DIY Sumps

[Cudders]

Chaps,

As you know it's new tank time for me and in order to save a few pennies I'm thinking of doing my own sump instead of buying one again :rolleyes: .

Use a stock cheap tank and then buy the glass for baffles and silicone it up. I've never done this before and wonder if you have any tips???

Main concern is getting the correct size glass for the baffles in terms of width. If say the tank was 12" wide, what width would the baffles be cut to? Not too sure what to allow for the silicone etc.

Any help appreciated.

Cudders

[Tangman]

Hi If you have a 12inch wide tank made from 6mm glass, you want to order a piece of glass 12 inch long minus 12 mm minus a few mm for clearance ie 15mm overall which is haf an inch, so that makes it 11 and half inch wide. HTH Eric

[Gillybaby]

We did the exact same thing you are contemplating with our own sump.

As Eric says, you wan't the baffles a wee bit smaller than the width of your tank. It doesn't matter if there's a gap at the sides as this can be filled with silicone.

Also, I'd highly recommend when you are ordering the glass panels that you request the top edge be bevelled. It costs about half as much again for the pane of glass but is so much nicer on the old fingers and arms once the sump is set up. Otherwise the edges are really really sharp.

[flobajob]

I agree with what Gillybaby and Tangman said.

If I had any advice on DIYing a sump (although I've only ever done it once) it would be:

1) Make sure you've got pieces of wood or some other material to keep the baffles from sliding down if it is an 'under' baffle.

2) Don't expect the seams to be too neat as it is a real PITA to get a good seal.

3) Use plenty of silicone (excess), because if you have a leak later on it will be difficult to fix.

4) Wear a mask and don't breathe in the silicone fumes because they are foul.

5) Before you use any old tank just check that copper has never been used in it previously (if you are setting up a reef system).

6) It's kind of obvious, but don't rush things as it only ends up leading to things needing to be redone.

7) Plan in advance the order in which you are going to put the baffles in so that you have as much room as possible to work in. (I found that one out when I was siliconing in my bubble trap - trying to get a bead of silicone along an edge whilst working in a 1.5 inch gap is not easy!)

I can't think of anything else, so HTH,

Michael.

[MR Teee]

Cudders, It really ain't that difficult, so I would say go for it.

I would recommend as Gilly has said, that you get the edges of the glass ground.

Wouldn't worry too much how the silicone looks, along as it does the job then you should be happy.

[Cudders]

Thanks for the advice guys.. I'll give it a go :) .

Just one thing, where do you get the glass from? Window companies? Anyone used any in the Leeds area near Rothwell?

Cudders

[Gillybaby]

Thanks for the advice guys.. I'll give it a go :) .

Just one thing, where do you get the glass from? Window companies? Anyone used any in the Leeds area near Rothwell?

Cudders

I got mine from a local small glaziers. Check the yellow pages or thomson local and the small guys near you. One is bound to not mind such a small job.

[flobajob]

Yeah - I used the yellow pages to ring round a few local glaziers for quotes. I gave several a call and went with the cheapest.

[Cudders]

Ok guys thanks again. I'll get my plans done and start looking.

I'll let you know how I get on..

Cheers,

Mark

[Tangman]

Hi Cudders if you get stuck and dont fancy doing it yourself i will do it for you if you can get over to mine, i have plenty of silicone as i am in the process of building my new 4x4x3 tank and sump myself. HTH. Eric