DIY Sump...baffles?

xcgx

Member
I am using a 20 high for a sump and I want to add glass baffles, but I don't know what size they need to be. I need room for a Euroreef skimmer and a mag12 return pump. Is any one else using this type of setup?
 

1911_guy

Member
I am getting ready to have baffles cut for my sump too.
I am using a 55 long for a sump with a Euroreef CS6-2 skimmer and Mag 18 return (my ball valve is about 1/4 turn closed though)...a Mag 12 would have been better in my case...or a larger overflow.
Anyway...I measured the depth of my sump from the outside subtracting the 1/4" thickness of the glass. I found it easier to measure this way than from the inside. I took off 1/16" inch to make sure it's not too big. Hope it fits! :thinking:
 

1911_guy

Member
Wow, I went to Lowe's and Home Depot yesterday for glass....

Lowe's only had 2.5mm single strength thickness (picture frame) glass. HD doesn't even have a glass cutting center anymore.
So what do I do now, where do I go? While you're at it, what thickness do you all recommend? I was hoping for at least 3/16".
 

turningtim

Active Member
I think you would be good with 3/16". You have any glass/window places up there? Local hardware that cuts glass maybe? I don't think that my HD cuts glass anymore, never really looked at what Lowes has.
Where are you in Alaska? Thats cool! Always wanted to get up there!
HTH
Tim
 
S

sonicboom1

Guest
Yeah try and find a glass and mirror place. Down here I have "Illinois valley glass and mirror" They have cut glass tops for my friends and stuff, just look up glass in a phone book possibly
 

1911_guy

Member
Originally Posted by TurningTim
I think you would be good with 3/16". You have any glass/window places up there? Local hardware that cuts glass maybe? I don't think that my HD cuts glass anymore, never really looked at what Lowes has.
Where are you in Alaska? Thats cool! Always wanted to get up there!
HTH
Tim

I'll have to find the glass place up here, thanks.
I'm in Anchorage. Just got back from working in Florida for 2 weeks, man it's cold up here!
 

mavgi

Member
here is my sump : 36" long skimmer euro reef cs8-3 pump mag12.
from left to right 14" to the first baffle . between the baffles 1" (high of the baffles 9")
for the pump i left 9" and the rest it's the fuge about 11" (high of the baffle in the fuge 12")
pipes 1" drain 3/4" return.




 

mavgi

Member
Originally Posted by TurningTim
Very nice mavgi, what size tank is that on? Any problems with the 1" baffle spacing?
Tim

no i don't have problem with 1" spacing and i bought from home depot the glass i thought they will break from the water pressure but they standing good. if you can make 2" space it's better but in this case it will be more better to add one more baffle.
 

1911_guy

Member
MAVGI, Awesome pics, thank you.
What is the thickness of your baffles? The glass I have found is normally used for picture frames and is only 2.5mm thick.
Is the fan above your sump used for cooling? Is it effective?
How do you like your skimmer?
 

mavgi

Member
Originally Posted by 1911_Guy
MAVGI, Awesome pics, thank you.
What is the thickness of your baffles? The glass I have found is normally used for picture frames and is only 2.5mm thick.
Is the fan above your sump used for cooling? Is it effective?
How do you like your skimmer?
the same glass i use 2.5 mm and it's good.
yes the fun very efective i drop 3 degree i will add one more in the summer i hope to save the option from buying the chiller now i am at 78 degree and my light fixture are 500 watt MH.
the skimmer work like a beast every 2 day i clean it. if the sump was bigger i would have put one more....
 

1911_guy

Member
Originally Posted by mavgi
the same glass i use 2.5 mm and it's good.
yes the fun very efective i drop 3 degree i will add one more in the summer i hope to save the option from buying the chiller now i am at 78 degree and my light fixture are 500 watt MH.
the skimmer work like a beast every 2 day i clean it. if the sump was bigger i would have put one more....
Good idea on the fan, looks like I'll have to get one...my temp stays around 84.
Is your riser pipe set too high or do you just like to clean it?
 

mavgi

Member
my raiser not to hige the water about 3/4" under the collection cup. evary 2 days i have about half of the cup the reason i clean it it's because i get better skimming improvement and i put the air tube about 5 minute in hot ro water. my temp was abot 82 and i check the fan option before i will decide to buy a chiller and it's work. i suggest to you to buy 2 small one and you will see the different.
 

