way up tub maybe even a peice of pvc with many holes an an open end sticking out of bulkhead with a sponge prefilter on it ?hmm...an as for my fuge tub have it abit raised an with one end a spray bar with will feed from main tank an at the other end 2 bulk head rather high up an just gravity siphon into sump tub?...any suggestions and comment greatly apreciates or ideas...an as for shiby id love to know how your baffles turned out...i know the baffles could be made that wasent the problem it was keeping them secure..pics would be great ..hey bill you got pics of your tub setup?
 
bill f

bill f

Member
Thought just occured to me.
Stock tanks are double walled (at least mine is)
What if:
1. you use a router/rotozip on the inside wall using a bit like an 1/8th smaller than the thickness of the plexin
2. slide the plexi in the channel. This way the plexi doesn't have to be cut to the extact contour of the stock tank. Just the right angle. The walls of the tanjk will hold the baffle.
3. Silicon the joint/seams
I think it will work. I'm on a mission, this weekend. I am committed
What thickness plexi will I need (tank is 2.5+/- feet wide)?
 
shiby1510

shiby1510

Member
sounds.. like an idea bill... sry I am not sure about the thickness.. I do not know enough about that stuff... as for pics... sorry no digi cam.. yet... :thinking:
 
bill f

bill f

Member
Shiby why do our post time say 3:04 am.
Makes us look like loser with nothing better to do at 3 in the morning than post on the net.
 
shiby1510

shiby1510

Member
idk.. heh... it's most likely set for a different time zone is what i'm thinking... cuz its only 11 here.. but oh well
 
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