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Aberrix's 40 Gallon Breeder (1 Viewer)

stopped by a1 acrylic in osseo over lunch, man what a deal! $1/lb, I picked up these 5 pieces which are about 16"x16"-ish, was only $7

gonna work on the sump this weekend if I have time...

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Alright, busy weekend but I managed to get some time to build my sump this weekend. I kinda stole the design from PaulTushaus, who used a design similar to those I've seen around the various marine forums. I figured it was a pretty "proven" design... *shrugs* I hope it works :) Anyways, its 3/16" acryllic, all the baffles are 10" tall (except the 5" baffle in the refugium).

Skimmer chamber is 10" wide, gives me about 2"-3" wiggle room for my skimmer (Octopus extreme 160). The Z-baffles are about 7/8" apart with a 2" gap on the bottom of the middle baffle. The refugium chamber is 11" wide with a 5" baffle at around 10" from the outside wall, this last baffle was to try and force the water to go through the stuff in the refugium vs. just flowing over the top of it, unsure if I'm going to do a RSB (how deep should I do it if I do?) or just put some rock in there and cheato when the time comes... I was thinking of using my old stock light that came with my pico (9w compact florescent) on the refugium, would that work?

anyways, here are some (really cruddy cellphone) pics to give you an idea. I still plan to do a little more siliconing here and there where it seems thin...

p.s. how the heck do you silicon down inbetween baffles? obviously I only did one side of certain baffles, will that be good enough?

[skimmer chamber] | [z-baffles (bubble trap)] | [return pump] | [refugium]

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this picture obviously doesn't have the 5" baffle in the refugium

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picture with all the baffles siliconed in place

I'll get some better pictures of it soon...
 
i dont know my baffles much but why do you have that 5in baffle there? looks like that's gonna prevent surface skim from one chamber to another....
 
this1fish said:
i dont know my baffles much but why do you have that 5in baffle there? looks like that's gonna prevent surface skim from one chamber to another....
Click to expand...

Well, I stole the idea from someone else, but its so that the water is (somewhat) forced to go through the rock/cheato in that chamber, vs just flowing over the top.

seemed logical to me? bad idea?
 
i have no clue, LoL.... i just think that with water from the lower part being force through, it prevents surface skim from chamber one, so alot of particles might collect at the surface of that chamber... but as stated, i do not know my chambers and sumps well......
 
this1fish said:
i just think that with water from the lower part being force through, it prevents surface skim from chamber one, so alot of particles might collect at the surface of that chamber...
Click to expand...

that's my intention, I'd rather not have surface garbage flow into my return area and clog up the return pump...
 
The baffles are 10" high, I was told 8-9" was needed for the skimmer... I think I went 10" because I was going to cut teeth in them but then decided they weren't really needed...

I'm planning to pickup a check valve today for the return line so I really hope if the power were to fail that this thing would not flood... I guess I'll have to do some power failure testing to see how it works. *ugh* I really don't wanna rebuild the sump... but I also really don't want water all over the floor...

I took the sump to the backyard and did some testing with the hose, everything works great and the seals are tight like a tiger! I am really pleased with how this turned out being my first sump and all...

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I also started on the plumbing last night, I pvc-glued a couple sections but left the majority of things un-glued until it's full complete. I was thinking of putting in some pieces of wood or something to brace the plumbing to(?) we'll see... gonna work on it some more tonight along with re-doing my canopy... *sigh*

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and here is the sump in place with the skimmer and my mag 7.5 return pump in there... obviously still missing plumbing...

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So I don't know if I plumbed this right now (frak)... looking at some other setups, should all of my drain line go to the skimmer section(?), then have a T-fitting off the return pump and recirculate some of that into the refugium section?

arggg...
 
My drain is split similar to yours. The majority of it goes to the skimmer section the rest goes to the refugium.

I think you're fine. The sump looks Great!
 
Alright, I just placed my order online for (2) Koralia #2's and a 3/4" wye check valve (for the return line) as soon as those come in I should have my canopy done and my plumbing mostly done (except the check valve) and then I can pickup sand and get this thing filled with water!
 
either way works.......i'd plumb all the water into the skimmer first, that way your skimmer is able to remove as much as possible from the main tank before allowing the water to flow into the refugium to take it another step further if the skimmer missed anything rather than having it split into both.

either way it'll get the job done! if you like it! keep it!
 
this1fish said:
either way works.......i'd plumb all the water into the skimmer first, that way your skimmer is able to remove as much as possible from the main tank before allowing the water to flow into the refugium to take it another step further if the skimmer missed anything rather than having it split into both.

either way it'll get the job done! if you like it! keep it!
Click to expand...

+1, the less detritus settling in your fuge the better..
 
I removed my T5 lights, ballasts and wiring from the canopy last night, then cut a new top piece and then cut the whole thing lengthwise down the middle (10" from the front) got a coat of primer on the new pieces and even the 1st coat of black. I also got some much needed sanding in and put a new coat of black on the entire thing so it should be a little smoother this go around (I forgot to sand in between coats last time)

Tonight I hope to get a 2nd coat of black paint on it, remount my lights and put the hinges on it and get it back on the tank...

note to self; do things "right" the first time around, its less work.
 
your baffels are too high, your water level will be right at the top of your sump
 
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