Sump build question

ReefKnot · 03/23/2011, 03:09 PM

If I am using a glass aquarium as my sump, can I use acrylic baffles, or do I need to use glass? I've heard that you cant switch them over, but I've heard that people do it and it works just fine... so whats the best way to go about this?

evsalty · 03/23/2011, 03:15 PM

Best would be glass on glass or acrylic on acrylic. But you can do acrylic on glass. I have two sumps in op right now and one is g on g and the other is a glass sump with acrylic baffles. When using acrylic baffles on a glass sump you have to put down a thicker bead and preferably on both sides of each baffle to create wedges to hold the baffles in place. Momentive RTV 100 series silicone is one of the strongest silicones safe for our use and will give you the best hold on that acrylic.

ReefKnot · 03/23/2011, 03:21 PM

Alright, now if I were to use glass, could I attach something at the top of them to use like teeth to keep snails in the fuge

evsalty · 03/23/2011, 03:25 PM

Yes just silicone it to the glass. I have seen egg crate used for this many times.

ReefKnot · 03/23/2011, 03:27 PM

OK one more question sorry, if I were to use acrylic, how do I silicone both sides of the bubble trap baffle thats in the middle? either way I can only really get to one side...

evsalty · 03/23/2011, 03:36 PM

I did both sides of the first baffle leading into the bt since it has the most force put on it. Then my center baffle was made taller to where it reached the top of the tank so I was able to get a good amount on the side next to the first baffle. I also ran a bead under this baffle. For the last baffle I just used my fingers to go down as far as I could. You could rig something to go farther but it has held up for almost 2 years now with 900 pgh going thru it.

ReefKnot · 03/23/2011, 03:49 PM

Awesome, that was kind of my initial thought, exactly how to have it silliconed in. Thanks!

evsalty · 03/23/2011, 03:55 PM

Your welcome.

ReefKnot · 03/23/2011, 04:20 PM

so Momentive RTV 100 does not appear to be available in Canada by any retailer I have access too.... which isn't all that many, but home depot, lowes, home hardware, canadian tire, none of them sell it... What other sillicones are good that I might be able to purchase in my backwards country

evsalty · 03/23/2011, 04:23 PM

I am just too far away from you to know lol. We have Grainger down here in AZ that I can pick up from. Might wat to ckeck some of your LFS' to see if they can get it for you or have another brand they can recommend. You could use GE silicone 1. Just make sure that it does NOT contain any mold inhibitors. Or you can use AGA silicone (All Glass Aquarium).

ReefKnot · 03/23/2011, 04:23 PM

Nevermind, I've got some that is safe for aquariums, its blasted right across the front of the tube. And I doubt I'll find anything better in town, since I've already looked and this was the best I could come up with....

God I love living in the middle of nowhere....

JoeRonda · 03/23/2011, 06:24 PM

Yep, any kind of silicone that is good will say "aquarium safe" right on the front. Don't use any that do not say this. And let me give you some advice, buy two more tubes than you think you will need. Trust me, you will be going to town just for silicone.

jhs · 03/23/2011, 09:35 PM

You got that right JOE.... been there done that.....

evsalty · 03/23/2011, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeRonda

Yep, any kind of silicone that is good will say "aquarium safe" right on the front. Don't use any that do not say this. And let me give you some advice, buy two more tubes than you think you will need. Trust me, you will be going to town just for silicone.

FWIW. Momentive RTV 108 and 103 DO NOT say aquarium safe infact they say not recommended for aquariums but they are what many tank builders use as they are the strongest. Also the GE 1 silicone that is safe also no longer states safe for use in aquariums. These are just those companies way of CYA.

JoeRonda · 03/25/2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evsalty

FWIW. Momentive RTV 108 and 103 DO NOT say aquarium safe infact they say not recommended for aquariums but they are what many tank builders use as they are the strongest. Also the GE 1 silicone that is safe also no longer states safe for use in aquariums. These are just those companies way of CYA.

