sump plans - looking for advice

[augustwest]

I'm planning on dividing up a 45 gallon aquarium and would like some advice on the design.
Do I need two bubble traps? Also when glueing (siliconing?) in the baffels, how do you glue the back side of the second sheet when they are 1 to 1.5 inches apart? Or, do you just get what you can on the exposed portion?
In this design the water enters on the right to a compartment that has a skimmer on an egg crate or glass shelf for proper depth. Below the shelf will be live rock. Then the water flows through the bubble trap in to a fuge designed for up to a 6" LSB. I have added a brace for mangroves where the water exits the fuge. This will keep the mangroves from drifting. Opposite that brace is one just like it for a frag tray to hook on to. The water flows over another divider and to the return chamber. Note one less peice of glass so it is not a true bubble trap? Let me know what you think.
This could also be used on a 55 gallon than allowing for a larger fuge.

 

[veni vidi vici]

When i caulked mine ,i caulked the side i could get to and then pulled the glass over the bead and then pushed it back to where i wanted it.It will take some caulk with it.

 

[mkzimms]

Originally Posted by AugustWest
http:///forum/post/2638133
Also when glueing (siliconing?) in the baffels, how do you glue the back side of the second sheet when they are 1 to 1.5 inches apart? Or, do you just get what you can on the exposed portion?
interesting question! seriously, 2 minutes ago i siliconed my first baffle and ive been sitting here wondering the same thing!

 

[augustwest]

Originally Posted by mkzimms
http:///forum/post/2638167
interesting question! seriously, 2 minutes ago i siliconed my first baffle and ive been sitting here wondering the same thing!

too funny....
Let me know how it works out...

 

[michael1972]

So you have your first baffle silicone in put the bead of silicone on both sides of the tank like drawing a line where you are go to put your wall/baffle then place the wall or baffle pushing it in to the line or bead of silicone you just put on the side of your sump/tank then put the second bead of silicone on the side you can get to.

 

[augustwest]

How thick of glass would you recommend? Is 3/32" too thin?

 

[mkzimms]

Originally Posted by AugustWest
http:///forum/post/2638638
How thick of glass would you recommend? Is 3/32" too thin?
im using acrylic for my baffles and i tried 1/8" and it was way too then and they bowed under the weight of the water... so im having some 1/4" cut to use instead.

 

[augustwest]

I decided to go w/ 1/4" glass throughout. I figured I'll need the extra strength on the skimmer supports anyway...

 

[jrthomas40]

Originally Posted by AugustWest
http:///forum/post/2638133
I'm planning on dividing up a 45 gallon aquarium and would like some advice on the design.
Do I need two bubble traps? Also when glueing (siliconing?) in the baffels, how do you glue the back side of the second sheet when they are 1 to 1.5 inches apart? Or, do you just get what you can on the exposed portion?
In this design the water enters on the right to a compartment that has a skimmer on an egg crate or glass shelf for proper depth. Below the shelf will be live rock. Then the water flows through the bubble trap in to a fuge designed for up to a 6" LSB. I have added a brace for mangroves where the water exits the fuge. This will keep the mangroves from drifting. Opposite that brace is one just like it for a frag tray to hook on to. The water flows over another divider and to the return chamber. Note one less peice of glass so it is not a true bubble trap? Let me know what you think.
This could also be used on a 55 gallon than allowing for a larger fuge.
i would change up the pump side so water doesnt crash and put bubbles in your tank...either make a bubble trap on that side like you did the other or raise the dividers off the bottom so water can flow and not crash

 

[jrthomas40]

also the bigger you make the pump side the more space you have to allow for evaporation...if you keep it small like it is evaporation will be quick and you will be filling it every 4-6 hours

 

[mojo46825]

you can put a bead of silicone on something a little mre ridgid. Like a long straw or a thin pice of wood. Put the bead on the object and simply slide it down where you want it and press it against the seem.

 

[augustwest]

Originally Posted by jrthomas40
http:///forum/post/2640616
also the bigger you make the pump side the more space you have to allow for evaporation...if you keep it small like it is evaporation will be quick and you will be filling it every 4-6 hours
So do I want to keep it small or expand it a bit?

 

[augustwest]

Originally Posted by jrthomas40
http:///forum/post/2640610
i would change up the pump side so water doesnt crash and put bubbles in your tank...either make a bubble trap on that side like you did the other or raise the dividers off the bottom so water can flow and not crash
So you think raise the 6" diveder on the left off a bit? I figured the bubbles would surface between the 16" and the 6" divider. Also by the time the water gets to that end I figured most of the bubbles created by my overflows and skimmer return would have been worked out. This is my fist attempt at a real sump and not just a tank with a buch of pumps in it so any input is appreciated. Thanks