20 gallon sump idea (1 Viewer)

[karlmuth]

I have been planning out my next tank. The sump I was thinking of building is a 20 gallon instead of baffles I was thinking of 2 sheets of acrylic with holes drilled in it to allow water to pass through. It will be a simple 3 chamber design. What I need to know good idea or not?

 

[Scarbl]

I'm no expert on the matter but here is my input. I think it will most likely work but you will find that you will get a much better bond with the caulk when you are bonding glass to glass. That being said acrylic will be much easier to drill for the water to pass through. Long story short. I think you may have issues later on with the acrylic baffles slipping out of place.

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[karlmuth]

I didn't think of that. My only concern is making that maNY holes in thin glass with out it breating.

 

[Cody]

Just spend maybe $15-20 bucks, have some glass cut for you (leave about 1/8" gap on either side of the baffle), use some silicone, and you're done. It's very simple to do, and you won't have issues with anything. I forget the exact thickness, but I believe I used 3/16" thick for my 20 long sump. With time, the acrylic will bow unless you use 1/4" thick acrylic, which is basically the same cost as the glass anyway. However, acrylic to glass will never have the same quality bond as glass to glass. Stick with the material that your sump us made out of, and you're fine.

Having said that, at the end of the day, you're never going to get more than 11" depth out of a 20 long tank for a sump, so the psi hitting the seams won't ever be really strong anyway. Either acrylic or glass is fine, but I recommend glass so long as either material is thick enough.

 

[karlmuth]

I see what ya'll are say and I have built a sump that way in the past. I was just thinking of way I might build it better. My plan is too maybe run at 300 gph. I have not decided to use rock rubble, cheto, or combo, yet.