Duke October 24, 2013 Share October 24, 2013 I'm getting ready to build my sump this weekend. It's for my 125 and the sump is going to be a 55. Has anyone ever used Lowes or Home Depot glass on a build this size? I believe they only sell 1/8" glass. My local glass shop is being really difficult and they will not take my order because they are really backed up they say. Wanted to see before going out of town to purchase my glass, if anything thinner than a 1/4" will work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallreef October 24, 2013 Share October 24, 2013 I cut my own acrylic and use a ton of silicone to hold them in...i tend to hurt myself easily and glass would be bad,lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkiboy October 24, 2013 Share October 24, 2013 (edited) you can buy glass and cut it yourself which is really easy. just do a youtube search. of you can buy pane glass and simply double up and glue each together with some squiggles of silicone to form the 1/4" you want. then you or a shop can polish the edges for nick-free maintenance of drop a heavy bead of silicone on the edges or get some edge guard from mcmaster on the cheap and slip on the end of the edge. Edited October 24, 2013 by monkiboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ford October 24, 2013 Share October 24, 2013 I used 1/8" on my sump. It's not a 55 gallon but I'm confident that will work. Your baffles are not caring the load of the water. Typically there's water on both sides so it's my opinion you'll be fine. I'd buy some sand paper to smooth the edges though. I agree with trying to cut it yourself and its easy to do so but if lowes breaks it you don't buy it twice. My lowes cut for free so I just had them cut it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Puckstable October 24, 2013 Share October 24, 2013 I highly recommend you getting the top edges cleaned up and polished, bc I destroyed my arms trying to do maintenance on my sump with non polished edges. Not fun. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 24, 2013 Author Share October 24, 2013 Thanks for all the info guys, I think I'm going to double up the sheets of glass for each baffle. I built a 10g previously using acrylic but its starting to bow at the last baffle to the return. Can't imagine what'll it be like for a 55g so I'm a bit hesitant going that route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcrazyjoker81 October 25, 2013 Share October 25, 2013 Just did a 55 sump....thanks to Steve at QR for the idea...get 2 10G tanks from petco and tear them part. They fit directly into the 55. I only had to make 1 cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 25, 2013 Author Share October 25, 2013 No way! That's an awesome idea. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcrazyjoker81 October 25, 2013 Share October 25, 2013 Lol...it was almost too easy. Make sure you wear some good gloves getting the 10G apart lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nytelighter October 25, 2013 Share October 25, 2013 Just did a 55 sump....thanks to Steve at QR for the idea...get 2 10G tanks from petco and tear them part. They fit directly into the 55. I only had to make 1 cut. Works like a charm. Never tried acrylic baffles before but I have seen many iterations of it on different forums where it bows out if the acrylic is too thin. Just some food for thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 26, 2013 Author Share October 26, 2013 This is not easy at all! Already cut myself numerous time but, gotta finish what I started! Wish me luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neto October 26, 2013 Share October 26, 2013 If you cut glass sheets you need a wet saw with a diamond blade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcrazyjoker81 October 26, 2013 Share October 26, 2013 This is not easy at all! Already cut myself numerous time but, gotta finish what I started! Wish me luck! Man you gotta take off all the trim before you can separate the glass. Told ya to wear good gloves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 26, 2013 Author Share October 26, 2013 Lost a side piece. But these are still good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 26, 2013 Author Share October 26, 2013 So what pieces am I actually using to go in the sump? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcrazyjoker81 October 27, 2013 Share October 27, 2013 So what pieces am I actually using to go in the sump? That is the fun part. That is up to you on how you wanna do it. I have a tall 14 piece where my drains and skimmer is, then the fuge, then 3 pieces 1 inch apart and the middle one 1 inch off the bottom for a bubble trap, then my return pump. You will see immediately which pieces fit flush and which don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 27, 2013 Author Share October 27, 2013 Nothing fits without a slight modification though, how hard is it to cut like half an inch from the glass? The smallest piece leaves like a 2" gap, and the bigger piece is sitting crooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcrazyjoker81 October 29, 2013 Share October 29, 2013 Nothing fits without a slight modification though, how hard is it to cut like half an inch from the glass? The smallest piece leaves like a 2" gap, and the bigger piece is sitting crooked. Wow all mine fit exactly. Did you trim off all the silicone? I did have to cut one piece to make my skimmer/overflow baffle to height, but that was really easy with a cheap glass cutter from lowes. Keep in mind it oesnt have to be extremely perfect as long as it does the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 29, 2013 Author Share October 29, 2013 I got the tank from petco. After taking apart the glass. It's not a perfect fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lutz123 October 29, 2013 Share October 29, 2013 Maybe this will help... http://www.aquariumdimensions.com/ Dimensions vary by brand. Check your 55 and the 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flooddc October 29, 2013 Share October 29, 2013 (edited) Duke, why not save yourself some trouble and $$. Just determine how many glass baffles you need and measure the (dimensions - 1/16 of an inch). Go to Lowes and have them cut the baffles to your need. Chose a piece of glass that enough for your project, that way you don't have to spent $$ on multiple pieces. After that, go to the $1 store and pickup a sharpening block (usually $2-3) like this: http://www.hayneedle.com/product/whetstonecutlerytwosidedwhetstonesharpeningstone.cfm?source=pla&kwid=Camping%20High&tid=ASR7243&adtype=pla&kw=&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=ASR7243&gclid=COu4sMvDvLoCFUie4AodVToAdw You only need to file down on edge on each of the baffles sine the other 3 edges are silicone to the tank. Don't forget to wear gloves. Edited October 29, 2013 by flooddc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcrazyjoker81 October 29, 2013 Share October 29, 2013 I got the tank from petco. After taking apart the glass. It's not a perfect fit Wow!! I got all three of my tanks from PETCO 1 55 and 2 10's and they fit absolutely perfect. Wish you weren't so far away I would help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 29, 2013 Author Share October 29, 2013 Looks like the brands of tank can vary in sizes. I got a petco brand 10g in which I should have gotten an Aqueon. My 55 is an Aqueon and maybe that's why it didn't fit? Maybe I'll head to lowes and buy double for each baffle. How am I going to explain these scars?? All that trim tearing, silicone cutting, glass breaking for nothing… :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flooddc October 29, 2013 Share October 29, 2013 (edited) What's the reason to do double for each baffles? I use the same 3/16 on my 70 gallons refugium and still no problem for almost 2 years! http://www.flickr.com/photos/10002234@N07/7321481830/ Edited October 29, 2013 by flooddc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke October 29, 2013 Author Share October 29, 2013 What's the reason to do double for each baffles? I use the same 3/16 on my 70 gallons refugium and still no problem for almost 2 years! http://www.flickr.com/photos/10002234@N07/7321481830/ Lowes and Home Depot only sell 1/8 glass. Anything thicker I'd have to go to a local glass shop. 1/4 glass is what's recommended by everyone to use for a sump. But I may be wrong on what they sell, I last checked 2 weeks ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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