1911_guy

Member
Ok, I found a glass shop and had 4 pieces of 1/4" glass cut yesterday. I was reading up some of Squidd's old threads and diagrams. A few of them showed only 2 baffles used at each seperation point. That's why I got 4, not 6.
Only problem is...2 of them are a hair to wide. Would it hurt to place these 2 in at a slight angle???
And...Am I supposed to glue the bottom of the baffle as well as the sides?
If I push the glass all the way down it may cut the sealant from the tank....any suggestions on that?
Thanks
 

mavgi

Member
4 it's ok you need one in the fuge area and 3 in the skimmer area i add here picture you can look on it.
put the silcon from out side it will be good and you can seal the bottom to (you want to do so) don't warry about the seal in the bottom add on this some silcon.push the glass till the end , and then put silcon from the side and the bottom (both side) in the middle put 2 piece 1" high and then push the glass and seal it from the side.
remember at the fuge area the 3 glass need to be the same size (9")just the middle one you pick up 1" from the bottom the fuge area need to be more high (12").
 

1911_guy

Member
Thanks Mavgi,
You've been a great help. Did you build that sump?
I'm going to take the glass back tomorrow and have it trimmed down about 1/16" so it will fit. I've already cleaned and taped the sump. How did you hold up the center piece from falling while the sealant is drying?
I guess I'll have to get another piece of glass cut for the fuge. All 4 pieces are 11 7/8 X 8".
I went with 8" instead of 9" for skimmer operating reasons.
I also bought a fan to run in the bottom of my stand like you did to help cool temps down.
Since I removed my sump and all the equipment this morning to add the baffles my temp has dropped 1.2 degrees F.
I found some of those union valves also. I can't wait to replumb this thing.
One more question, my overflow box is rated at 600GPH and uses flex hosing to transport water down to sump. How can I tee off from this? If the tee isn't sitting level won't the water only drain from one half?
Thanks again.
 

mavgi

Member
i copy this sump i build from 55 gallon glass tank the sump.
i hold up the center piece from falling while the sealant is drying with 2 piece of my drain pipe they was 1" the silcon dry after 15 minute and then i pull that pipe out and glue the last one. (you can use any other object and when it"s dry pull the object out and glue the last glass)
all my pipe, unione valve , t connection ,elbow and ball valve i bought from home depot if you can use the hard pvc they are better and cheap to.
i plumb all the pipe that if i want to disconnect i can do this quick and i can move the sump out . i will add some old picture here to give you more idea hope it will help and good luck.
(the picture that i post before are the update , and how the sump look like right now)
i add on the pipe filter sock 100 microne and i collect a lot of detritus on the filter , more then that there is no bubbles in the sump . the important thing you must to remmber this : never put the skimmer pump in the area of the drain pipe ,where all the water go down when you put the skimmer position the pump in the quite area that you can in this case your skimmer improvement will be twice a lot of ppl don't do so and they don't know why they don't see a lot of foam in the skimmer collection cup....


 

chosen1608

Member
I'm confused...what exactly are you trying to say? :notsure:
"the important thing you must to remmber this : never put the skimmer pump in the area of the drain pipe ,where all the water go down when you put the skimmer position the pump in the quite area that you can in this case your skimmer improvement will be twice a lot of ppl don't do so and they don't know why they don't see a lot of foam in the skimmer collection cup...."
 

1911_guy

Member
Originally Posted by chosen1608
I'm confused...what exactly are you trying to say? :notsure:
"the important thing you must to remmber this : never put the skimmer pump in the area of the drain pipe ,where all the water go down when you put the skimmer position the pump in the quite area that you can in this case your skimmer improvement will be twice a lot of ppl don't do so and they don't know why they don't see a lot of foam in the skimmer collection cup...."
I think what Mavgi is saying is to place the overflow drain away from the skimmers pump intake. If the overflow drain line is placed near the back portion of the sump in the skimmer chamber, face the skimmer pump towards the front so that the water draining into the skimmer chamber doesn't go directly into the skimmer pump as this would negatively affect the skimmer performance.
 
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