DIY Sump Thread

bendeng · May 1, 2017

Fin said:
My 40B sump that I built a few years ago. All glass (except the sock tray).

This is so sleek and clean!!

Fin · May 1, 2017

bendeng said:
This is so sleek and clean!!

Thanks!

litenyaup · May 6, 2017

Making my own reactors. Here is one next to an mr1 monster and kalk reactor to compare size. Prob will be cutting it down a bit no need to be that tall.

Idoc · May 7, 2017

TherealplexiG said:
Not acrylic but none the less not less than that...

Nice! Where did you get the blue acrylic sock holder? I scrapped my sump build plan because I couldn't find one of these...and didn't have the equipment to cut that large of holes in either acrylic or glass!

TherealplexiG · May 8, 2017

Idoc said:
Nice! Where did you get the blue acrylic sock holder? I scrapped my sump build plan because I couldn't find one of these...and didn't have the equipment to cut that large of holes in either acrylic or glass!

I'm not from the USA.
I'm professional tank manufacturer.

But you can ask your local plastic shop to cut couple of plates for you, they can't do it in laser cnc or cnc router.. It doesn't matter how they do it, you need to provide them dimensions. The one with the bigger hole will have the outer diameter of upper lip so it sits flush in the bottom plate.. Hope it makes sense..

Jim Harrison · May 10, 2017

Question about DIY sumps:

I can't find a 40b low enough in cost to make using one much more cost effective than just buying a premade.

So my question is this: What different types of materials can I use to build the sump tank and baffles? I've heard acrylic, I've heard ABS, etc. Aside from glass, what are my options?

Xclusive Reef · May 16, 2017

Are you guys using weld on 3/4 for the sump builds? Over time how well are these premade sumps going to hold up and not leak?

Had anyone used 3/8 acrylic baffles in a glass sump? I have lots of time to let it bond. But I want to make sure baffles are not going to warp or break?

Fin · May 16, 2017

Jim Harrison said:
Question about DIY sumps:

I can't find a 40b low enough in cost to make using one much more cost effective than just buying a premade.

So my question is this: What different types of materials can I use to build the sump tank and baffles? I've heard acrylic, I've heard ABS, etc. Aside from glass, what are my options?

Watch for Petco's dollar a gallon sale, which comes up fairly often and you can get one for $40.

Jim Harrison · May 16, 2017

Waiting for it. Apparently I JUST missed the sale.

bendeng · May 16, 2017

nycluis718 said:
Are you guys using weld on 3/4 for the sump builds? Over time how well are these premade sumps going to hold up and not leak?

Had anyone used 3/8 acrylic baffles in a glass sump? I have lots of time to let it bond. But I want to make sure baffles are not going to warp or break?

We used 3/8 acrylic baffles in a 55g glass sump, did not hold, the acrylic kept warping to pressure. In a smaller tank, it may be ok.

The acrylic bonds are strong if done properly. Idk about premade, but. I'm sure the experience and professionalism would leave the acrylic builds to be the strongest. Maybe worthwhile the extra costs for reliability and customer support should anything go wrong.

TherealplexiG · May 17, 2017

TherealplexiG said:
they can't do it in laser cnc or cnc router.

I meant they can instead of they can't....

Fin · May 17, 2017

Glass is not difficult to work with, if you have a few simple tools. All you need is a good glass cutter, a straight edge and some cut running pliers. Just takes a little practice. Kind of a lost art nowadays.

Of course, your local glass shop will be glad to cut some 1/4" plate for you. That's all you really need for baffles in a sump. Be sure to have them cut to fit inside of the sump with a little breathing room on each side. You don't want the glass to fit tightly inside the sump. The silicone will fill the space.

This is my 40B sump that I built a few years ago. I cut all the baffles and other details out of scrap glass I had from older projects that I took apart.

Xclusive Reef · May 17, 2017

bendeng said:
We used 3/8 acrylic baffles in a 55g glass sump, did not hold, the acrylic kept warping to pressure. In a smaller tank, it may be ok.

The acrylic bonds are strong if done properly. Idk about premade, but. I'm sure the experience and professionalism would leave the acrylic builds to be the strongest. Maybe worthwhile the extra costs for reliability and customer support should anything go wrong.

Confused cause I read a lot of posts where people use acrylic baffles and it works well. I think it all depends on how much silicone and dry time is used to let the silicone bond. I would not think 3/8th would warp or bend being that's a pretty thick size.

bendeng · May 17, 2017

nycluis718 said:
Confused cause I read a lot of posts where people use acrylic baffles and it works well. I think it all depends on how much silicone and dry time is used to let the silicone bond. I would not think 3/8th would warp or bend being that's a pretty thick size.

I may be confused with the 1/8" [emoji23] it was thinner than the standard 1/4" which we ended up using and has worked great.

Xclusive Reef · May 17, 2017

bendeng said:
I may be confused with the 1/8" [emoji23] it was thinner than the standard 1/4" which we ended up using and has worked great.

oh yea well big difference between 1/8 and 3/8th.. you did not have any issues with 1/4th inch? how long did you have the baffles in the tank? just asking cause I want to make sure it will last and not have issues in like 1 year from the time they were installed.

bendeng · May 17, 2017

nycluis718 said:
oh yea well big difference between 1/8 and 3/8th.. you did not have any issues with 1/4th inch? how long did you have the baffles in the tank? just asking cause I want to make sure it will last and not have issues in like 1 year from the time they were installed.

1/4" worked fine in the 55g sump, all still in tact and tank has been running for 4 years. We did break on baffle literally yesterday but we just upgraded our skimmer and cracked it trying to squeeze the skimmer in [emoji45] going to replace the baffle this weekend. Used regular aquarium safe silicone, nice even layer smothered over both sides of each seam.

Dom · Jun 9, 2017

litenyaup said:
This was the setup I build about 5 years ago for my custom 189 gallon build. Local acrylic shop is going out of business so I picked up some stuff for a great price!! Can't wait to get started.

I am very big into DO-IT-YOURSELF. I'd like to ask you; how are you cutting your acrylic?

Dom · Jun 9, 2017

Here is the thread to the sump I just completed.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-sump-build.303652/#post-3718980

Xclusive Reef · Jun 9, 2017

Dom said:
I am very big into DO-IT-YOURSELF. I'd like to ask you; how are you cutting your acrylic?

MY Opinion after trying to cut Acrylic it was a PITA. I damaged my dremel cutting sock baffles out. Just get the baffles from a local glass store. I was just quoted 5 baffles $35 bucks cash.. All I have to do is glue it and all done. I wish I had done better research when I was thinking about cutting both glass and acrylic myself.

Dom · Jun 10, 2017

nycluis718 said:
MY Opinion after trying to cut Acrylic it was a PITA. I damaged my dremel cutting sock baffles out. Just get the baffles from a local glass store. I was just quoted 5 baffles $35 bucks cash.. All I have to do is glue it and all done. I wish I had done better research when I was thinking about cutting both glass and acrylic myself.

The sump I put together, I did for under $200. The tank was $115, the glass baffles (5 pieces) were $50 and the two tubes of aquarium grade silicone were $20.