Baffles for 20L sump

rbennett15 · 08/02/2011, 12:00 PM

I'm about to have some glass cut for the baffles on my 20L sump for the height I'm getting 3 that are 8 1/2" tall and another that is 9", my question is how wide should the baffles be to fit? By my estimate its around 12"

Thanks

heritage · 08/02/2011, 12:14 PM

1 1/2 inches and you really only need to use two. Over, under and the first baffle will set the water level for your skimmer.
What is the operating depth for your skimmer ?

rbennett15 · 08/02/2011, 12:20 PM

im not asking about the spacing between the baffles ha i was asking about the length of the glass i should get its 1/4" thick and 8.5-9" tall, i already have everything else for the sump figured except for the length of the glass i will need to order

rbennett15 · 08/02/2011, 12:21 PM

basically asking what is the interior width of an Aqueon 20L

heritage · 08/02/2011, 12:22 PM

did you measure the inside of the tank? from front to back

Mr.Tan · 08/02/2011, 12:26 PM

you want them to be 11 3/4", i just had some made a couple weeks ago for my 20L sump tank... 12" is to much. It leaves a perfect gap between the glass of the tank and the baffles, just enough that the silicone can get between and make an extra tight bond

heritage · 08/02/2011, 12:28 PM

if memory serves me i think a 20long is 9 1/4 inches front to back. but i have to tell you at an operating depth of 9" there is not going to be much room for water to backflow if your power goes out.

rbennett15 · 08/02/2011, 12:29 PM

yeah i measured it was 12" but thought i should check on here before purchasing the glass.

Mr. Tan, for the glass do you recommend the 2 bottom corners to be rounded?

Mr.Tan · 08/02/2011, 12:33 PM

absolutely, it keeps them from digging in to the silicon on the bottom. Make sure to have them polish the edges also to make them nice and smoothe.. I had mine done taht way and they are perfect. You can try the 12" if you think it will work in yours, but from just doing mine with personal experience i had to go with 11 3/4". 12" is more of the width of the tank itself from outside edge to the opposite outside edge.

evsalty · 08/02/2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbennett15

yeah i measured it was 12" but thought i should check on here before purchasing the glass.

Mr. Tan, for the glass do you recommend the 2 bottom corners to be rounded?

I had the glass shop round the bottom 2 corners of mine, they called it a dove's tail. My Aqueon 20l was not 12" internal diameter and I forget exact dimensions but I know it was not a full 12" inside.

rbennett15 · 08/02/2011, 12:40 PM

well just called and ordered with all edges polished and 2 corners rounded, $21.50 for all 4

Mr.Tan · 08/02/2011, 01:34 PM

good stuff! thats about what i paid for my glass...what size glass did you end up going with length wise? (or is it width? i always get the word mixed up haha)

rbennett15 · 08/02/2011, 02:05 PM

i ended going up with the 11 3/4 like you suggested, and it fits perfectly with a little gap on each side for the silicone to fit in between the wall and baffle glass. for the silicone though, i got the GE Silicone 1 Clear thats not mold resistant, is that good to use?

heritage · 08/02/2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbennett15

i ended going up with the 11 3/4 like you suggested, and it fits perfectly with a little gap on each side for the silicone to fit in between the wall and baffle glass. for the silicone though, i got the GE Silicone 1 Clear thats not mold resistant, is that good to use?

yep, ge1, ge2 has a mold inhibitor

rbennett15 · 08/02/2011, 02:11 PM

yeah, i was about to get ge2 until i saw that on the back, does anyone have any good tips for keeping the baffles straight while caulking them?

rbennett15 · 08/02/2011, 02:29 PM

also, for the skimmer section the footprint is 10"x6.75" i believe, would the first baffle being set at 7" restrict flow into the skimmer? and one more thing i have a Mag 7 on the way for a return pump and i was planning on making the return section 7.5" wide so i would have room for a 12.5" wide refusing section. do you see anything that should be changed?

heritage · 08/02/2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbennett15

yeah, i was about to get ge2 until i saw that on the back, does anyone have any good tips for keeping the baffles straight while caulking them?

i just measure out the size sump sections i want and mark both sides with a marker, draw a line top to bottom, lay a healthy bead of silicone along the lines and slide the glass into the silicone. smooth out the silicone with your finger. when doing multiple baffles in a row it's best to do them one at a time giving a few hours to cure. when using three baffles start with the middle baffle first.

evsalty · 08/03/2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbennett15

yeah, i was about to get ge2 until i saw that on the back, does anyone have any good tips for keeping the baffles straight while caulking them?

