Glasscages Sumps

ocd_mariner · 08/14/2006, 08:46 AM

Has anyone ever ordered a sump from glasscages?

I tried a custom design and dealt with some of the worst customer service. They must make great tanks, because its a pita to talk with them

Anyway, I going to have to buy a tank and cut the acrylic myself. Does anyone actually have experience in this? Any points, tips, tricks, anything?

gflat65 · 08/14/2006, 08:51 AM

I usually do the same. I typically just get a tank and some lexan (or acrylic). Just use masking tape over the cut lines to help cool the blade. If you don't, the plastic will glue itself back together right behind the blade. I usually use silicone to attach the baffles and have had no issues.

c_stowers · 08/14/2006, 09:13 AM

I've done the same as gary before. Just use a table saw for the cuts with a 200 count blade and the cuts will come out nicely.

ocd_mariner · 08/14/2006, 09:54 AM

Excellent. Thanks for the tips so far. Keep 'em coming!

So I can expect gflat and c_stowers over at around what time to start the cutting?

Pickupman66 · 08/14/2006, 12:18 PM

OCD,

I ordered a custom sump form GC a few months back and I can safely say I have been very pleased with it. I wanted a smaller bioball chamber and a custom media tray in mine so that I can place items like purigenand chemipure in it and have easy access to them for changing. GC did a bang up job on that. I also had my baffles spaced differently from their stock ones so that I could have more flex room around the pump since I was basically topping off out of a bucket every 3-5 days. they did mess that spacing up a bit, but cut me a piece on the spot to make it work.

yes they can be very blunt, but I did have a few errors in my sizing and he helped me get it together. best thing I did was actually go out there and explain what I wanted.

bkv1997 · 08/14/2006, 12:19 PM

www.melevsreef.com has many tutorials.. I built my own sump after a horrible CS experience with glass cages. After the fact I was extremely happy with the way things turned out. Not near as hard as you would think.

fishdoc11 · 08/14/2006, 12:46 PM

Here is one I made out of a GC acrylic 50 tall with acrylic baffles glued in with weld on.

I cut my baffles with a table saw. It's kind of a PITA to get the baffles to fit because the tank isn't perfectly square and has strips around the bottom on the sides for reinforcement. The GC silicone joints are very sloppy as well IMO. Doesn't leak though and I guess that's what counts

Pickupman66 · 08/14/2006, 01:03 PM

yea, that bottom reinforcement is a bit of a PITA, but I was actually pretty happy with the asilicone work. they wctually glued my baffles in as they made the tank before putitng hte back pane in. I then siliconed my baffle in and it fit like a charm.

ocd_mariner · 08/14/2006, 02:46 PM

Blunt. Haha. Thats one way to put it.

/walks off cussing like Yosemite Sam

Anyway. I wanted to create a sump like http://melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps...chvy_sump.html

I have an almost cubish 150 gallon tank, very tall, very deep, but not very long. She said it was just way too complicated and different from their designs. But. All is not lost. I feel much better seeing everyone else and the sumps they have made. Im feeling pretty confident about the cutting and gluing, but a little uneasy about making the teeth in the fuge overflow. How hard was that for you to do fishdoc?

fishdoc11 · 08/14/2006, 05:34 PM

Not hard at all with a tablesaw.....a router makes the work a little cleaner though.

08/14/2006, 08:46 AM	#1
ocd_mariner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,093	Glasscages Sumps Has anyone ever ordered a sump from glasscages? I tried a custom design and dealt with some of the worst customer service. They must make great tanks, because its a pita to talk with them Anyway, I going to have to buy a tank and cut the acrylic myself. Does anyone actually have experience in this? Any points, tips, tricks, anything?

08/14/2006, 08:51 AM	#2
gflat65 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Montgomery, Al Posts: 8,718	I usually do the same. I typically just get a tank and some lexan (or acrylic). Just use masking tape over the cut lines to help cool the blade. If you don't, the plastic will glue itself back together right behind the blade. I usually use silicone to attach the baffles and have had no issues. __________________ Was it for this my life I sought... Maybe so Maybe not.