Really? I didn't know that. I would think that if it said do not use, you certainly would'nt want to use it, but I also didn't know that super glue was aquarium safe until I got into saltwater either. So I guess I learned something new today.

evsalty · 03/25/2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeRonda

Really? I didn't know that. I would think that if it said do not use, you certainly would'nt want to use it, but I also didn't know that super glue was aquarium safe until I got into saltwater either. So I guess I learned something new today.

Yeah both the ones I mentioned USED to say aquarium safe. But for CYA purposes they have both dropped that claim statement.

davocean · 03/25/2011, 03:08 PM

Here's how I braced my acrylic baffles to glass.
I agree, it's not the best bond, so I took extra measures to make it strong, looks sloppy, but it worked, and I was in a pinch, used what I had.
I also used GE1 W&D, and used that countless times w/ no probs.

03/23/2011, 03:09 PM	#1
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	Sump build question If I am using a glass aquarium as my sump, can I use acrylic baffles, or do I need to use glass? I've heard that you cant switch them over, but I've heard that people do it and it works just fine... so whats the best way to go about this?

03/23/2011, 09:35 PM	#13
jhs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Ks. Posts: 117	You got that right JOE.... been there done that..... __________________ Signatures???? We don't need no stinkin signatures.... Current Tank Info: 29gal reef 65gal reef

03/25/2011, 03:08 PM	#17
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Here's how I braced my acrylic baffles to glass. I agree, it's not the best bond, so I took extra measures to make it strong, looks sloppy, but it worked, and I was in a pinch, used what I had. I also used GE1 W&D, and used that countless times w/ no probs. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

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03/23/2011, 03:15 PM	#2
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	Best would be glass on glass or acrylic on acrylic. But you can do acrylic on glass. I have two sumps in op right now and one is g on g and the other is a glass sump with acrylic baffles. When using acrylic baffles on a glass sump you have to put down a thicker bead and preferably on both sides of each baffle to create wedges to hold the baffles in place. Momentive RTV 100 series silicone is one of the strongest silicones safe for our use and will give you the best hold on that acrylic.

03/23/2011, 03:21 PM	#3
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	Alright, now if I were to use glass, could I attach something at the top of them to use like teeth to keep snails in the fuge

03/23/2011, 03:25 PM	#4
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	Yes just silicone it to the glass. I have seen egg crate used for this many times.

03/23/2011, 03:27 PM	#5
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	OK one more question sorry, if I were to use acrylic, how do I silicone both sides of the bubble trap baffle thats in the middle? either way I can only really get to one side...

03/23/2011, 03:36 PM	#6
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	I did both sides of the first baffle leading into the bt since it has the most force put on it. Then my center baffle was made taller to where it reached the top of the tank so I was able to get a good amount on the side next to the first baffle. I also ran a bead under this baffle. For the last baffle I just used my fingers to go down as far as I could. You could rig something to go farther but it has held up for almost 2 years now with 900 pgh going thru it.

03/23/2011, 03:49 PM	#7
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	Awesome, that was kind of my initial thought, exactly how to have it silliconed in. Thanks!

03/23/2011, 03:55 PM	#8
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	Your welcome.

03/23/2011, 04:20 PM	#9
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	so Momentive RTV 100 does not appear to be available in Canada by any retailer I have access too.... which isn't all that many, but home depot, lowes, home hardware, canadian tire, none of them sell it... What other sillicones are good that I might be able to purchase in my backwards country

03/23/2011, 04:23 PM	#10
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	I am just too far away from you to know lol. We have Grainger down here in AZ that I can pick up from. Might wat to ckeck some of your LFS' to see if they can get it for you or have another brand they can recommend. You could use GE silicone 1. Just make sure that it does NOT contain any mold inhibitors. Or you can use AGA silicone (All Glass Aquarium).

03/23/2011, 06:24 PM	#12
JoeRonda Made in the U.S.A. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington,PA Posts: 694	Yep, any kind of silicone that is good will say "aquarium safe" right on the front. Don't use any that do not say this. And let me give you some advice, buy two more tubes than you think you will need. Trust me, you will be going to town just for silicone.