I use masking tape to hold the baffles in place. I also draw out the lines of the baffles and run silicone. But I only run a bead on the bottom and then drop the baffle onto it. You can see the tape and the lines in this pic.

08/02/2011, 12:00 PM	#1
rbennett15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 160	Baffles for 20L sump I'm about to have some glass cut for the baffles on my 20L sump for the height I'm getting 3 that are 8 1/2" tall and another that is 9", my question is how wide should the baffles be to fit? By my estimate its around 12" Thanks

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08/02/2011, 12:14 PM	#2
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	1 1/2 inches and you really only need to use two. Over, under and the first baffle will set the water level for your skimmer. What is the operating depth for your skimmer ?

08/02/2011, 12:20 PM	#3
rbennett15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 160	im not asking about the spacing between the baffles ha i was asking about the length of the glass i should get its 1/4" thick and 8.5-9" tall, i already have everything else for the sump figured except for the length of the glass i will need to order

08/02/2011, 12:21 PM	#4
rbennett15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 160	basically asking what is the interior width of an Aqueon 20L

08/02/2011, 12:22 PM	#5
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	did you measure the inside of the tank? from front to back

08/02/2011, 12:26 PM	#6
Mr.Tan Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: York, PA Posts: 734	you want them to be 11 3/4", i just had some made a couple weeks ago for my 20L sump tank... 12" is to much. It leaves a perfect gap between the glass of the tank and the baffles, just enough that the silicone can get between and make an extra tight bond

08/02/2011, 12:28 PM	#7
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	if memory serves me i think a 20long is 9 1/4 inches front to back. but i have to tell you at an operating depth of 9" there is not going to be much room for water to backflow if your power goes out.

08/02/2011, 12:29 PM	#8
rbennett15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 160	yeah i measured it was 12" but thought i should check on here before purchasing the glass. Mr. Tan, for the glass do you recommend the 2 bottom corners to be rounded?

08/02/2011, 12:33 PM	#9
Mr.Tan Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: York, PA Posts: 734	absolutely, it keeps them from digging in to the silicon on the bottom. Make sure to have them polish the edges also to make them nice and smoothe.. I had mine done taht way and they are perfect. You can try the 12" if you think it will work in yours, but from just doing mine with personal experience i had to go with 11 3/4". 12" is more of the width of the tank itself from outside edge to the opposite outside edge.

08/02/2011, 12:40 PM	#11
rbennett15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 160	well just called and ordered with all edges polished and 2 corners rounded, $21.50 for all 4

08/02/2011, 01:34 PM	#12
Mr.Tan Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: York, PA Posts: 734	good stuff! thats about what i paid for my glass...what size glass did you end up going with length wise? (or is it width? i always get the word mixed up haha)

08/02/2011, 02:05 PM	#13
rbennett15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 160	i ended going up with the 11 3/4 like you suggested, and it fits perfectly with a little gap on each side for the silicone to fit in between the wall and baffle glass. for the silicone though, i got the GE Silicone 1 Clear thats not mold resistant, is that good to use?

08/02/2011, 02:11 PM	#15
rbennett15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 160	yeah, i was about to get ge2 until i saw that on the back, does anyone have any good tips for keeping the baffles straight while caulking them?

08/02/2011, 02:29 PM	#16
rbennett15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 160	also, for the skimmer section the footprint is 10"x6.75" i believe, would the first baffle being set at 7" restrict flow into the skimmer? and one more thing i have a Mag 7 on the way for a return pump and i was planning on making the return section 7.5" wide so i would have room for a 12.5" wide refusing section. do you see anything that should be changed?