DIY Sump
 

Sees no one has a sump that will fit in my tank, or is willing to respond to PM's after they say they have one.. I'm planning on building my own. All of the local stores can only cut 6mm glass. I'm looking to build the sump 36" x 20" x 20".

My question is.. Will 6mm glass be able to hold up to this? I plan on putting in 2 sets of baffles in it for 3 sections. So there is lots of support.

6mm is almost 1/4" and you'll have no problems making baffles out of this thickness. Baffles have basically even water pressure on each side of the pane after installation unlike tank construction that has pressure on one side of the pane only.

I'm saying that I plan on building the entire tank out of 6mm.

my 20" tall 55 gallon tank is 6 mil, but I suspect it's tempered. My 24" tall 75G is 9 mil.

I would think you'd be fine. there was a site with glass spec for tank building I seen somewhere.

here's a quick google chart

it depends on how much water you plan to have in the sump...

So by that chart it says I need 9mm. But that chart doesn't take into account that there will be 3-4 sections within the tank, so the baffles will make it stronger going the distance.

I just need to know for sure before I go buy the glass...

In the first 2 sections I want to have between 10-15" of water for the incoming from the display, and my skimmer, and the middle section will have 1-2" lower. Then the return section last.

It will be fine simply for the reasons that you mentioned.

I have a 22"wide x 7"thick x 22" deep tank from 6mm and its been fine for years.

So..36" x 20" x 18" or 20" high.. With average 12" of water throughout.. With 3 baffles for 4 sections..

Have you thought about going acrylic? If you go glass with all the baffles you would be fine with 6mm (1/4") glass.

I had a 36"x18"x18" (50 gal) sump built for me a month back. The guy used 9mm glass throughout. A bit overkill for the baffles, but I think you might want to use 9mm for the tank and 6mm for the baffles. Error on the safe side. HTH. Leon

My sump set up is all 6 mm. with all the baffles siliconed in there they prevent any bowing.

BTW what stores said they can only cut 6mm? I have bought 1/2 from Benchmark and they cut it on the spot for me.

Every store here including benchmark has said they don't have someone on hand to properly cut 1/2" when I was doing my eurobrace.

That sucks. I know Bruce will cut 1/2" as well if you bring him a piece.

Theres really no need for 1/2 on a sump though 6mm will be more than enough.

Thats crazy... he was the first guy I asked about 1/2" and said he won't do it. He only said he'd order it.

I'm not planning for 1/2" for the sump. Was just wondering if 6mm would be enough, and thanks to you and a few others, I have my answer. Gonna figure out dimensions for sure tonight and get it cut.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. If you're going to DIY, go acrylic.

You may get away with it, but it's always the same story -when you consider the consequences of a failure, overbuild it. It's cheap.

Well... I've done a sump myself with acrylic already, and it's fine.. it works. It's what I'm using now, but it cost $260 just for the acrylic, and I had to cut it myself, and get weldon.. which was another 20.. So 280 on a sump, that ended up being 12" wide.. If I go bigger it will probably cost more.. And it also took a lot more time. A whole day to build. If I go buy the glass, it's already cut, I can just start siliconing it together, be done and ready for use. I just have to over silicone it, and I don't have to worry about having ANY salt seep like I do now with the acrylic.

Yeah, you will be a lot cheaper than 280. Heck the one I had built was only 225 and I didn't have to do it. Check it out.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=73709

What size of glass is that?

That is 9mm throughout. But you would be able to get away with 6mm for the baffles to lighten it up a bit. Not sure, but I would estimate that it weighs about 100 lbs.

It's to bad you where not closer to Calgary, I got all the pieces of acrylic cut and the weld-on for $220 at Sabic. 46"L x 22"W x 18"D, 6 cambers with 2 triple baffle bubble traps plus I got the remainder of the second sheet of acrylic they had to cut into for my pieces.

I like the fact that it is light but it is a bit more work to put together then glass.