08/14/2006, 09:54 AM	#4
ocd_mariner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,093	Excellent. Thanks for the tips so far. Keep 'em coming! So I can expect gflat and c_stowers over at around what time to start the cutting? __________________ Chuck Current Tank Info: 120g sps dominated, 65g sump/fuge

08/14/2006, 12:18 PM	#5
Pickupman66 It is what it is!!! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Winchester, TN Posts: 3,410	OCD, I ordered a custom sump form GC a few months back and I can safely say I have been very pleased with it. I wanted a smaller bioball chamber and a custom media tray in mine so that I can place items like purigenand chemipure in it and have easy access to them for changing. GC did a bang up job on that. I also had my baffles spaced differently from their stock ones so that I could have more flex room around the pump since I was basically topping off out of a bucket every 3-5 days. they did mess that spacing up a bit, but cut me a piece on the spot to make it work. yes they can be very blunt, but I did have a few errors in my sizing and he helped me get it together. best thing I did was actually go out there and explain what I wanted. __________________ What a Pretty day to stick your head in your tank and stare at your corals. 10+ years reef keeping experience in old school simplistic ways. Current Tank Info: 180 Glass Cages with 150 gal sump powered by Barracuda. MRC-MR2 Skimmer, CR5 Reactor, Custom LED lighting, Dart powered CL, EcoBak Pellets, ReefKeeper Elite Control system

08/14/2006, 12:19 PM	#6
bkv1997 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 744	www.melevsreef.com has many tutorials.. I built my own sump after a horrible CS experience with glass cages. After the fact I was extremely happy with the way things turned out. Not near as hard as you would think. __________________ Vice President of Chattanooga Reef Club. Current Tank Info: 95 gallon, 25 gallon sump, MR-2R skimmer, MRC Nilsen, MRC Media Chamber, 500w Halides, 300w VHO, AquaController Jr., 2 Tunze 6100s and tunze 7095.

08/14/2006, 09:13 AM	#3
c_stowers Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,250	I've done the same as gary before. Just use a table saw for the cuts with a 200 count blade and the cuts will come out nicely.

08/14/2006, 12:46 PM	#7
fishdoc11 catch and release Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nolensville,TN Posts: 13,056	Here is one I made out of a GC acrylic 50 tall with acrylic baffles glued in with weld on. I cut my baffles with a table saw. It's kind of a PITA to get the baffles to fit because the tank isn't perfectly square and has strips around the bottom on the sides for reinforcement. The GC silicone joints are very sloppy as well IMO. Doesn't leak though and I guess that's what counts __________________ "Try to learn something about everything and everything about something" -- Thomas H. Huxley Current Tank Info: Mixed 70 cube, mostly SPS

08/14/2006, 01:03 PM	#8
Pickupman66 It is what it is!!! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Winchester, TN Posts: 3,410	yea, that bottom reinforcement is a bit of a PITA, but I was actually pretty happy with the asilicone work. they wctually glued my baffles in as they made the tank before putitng hte back pane in. I then siliconed my baffle in and it fit like a charm. __________________ What a Pretty day to stick your head in your tank and stare at your corals. 10+ years reef keeping experience in old school simplistic ways. Current Tank Info: 180 Glass Cages with 150 gal sump powered by Barracuda. MRC-MR2 Skimmer, CR5 Reactor, Custom LED lighting, Dart powered CL, EcoBak Pellets, ReefKeeper Elite Control system

08/14/2006, 02:46 PM	#9
ocd_mariner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,093	Blunt. Haha. Thats one way to put it. /walks off cussing like Yosemite Sam Anyway. I wanted to create a sump like http://melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps...chvy_sump.html I have an almost cubish 150 gallon tank, very tall, very deep, but not very long. She said it was just way too complicated and different from their designs. But. All is not lost. I feel much better seeing everyone else and the sumps they have made. Im feeling pretty confident about the cutting and gluing, but a little uneasy about making the teeth in the fuge overflow. How hard was that for you to do fishdoc? __________________ Chuck Current Tank Info: 120g sps dominated, 65g sump/fuge

08/14/2006, 05:34 PM	#10
fishdoc11 catch and release Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nolensville,TN Posts: 13,056	Not hard at all with a tablesaw.....a router makes the work a little cleaner though. __________________ "Try to learn something about everything and everything about something" -- Thomas H. Huxley Current Tank Info: Mixed 70 cube, mostly SPS