Baffle Thickness

RayAllen3422 · 03/16/2009, 07:41 AM

I am using a 75 Gallon tank to build a sump.

How thick should the baffles be? I was going to use acrylic, but I potentially could get glass cut as well. Let me know what you all think.

Thanks in advance.

shuguley · 03/16/2009, 07:46 AM

I don't know about the thickness, but if the sump is glass, then use glass baffles. You will have a helluva time getting acrylic baffles glued to a glass tank.

RayAllen3422 · 03/16/2009, 07:50 AM

The tank is glass.

shuguley · 03/16/2009, 08:09 AM

Well then you definitely want glass baffles, it's a PITA getting acrylic glued to glass, I learned the hard way when my acrylic baffles broke off my glass sump after about 3 months. I'm thinking 3/8" thickness might be a safe bet. I'm not really sure though, that's a pretty big sump.

billdogg · 03/16/2009, 08:14 AM

I have used glass tanks as sumps mfor 20+ years. The baffles are 1/4" acrylic. If you cut them slightly short (1/8" or so), and use a good bead of silicone on both sides, you will have no problems whatsoever. My problem with glass baffles is the potential for breakage. By the time you add heaters, skimmer, any internal pumps, LR if you make part into a refugium, etc, if you then need to rearrange anything, stuff will get knocked around some. It is very hard to break acrylic, not so with glass

RayAllen3422 · 03/16/2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by billdogg
I have used glass tanks as sumps mfor 20+ years. The baffles are 1/4" acrylic. If you cut them slightly short (1/8" or so), and use a good bead of silicone on both sides, you will have no problems whatsoever. My problem with glass baffles is the potential for breakage. By the time you add heaters, skimmer, any internal pumps, LR if you make part into a refugium, etc, if you then need to rearrange anything, stuff will get knocked around some. It is very hard to break acrylic, not so with glass

That was my original plan because cutting and getting acrylic is easier for me. Do you ever have any problems with the acrylic bowing?

shuguley · 03/16/2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by billdogg
I have used glass tanks as sumps mfor 20+ years. The baffles are 1/4" acrylic. If you cut them slightly short (1/8" or so), and use a good bead of silicone on both sides, you will have no problems whatsoever. My problem with glass baffles is the potential for breakage. By the time you add heaters, skimmer, any internal pumps, LR if you make part into a refugium, etc, if you then need to rearrange anything, stuff will get knocked around some. It is very hard to break acrylic, not so with glass

I'm glad that works for you, but that's what I did and my acrylic baffles came undone after only 3 months. So after I did some more research I learned that this was a problem many people have with gluing acrylic to glass. So I remade my sump with glass baffles, and they have held for 6 months now.

alextheromanian · 03/16/2009, 09:00 AM

i have a glass tank with acryllic baffles...they have been up and running for a year and added with reef safe silicone....the same exact way you add glass baffles.

as far as thickness goes id go with the thicker baffles...not thre really thin ones used for replacing broken glass windows since they bow out alot.

billdogg · 03/16/2009, 09:42 AM

I use 1/4" acrylic - because they are used as baffles, the water pressure should be ~ equal on both sides - no bowing to speak of.

And just so ya know - on of my sumps is over 20 years old - never had any problem at all - no loose baffles, no bowing, no problem

CoRPS · 03/16/2009, 09:46 AM

1/4" should do the trick. I 'glued' my acrylic false wall to my AGA glass tank using silicone and have had no problems.

RayAllen3422 · 03/16/2009, 10:51 AM

Awesome. Where did you all get your acrylic from?

CoRPS · 03/16/2009, 10:55 AM

I got mine from Lowe's.

lil gramps · 03/16/2009, 11:43 AM

i actually just built my 75 gl sump yesterday. I used 1/4" glass for my baffles and it worked great. Unfortunately, you have to go to a glass shop to get that thick of glass as HD and Lowes don't carry it.

drparker · 03/16/2009, 12:29 PM

My first DIY sump used 1/8 baffles and they would bow. I think the problem some people have with acrylic baffles coming loose are from one of the following. Using 1/8 instead of 1/4. not putting a big enough bead of silicone down, or not cleaning oils off of the glass/ acrylic with some vinegar first. The three I've made with 1/4" baffles are just fine. The other problem with glass is that if you don't get them polished the top edge will give you a nasty cut.

