Luvmyreef's 20g Nano Build

[luvmyreef]

I could do that. Where do I buy my glass for the baffles? Can I order it from somewhere or do I have to tear a tank apart to get it and then have it cut? I can do the sump either way. My question on your design would be this, would it be better to have the fuge in line first for more flow, etc? then the skimmer?

 

[snakeblitz33]

Lowes should sell glass for cheap and they even cut it there. A 10g sump takes 9 3/4" wide baffles. If you don't have a lowes, a picture frame studio should have glass, and cut custom glass pieces. The glass doesn't have to be very thick at all - especially in such a small sump that isn't very wide.
I don't see any reason why you couldn't have a fuge first. However, some people say that a skimmer will skim out copepods if placed after a refugium. I don't know if it's true or not.
Also, think about this... When your overflow pipe comes into the first chamber, it is just water flowing at one certain point, but when it goes over the first baffle (in the diagram) the water flow spreads out evenly over the macroalgae in the middle chamber. If you do run the pump at full capacity, you will want a lot more time for microbubbles from the skimmer and overflow to diffuse and pop before reaching the return pump chamber.
Then again - like I've been saying this whole time - it's your tank, do what you want!
Something that would also help eliminate microbubbles is to add a small piece of filter floss between the baffles before the return pump chamber and also add a PVC 90elbow to the return pumps intake pointing downwards towards the bottom glass.
I wish I could add one baffle to my old 10g sump and ship it to you. It would make your life a little easier. lol

 

[luvmyreef]

Ok. I can get it from lowes then. I forgot about the microbubbles. Yeah, I have seen the elbow on the return pumps like that. And yes, it would make my life easier if you sent me one LOL. But then again, once I get all this straight, I will not be forgetting it anytime soon...

 

[luvmyreef]

Tank is prepped for painting!! Stand is getting a coat of polyurethane first though..

 

[snakeblitz33]

Sweet! Coming along nicely, isn't it?
Did you go ahead and decide to paint the bottom an off white or not?
Smart move on the polyurethane.

 

[luvmyreef]

Not coming along fast enough for me lol. I still am up in the air about sand or no sand.....

I see the benefits of having none, and with it.

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by luvmyreef http:///t/389771/luvmyreefs-20g-nano-build/140#post_3450406
Not coming along fast enough for me lol. I still am up in the air about sand or no sand.....

I see the benefits of having none, and with it.
Usually I always say sand.....but... with the way Seth's barebottom is turning out.... I can't believe I'm saying this... but I say barebottom!

 

[luvmyreef]

Well, I can always start the tank without any sand, and if I want to, I can add it later. Works for me!!

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by luvmyreef http:///t/389771/luvmyreefs-20g-nano-build/140#post_3450540
Well, I can always start the tank without any sand, and if I want to, I can add it later. Works for me!!
Sounds like a great plan!!

 

[al&burke]

Hey luvmyreef here is a drawing of a ten gallon sump I did for someone else on this site, might help you out a bit.

 

[luvmyreef]

Thanks. Do you know the thickness I should get for the baffles. Seth said 9 3/4 wide, but how thick? I am going to lowes tomorrow, so I am making a list. So, in your design you use 5 baffles? Would this be better? Basically, I am trying to slow the progress of the water thru each chamber right? Also, what kind of glue, or whatever do you guys use to put your pvc pipe together? And for the overflow did you all use the plumbers grease or not? Thanks alot..

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by luvmyreef http:///t/389771/luvmyreefs-20g-nano-build/140#post_3450631
Thanks. Do you know the thickness I should get for the baffles. Seth said 9 3/4 wide, but how thick? I am going to lowes tomorrow, so I am making a list. So, in your design you use 5 baffles? Would this be better? Basically, I am trying to slow the progress of the water thru each chamber right? Also, what kind of glue, or whatever do you guys use to put your pvc pipe together? And for the overflow did you all use the plumbers grease or not? Thanks alot..
Well I wouldn't get anything too thin, does take much to crack thin glass if you bang it with a pump or something, 3/16 to 1/4" I would say. THe baffles help to eliminate micro bubbles from your drains or the skimmer. These are just siliconed in place get a tube that specifically says aquarium safe, usually 100% silicon, with NO mildew resistant stuff. Overflow no grease just the gaskets that came with the kit, I think a few people put silicon sometimes but not necessary. If the glass edges are sharp when you get them from Lowes just sand them down a bit with emery cloth, I even use regular sandpaper sometimes, don't want any sharp edges when you are dong maintenance on the sump.

 

[al&burke]

If you are going to be installing a skimmer, find out the operating depth if it is an in sump skimmer.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Lowes only sells and cuts one thickness of glass.
I agree with everything else al said.
Keep in mind also in his design you would have to split your overflow and use a ball valve to control how much flow goes through your fuge section.
Pvc is glued together with PVC cleaner and cement. Read up on it before you use it. Stay in a well ventilated area when using it. Use the cleaner first, then the cement. Put cement on both the inside joint and the outside pipe and insert it. The. Give it a quarter inch turn to smear the cement inside the joint for a full seal. Anyways, read up on it. Nothing to sweat over.
In my sump design I posted, the dimensions of the skimmer chamber are skimmer specific. Meaning that SC65 cone skimmer operates perfectly at a 9" depth and is 4.5" wide at the base. You will need to modify those dimensions if you plan to use a different skimmer.
Take your 10g sump and look at it long ways. Measure from both sides of the inside of the glass and that should be your glass width measurement. That's how I got the 9 3/4" width. I think it might be 1/8" off depending on the brand of the sump. So double check me!!!
Anyways, I hope none of this confused you.

 

[luvmyreef]

I don't want to make this hard. I could split the intake.

Glass holes noted in their instructions not to split the overflow or return, or use valves. But I am definitely using valves on both. The thickness of the glass that lowes sells is ok then? And, does everyone use the cleaner and cement on the pvc? Is it safe for a tank? I havent decided on a skimmer, but yours looks like it does a good job seth.

 

[al&burke]

THe pvc cement and cleaner is perfectly safe for SW - no worries. THickness of glass just don't get real thin stuff like I said before. Measure the inside of your tank for the baffles and once you decide on the skimmer I can modify the drawing.

 

[luvmyreef]

Thanks Al. How many glass baffles should I get today? Three to start? I am gonna pick up the silicone too if my lfs has it. I used to have a tube, I dunno what I did with it LOL.

 

[luvmyreef]

Oh hey, can we add/mod a media basket for carbon and filter pads maybe right below the output from the overflow? Or should I just use a hob filter down there somewhere? I like to run chemipure elite on my tanks along with a filter pad....thoughts???

 

[al&burke]

That is what I do on my FW set up, I find HOB too noisy on sumps the water cascades to far and all you hear is splashing. You can get 3 baffles now but you will need the other two eventually.

 

[luvmyreef]

So, I could make one and silicone it to the tank in one of the corners from the overflow? Or do you have a better method? Sorry for so many questions lol....