I picked up a brand used, but never used (still had stickers on it) planet aquariums 120 to replace my 75. Started with the stand. Built using the typical design with a couple mods. The is 4” taller and I didn’t want my overall height any higher. I built the top supports using 2x4 doubled up on the long runs and glues and screwed together. Then to gain space on the bottom I had my dad weld me 2 - 1 1/2“ square tubing brackets to support my 40 breeder sump. Between that and using 2x4 instead of my current 2x6, I was able to keep sump space the same and overall height the same. I also made the side that houses apex and pump controls a little deeper overall. Still need to add the divider walls.
the 40b sump:
had a few lessons learned here from my first build. I changed the way water flows in, expanded the bubble trap to the return to 3” to make cleaning easier and put a little more height difference between sections. I also made 2 exit points for water leaving the skimmer section ( slot just off the bottom and over the top). I did just under the divider on first one and it had seri low flow at the top around the skimmer. Second, I doubled up the 1/4” acrylic to 1/2” (glued together) for the baffle between my fuge and return chamber. There is about an 8” height difference in where the water level will be and 1/4” bowed to much for my liking. I make fairly large return chamber size to accommodate back flow water when pumps are off. Never understood the small return chamber volume on commercial sumps. I don’t want have to worry about it. I calculated I can can hold about 10g just in return chamber. I also used black and smoked gray acrylic to stop fuge light bleed over. Clear allowed algae to grow all over.
Next is to start laying out the plumbing.
the 40b sump:
had a few lessons learned here from my first build. I changed the way water flows in, expanded the bubble trap to the return to 3” to make cleaning easier and put a little more height difference between sections. I also made 2 exit points for water leaving the skimmer section ( slot just off the bottom and over the top). I did just under the divider on first one and it had seri low flow at the top around the skimmer. Second, I doubled up the 1/4” acrylic to 1/2” (glued together) for the baffle between my fuge and return chamber. There is about an 8” height difference in where the water level will be and 1/4” bowed to much for my liking. I make fairly large return chamber size to accommodate back flow water when pumps are off. Never understood the small return chamber volume on commercial sumps. I don’t want have to worry about it. I calculated I can can hold about 10g just in return chamber. I also used black and smoked gray acrylic to stop fuge light bleed over. Clear allowed algae to grow all over.
Next is to start laying out the plumbing.