[nbwmu]

Im planning on constructing a 10 gal sump for my 29 gal tank. When constructing baffles does acrylic work the best, seeing as it can be more easily cut? If so what is best to use to connect the acrylic sheets to the glass of the tank? Does silicone work or is there something else that I should try? Also what is a good thickness? Would .25 in be enough?

Thanks for the imput. When I start putting it together im sure that ill have other questions.

[Adam J]

I used 1/4 '' plexi,and silicone.

[mocker]

Whatever you do be careful cause i uses alot of silcone and waited for a while put water in it and every that attached to glass broke

[nbwmu]

Thanks for the imput. When i went to the local hardware store the kid in the department really couldnt help me out. I might try to contruct some type of guide that could hold the baffles in place if that is possible. As for silicone anything that is 100% should be safe. Correct?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

There is a marine grade silicone you should be useing.Most silicone for home use have biologicaly active chemicals in it that you dont want in your tank.See you lfs.

[nbwmu]

Just a few more questions as i dive deeper and get closer to actualization. I know that there is a sump thread going right now but id hate to highjack it. Mine is more of a plumbing question.

I am wondering about returns and what level they should be at. I know that classically returns exit close to the water level is that neccessary or can they be placed lower down. I have read in another thread that this may be to avoid a siphon? Can water siphon back down through your pump in the case of a power outage? If so can some type of reverse flow valve be placed on the return line to stop this? Also what is best for plumbing hard pvc or some type of flexible tubing?

Thank you for bearing with me as this is my first sump build and while im not particularly plumbing savvy i do alot of research and have some common sence.

[mothergoose]

you are asking the same questions that I am having. thanks for reading my mind and getting answers for me.

[buckshot5395]

Hi, Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in. I made a refugium/sump I have been very happy with it.

I used 100% silicon (no extra stuff) from Home Depot and Plexiglas (acrylic sheet) in a 10 gallon aquarium to make my refugium/sump. Its been running for about 8 months and its doing great. If the Plexiglases is inside the aquarium with water on both sides it doesn't need to be very thick. I used the thinest they had, which was also the cheapest.

I will make some drawings and post later. The way I did my baffles was was opposite from how they should have been, facing into the center where the reef mud is (I'll explain this in my next post) so I couldn't make the mud as deep as I wanted.

Its not hard to build at all and with Walmart having $10 10gallon aquariums and $15.00 worth of supplies from Home Depot I can't justify paying the outrageous prices they want for the sumps/refugiums/ecosystem filters.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

You are correct about the siphon problem that why the return is high in the tank.Check valves are ok,but if not cleaned or installed properly they can be a hazard.Yes water can siphon back thru a pump.Hard pvc is the best to plumb with,clear platic tubing can develope some rather nice algea growths and crud build up that is very unsightly.

[buckshot5395]

Here is the image of how I did my refugium. Mine is above my tank, in my case this made the most sense.

[buckshot5395]

Here is my second attempt to attach the image...

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Buck in your drawing the fuge is in the center of the tank.This will be the highest flow area and that may not be a good thing.I like low flow in a fuge to keep from washing away juvunile pods or just washing them away all together.Also all the algea will wash up against one wall of the fuge.

In this drawing you will see two flow directions.A slower flow for the fuge comming from the right and the main flow comming from the left to feed the skimmer.The center wall of the over under baffles does not go all the way to the bottom of the tank as shown in the drawing.(I will fix it later)
Also with this design both the fuge and the skimmer will be getting "dirty" water.

[buckshot5395]

Elder,
I agree with your assessment of High flow through the fuge High flow rates being bad. I use a 140 GPH pump (At 24 inch head the flow is around 60 GPH). It seems like barely a trickle. It works very well, I have vigorous macro algae growth and an abundance of pods.