50g FOWLR Setup

[CMG]

Ok, so I embarked on an adventure yesterday. I began to build a sump. I went to petsmart and got a 10g for $11 and then to lowes and got some weather striping, some acrylic and an acrylic knife. I saw a guy on you tube do it this way and it seamed easiest to me. Well that didnt work out so well. I built it all up and when I did the water test it blew out the acrylic. Maybe because the acrylic was too thin and very flexible or maybe because the weather stripping just wasnt strong enough to hold the acrylic.

So today I went to lowes and bought some 1/4" acrylic and some silicone. I silicone-d my first baffle in just now. It went pretty well except that I dont understand how to silicone both sides of the baffle. If the baffle is only 5" from the side of the aquarium then you cant fit your hand and the silicone tube in there to get it. And you can just forget about trying to fit your hand and the tube inbetween two baffles which are 1" apart. I think I may need some sort of extension. For now I just used a Q-tip and put some silicone on it and then ran a half asses bead along the baffle. Deffenetly a learning experience.

[tbittner]

You can lay a bead of silicone down on both sides and then slide the baffle into place.

[CMG]

ohhhh, I will have to try that. Well what I will have to do is lay a bead on each wall of the aquarium down then put the baffle in against those beads then put in the second set of beads because I cant just slide the baffle down into the aquarium. it has this black liner thingy around it with a lip so the baffles have to be put in at an angle and then pushed firmly into place. Thanks for the idea, I will try it on my next baffle!

[CMG]

Ok, so here are some pics of my slow process that started on sat. I wanted to post kind of a DIY somewhat step by step for those who dont have a lot of tools or a home. I did this in my tiny apartment and limited tools. Here's the run down:

Bought a $11 10g tank, went to lowes and bought a 1/4" acrylic sheet, acrylic knife and some GE silicone 1. I also recomend trying the gun that is used to dispence the silicone, its only a dollar and if you just squeeze the tube like me the back will start to come out! haha. Luckily I noticed in time! I now use a screw driver handle to push on it with minimal difficulty.

Ok so I measured the inside of the tank at about 9 3/4" and decided to make the baffles 9" high for the big ones and I think 7" tall for the shorter ones. So I measured and marked up the acrylic sheet with a white board marker. Then got a ruler and put it along the line and drew the knife flat across the acrylic about 3 times then dug the hook edge down in there about 2-3 times before removing the ruler. Once the ruler is removed you can continue to dig the hook edge in there and I cut it about 3/4 of the way through before lining the cut up with the edge of the table and giving it a whack to break it clean.

This is somewhat time consuming but I am a patient person and watched a movie while I did it.

Ok so after these are cut move on to your tank. How do you want to set it up? I did the "traditional" water enters -> refugium -> return area setup with 4 baffles. I used the same marker to mark the outside of the tank where I wanted the baffles. I know the pvc pipe is 1" that comes into the tank so I made the entrance a few inches bigger for a filter sock and all that, then 1" to the second baffle which is placed along the bottom of the tank and is the entrance to the refugium. and the return section is about 5-6" because the return pump size will be between 3-4 inches wide and since the tank is 9 3/4" wide this gives me enough rom for it.

Take into consideration the black trip with a lip at the top of the tank when measuring so you can actually fit things in there the right size.

Ok so after marking the tank and cutting the acrylic its time to silicone it in there. Silicone is at full strength on glass and only 50% strength on acrylic (see back of tube for this info) but I have seen people do it on here before with no apparent problems so thats why I did it, plus its easier to find than someone who will cut glass for you and all that around here anyways.

I used DOTS candy box's to measure 1" off the bottom. You need to hod the baffles in place with something like CD's and tape or krazy glue while you silicone. Mine were so tight I only needed a bottom support. When you put the acrylic in to test the correct measurements do not start to silicone yet. Your hand + tube will not fit between the tank and the first baffle so you have to apply silicone on both sides of the tank along your marking first, then push in the baffle against it and silicone the other side. Then do the same for the next baffle. Apply silicone to the sides AND BOTTOM before pushin in the baffle against the silicone. Then silicone the other "open" side.

