Sump- Acrylic or Glass?

[mpoletti]

I am starting up my 180 project and I am working on my sump design. If I go glass, I can just do the baffles myelf much like melevs design but I can not create teeth in the baffles.

How important are teeth? Any tips on design. I plan on doing a in sump skimmer section, a refugium section, and a return. How should I do my ATO and such? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[bhdmc]

My Lifereef sump which is made of acrylic and does not have baffles with teeths. My refugium is made out of a 20 gallon long AGA tank and has baffles w/o teeths. No problems with either. The only benefit I can see with baffles and teeths, it would help keep objects from moving from one section to another. There maybe other benefits as well. My ATO work off a float switch in the sump which turns on a small pump in my RO/DI water storage tank.

[DanInSD]

It is vastly easier to drill acrylic, so if you're even considering installing bulkheads (e.g. for an external pump), go acrylic. You should really, really consider external pumps -- if for no other reason than heat dissipation.

ATO is easy, a float switch of some kind connected to a reservoir. You can safeguard against a sticking float switch by using two of them, the higher one cutting off the lower one (so both would have to fail in order to flood).

Dan

[mpoletti]

Hmmm... So many things to think of.

[kdblove_99]

I like glass because like you said its easy to silicone in your own baffles.

Funman can Drill holes in glass for you, He has done lots. Long as its not tempered glass

[mpoletti]

Yeah Davey, that was what I was thinking. I was also debating making two seperate sumps; one for my skimmer and return and one for my refugium plumbed back to the return. So many ideas and only one tank project to complete :)

[seagirl]

i like galss, but i let my local glass shop drill a hole for me to run my pump external. i have no teeth in my set up either.

[mpoletti]

If I run an internal pump, it will be glass for sure. It will just be an easy sump. If I do put a hole in it, then I might as well design something cool.

[opiumpipez]

im always banging stuff in my sump so i went all acrylic.

[Jar*Head]

I like acrylic for sump better. It takes the most abuse without breaking it. plus you don't have to pay 15-30 bucks for each hole drill...

[CHASDB]

If you want the teeth on a glass sump you could use this:
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=90 :)

[mpoletti]

Thanks. I was curious if there was something like that out there

[mpoletti]

I guess I will just flip a coin. :)

[Maximus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11606349#post11606349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Marko9
I guess I will just flip a coin. :)

Heads=Plexi
Tails=Not glass:)

I'm sure you know what I would choose!;)

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11606381#post11606381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Maximus
Heads=Plexi
Tails=Not glass:)

I'm sure you know what I would choose!;)

I like that Sang. I am leaning to tails :) I think I change my mind way to often to do glass.

[Entropy]

There is no question in my mind. Acyrlic is a better option in just about every way. The lone exception might be price since just about everyone seems to have a spare glass tank sitting around that could be used as a sump.

Acrylic is stronger, lighter, and easier to work with.

[casingbill]

I just used lexan from HD to make the baffles and just siliconed them in the glass tank.....works fine.....and cheap!

[MrManz1691]

i dont know if you got the tank yet but from my experence i would use glass. I have tried of a few seperate occasions to use acrylic and i have had a hell of a time getting the baffels to stay in place. the acrylic bows and rips the seam. I have tired using silicone and other sealents. I have now stuck to glass. And i dont mind the heat from my return or my skimmer cause i just dont need a heater now.