sump baffle question

[shiby1510]

I built my sump last night... just gonna re-apply more silcone today... anways when I put in my middle bubble trap that the water goes underneath.. Since I'm using a rubbermaid the tub isn't completely straight 90 degrees like tanks are so it was a bit tricky for me to cut my baffles I did pretty well however the underneath baffle is about the same height as the over baffles... it still has the underneath gap but my question is...
should that baffle be higher than the over baffles?? to force the water to go underneath... im not sure if i can get away with how i have it right now cuz some water should still go underneath.. right??
anways lemme know plz... if its soo... no biggie... just hafta cut a small piece of acrylic and glue it on top.
I also have another question besides that one...
I am starting my sump before my tank... cuz i'm waiting for my tank to be ordered... the sump isn't quite finished yet... prob in another day... anyways...
once i get my tank since i already have my sump filled and the fuge going... how should i test the overflow and the return pumps and the test if the electricity goes out?? thanks

 

[evilbob22]

Yea, it should be higher than the other ones. The whole point is to stop bubbles by making the water go through the little baffle maze while the bubbles float to the top. If the middle one is the same size, then water can "cheat" and just go over all three.
Do you already have 'fuge stuff in your 'fuge? (live sand/rock, plants...) If not, you can just fill the tank with water then hook up the overflow and return and let 'er rip! Then, once everything looks good, kill the power and see if you get a flood...

 

[shiby1510]

no... i haven't put any water in it yet... for the sole reason cuz i was waiting to see if the middle baffle needed to be fixed which i figured it would...
but my question is... i don't have my main tank yet ... and i was wondering if i could get my sump already going (cycle some water with sand) and then once my main tank comes i will already have cycled water in the system to speed it up... and if i do do this.. how would i test the flow rates once i get my mt?

 

[evilbob22]

I wouldn't put any water in yet, at least not salt. When the MT gets there you are going to want to hook everything up and check for leaks. Easier and cheaper to use freshwater. Let it sit just moving water for about 24 hours to be sure everything is ok, then add salt mix or replace the water with salt water.
If you do run the sump/fuge with live sand first, I would assume that you would have to fill the MT with salt water, shut off the pumps, connect everything, and then turn everything back on. (And cross your fingers

) Assuming you are using live rock, you will see another cycle when it is added (unless you are getting it fully cured from the LFS).

 

[shiby1510]

okie dokie thanks bob

 

[tinyreef]

how well is the silicone sticking to the tub? i'd suggest you keep an eye on that as it really doesn't bond very well ime.

 

[shiby1510]

well soo far it looks good there were a few spaces btwn the baffle and the tub in some places.. due to the fact that its angled and not a straight 90 degree.... therefore we had to try to make a radius and such... therefore right now we have bungee cords pulling the sides together to try and make a nice tight fit... in addition i got my silcone from the lfs i'll let ya kno how it worked out.. i still hafta glue a piece on top of my middle baffle cuz its a bit to short... and i'll prob reapply glue again to the other baffles and then a water test... im gonna be busy all this wk and the wkend so it prob won't happen until next wk... but i'll keep u posted when i do it :happyfish

 

[evilbob22]

Originally Posted by shiby1510
okie dokie thanks bob
Your welcome!
Originally Posted by tinyreef
how well is the silicone sticking to the tub? i'd suggest you keep an eye on that as it really doesn't bond very well ime.
I had heard that before, but you seemed to have that part already figured out so I didn't worry about it.

 

[jamiehag]

I find one problem with your design you said you used a bunjie cord to add extra pressure when you siliconed the baffels in? When you fill it with water the outward force is going to bow the tub outward probably breaking the seal as the silicon does not stick that well to the rubermaid container. They are also flimsy have you ever tried to carry one half full of water? I think you need to put some kind of permant bracing that will keep the walls of the tub from bowing outward. keep that in mind.

 

[tinyreef]

i agree with jamie, the walls will bulge out. depending on the model container it will bulge out a little or a lot.
i use one (rubbermaid) right now in fact, and brace one side against the wall. (offset sump) it bulges a bit but doesn't seem like it'll burst (i hope, it's been in place for over a year now). but the last one i had (sterilite) leaked from the stress of holding the water.
i got around using baffles by filling it with rock. in other sumps/refugiums i've done/using i use tank dividers to muffle the bubbles of partition the tank/container. hth