Now let both of them cure 24 hrs. then do a leak test. Mine leaked as the pictures show in one corner so I fixed it up and then moved on to the next set of baffles. Give the water some time to leak if it needs to. Maybe 10 minutes or so.

When you do the next set of baffles I recomend doing the larger 9" tall baffle first. I was able to fit my hand + tube on both sides this way. Then do the previously mentioned method for the last baffle. I hope that was clear enough. Its time consuming but saves money and makes you feel good about contributing to your hobby!

Here is the DOTS boxes and the red marking lines and the silicone. The silicone to the right of the baffle is placed in first before the baffle, then the baffle is pushed in against it and the left side silicone beads are placed. OK I know its not that neat but no one is going to see it and more importantly it doesn't leak!!


Here is my little leak in the corner

[JoJo]

good job on the diy, i'm concerned about the GE silicone, when i talked to one of their reps i was told that is sjouldnt be used in aquarium because it continuously releases toxins. hope it works out for you

[JoJo]

also your baffles are acrylic & a snug fit usually you want to leave about an 1/8 of an inch between acrylic baffles and glass side walls

[CMG]

Interesting....I have read much different things about GE I. I have read on other sites and online elsewhere that GE II is the one to stay away from as it has meldew reducing things in it that are bad for the tank and that GE I used to say aquarium safe on it but they removed that because they started making a silicone marketed specificaly for aquariums.....

I guess I could pull alll the silicone off and start over though.

[JoJo]

i would double check with one of their reps before doing it, but thats what i was told when doing my sump

[CMG]

Originally Posted by JoJo

i would double check with one of their reps before doing it, but thats what i was told when doing my sump

What did you end up using..wait I can just read your chronical and find out.

On other forums people have used the Silicone I without issues and it is 100% silicone with no addatives plus it used to say aquarium safe on the tube like I mentioned before so I feel safe. If not I will certainly find out wont I!! hehe. I guess thats not funny though.

Now I need to get an overflow and return pump. Figuring out the flow and all that seems like a pain. I was thinking about callin the manuf. of my tank to see if I can just drill it but in my case I feel that purchasing an overflow will make things easier for me. If I ever upgrade tank size I will get a pre drilled one.

[JoJo]

What i used was DAP's Aquarium Sealant 100% silicone, its about $4 @ Lowe's.

I vote for drilling but i guess thats because i just did it but it may not be worth it

[CMG]

How did u know you could drill it? Did you call the manuf. to see if it was tempered glass? If I drilled the tank then I would have to install some standing pipes and a barrier of some sort so I wouldnt have to look at them which means I would have to empty my tank our completely and silicone one in right?


Hahahahahahahahahaha, thats sooo funny that they have aquarium sealant at lowes and I didnt even see it! what a dork. Oh well. I finished sealing in the last baffle just now, so tomorrow after work I will do my sump leaking test...dun dun dun.

[tbittner]

Good luck!

[JoJo]

i came across a link that said, if you look at the glass with polarized lenses, tempered will have dark spots everywhere & untempered will have nothing. mine had nothing. also i was told tempered tanks USUALLY says it on it somewhere. I did contact Oceanic, but i'm guessing since i bought the tank used from someone else, they didnt have time to respond to me

[CMG]

Originally Posted by JoJo

i came across a link that said, if you look at the glass with polarized lenses, tempered will have dark spots everywhere & untempered will have nothing. mine had nothing. also i was told tempered tanks USUALLY says it on it somewhere. I did contact Oceanic, but i'm guessing since i bought the tank used from someone else, they didnt have time to respond to me

So what did you use? Sunglasses? Can you look at it with water in it or only when its empty. Wow...just call me curious george..

[JoJo]

that i'm not sure of, mine was empty. since your tank is already filled with water, the HOB skimmer box may be your best bet. maybe i missed something but how are you getting filtration now if you dont have a way to get water out of the DT?