03/16/2009, 07:41 AM	#1
RayAllen3422 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 403	Baffle Thickness I am using a 75 Gallon tank to build a sump. How thick should the baffles be? I was going to use acrylic, but I potentially could get glass cut as well. Let me know what you all think. Thanks in advance.

03/16/2009, 07:46 AM	#2
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	I don't know about the thickness, but if the sump is glass, then use glass baffles. You will have a helluva time getting acrylic baffles glued to a glass tank. __________________ 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Midas Blenny, Spotted Mandarin, Pistol Shrimp, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Large CUC Corals: Xenia, Candy Cane, Zoas, Frogspawn, Brain, Bubble, Shrooms, Sun Current Tank Info: 55G Reef w/ 15G sump/fuge w/chaeto, Phosban Reactor w/GFO, AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer, 2 Koralia 3s, Nova Extreme T5HO 216W, 85lbs LR, 60lbs LS

03/16/2009, 08:09 AM	#4
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Well then you definitely want glass baffles, it's a PITA getting acrylic glued to glass, I learned the hard way when my acrylic baffles broke off my glass sump after about 3 months. I'm thinking 3/8" thickness might be a safe bet. I'm not really sure though, that's a pretty big sump. __________________ 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Midas Blenny, Spotted Mandarin, Pistol Shrimp, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Large CUC Corals: Xenia, Candy Cane, Zoas, Frogspawn, Brain, Bubble, Shrooms, Sun Current Tank Info: 55G Reef w/ 15G sump/fuge w/chaeto, Phosban Reactor w/GFO, AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer, 2 Koralia 3s, Nova Extreme T5HO 216W, 85lbs LR, 60lbs LS

03/16/2009, 08:14 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I have used glass tanks as sumps mfor 20+ years. The baffles are 1/4" acrylic. If you cut them slightly short (1/8" or so), and use a good bead of silicone on both sides, you will have no problems whatsoever. My problem with glass baffles is the potential for breakage. By the time you add heaters, skimmer, any internal pumps, LR if you make part into a refugium, etc, if you then need to rearrange anything, stuff will get knocked around some. It is very hard to break acrylic, not so with glass __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/16/2009, 09:00 AM	#8
alextheromanian Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 1,007	i have a glass tank with acryllic baffles...they have been up and running for a year and added with reef safe silicone....the same exact way you add glass baffles. as far as thickness goes id go with the thicker baffles...not thre really thin ones used for replacing broken glass windows since they bow out alot. __________________ i just cant think of any phylosophical, deep, critical thinking quotes right now. Current Tank Info: 29g Reef, 75g FOWLR

03/16/2009, 07:50 AM	#3
RayAllen3422 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 403	The tank is glass.

03/16/2009, 09:42 AM	#9
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I use 1/4" acrylic - because they are used as baffles, the water pressure should be ~ equal on both sides - no bowing to speak of. And just so ya know - on of my sumps is over 20 years old - never had any problem at all - no loose baffles, no bowing, no problem __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/16/2009, 09:46 AM	#10
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	1/4" should do the trick. I 'glued' my acrylic false wall to my AGA glass tank using silicone and have had no problems.

03/16/2009, 10:51 AM	#11
RayAllen3422 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 403	Awesome. Where did you all get your acrylic from?

03/16/2009, 10:55 AM	#12
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	I got mine from Lowe's.

03/16/2009, 11:43 AM	#13
lil gramps Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 85	i actually just built my 75 gl sump yesterday. I used 1/4" glass for my baffles and it worked great. Unfortunately, you have to go to a glass shop to get that thick of glass as HD and Lowes don't carry it. __________________ "I have Achilles envy"

03/16/2009, 12:29 PM	#14
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	My first DIY sump used 1/8 baffles and they would bow. I think the problem some people have with acrylic baffles coming loose are from one of the following. Using 1/8 instead of 1/4. not putting a big enough bead of silicone down, or not cleaning oils off of the glass/ acrylic with some vinegar first. The three I've made with 1/4" baffles are just fine. The other problem with glass is that if you don't get them polished the top edge will give you a nasty cut.