Baffle Placement and Acrylic Advice

[noobzy]

Hey folks,

Guarda very intelligently suggested that I "fix" my 9g AIO filtration system instead of just complain about it, but I'm gonna need some knowledgeable folks here to walk me through some details...

1. Before I even start, can anyone link some good articles/pages regarding sump design and baffle placement? I'm really solid on fluid dynamics, but need to read up on the rest of it
2. As far as acrylic, what can I use to glue it in place? This is going to be the toughest part, as I can't really dismantle the tank throughout the process.

As for the specifics of the placement, I'll create a diagram with dimensions and my current thinking and try to upload it tonight...

Thanks in advance!
Avi

 

[KathyC]

Always a good place to start.
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

If the tank is acrylic, then the baffles should be acrylic. Silicone is used to 'glue' them in place.

Due to all of the debating about the silicone available at HD, I would just use the Aquarium silicone you can find at most good LFS's so there is no question about mildew inhibitors.

A pic of the current compartments in your AIO would be helpful

 

[noobzy]

Kathy, you're always just a minute away with all the answers how do you do it?

Thanks for the link - I'll get to reading.

As far as using silicone, I'm a bit worried about how long I can leave it to cure (keep in mind that my tank is full of water, fish, etc), and whether it'll cure well in the saltwater... are these valid concerns?

I'll definitely incorporate a picture of the rear chamber when I post drawings later on.

 

[KathyC]

Kathy, you're always just a minute away with all the answers how do you do it?

Thanks for the link - I'll get to reading.

As far as using silicone, I'm a bit worried about how long I can leave it to cure (keep in mind that my tank is full of water, fish, etc), and whether it'll cure well in the saltwater... are these valid concerns?

I'll definitely incorporate a picture of the rear chamber when I post drawings later on.

lol, fast fingers I wish I had all of the answers...

hmmm, operating tank full of water, that does create a challenge. Silicone should be cured OUT of water, so yes, you have a valid concern there!

When you post the pics do let us know what your aim is in correcting the filtration. Perhaps the answer is not in changing the way the baffles are placed but in getting creative with the way the filtration itself is set up.

I recently went through this with a 50G Tenecor AIO that I have (someday I'll post a tank thread of it..lol), and I took a few liberties with the arrangement of the compartments. I'm currently considering adding a hang on fuge that will require some additional mods to the tank

 

[tonep]

If it is acrylic should you use the Weldon glue?
You can get it at canal plastics
I'm not sure it it can cure in water though

 

[noobzy]

When you post the pics do let us know what your aim is in correcting the filtration. Perhaps the answer is not in changing the way the baffles are placed but in getting creative with the way the filtration itself is set up.

K, I couldn't wait to get home and do this, and half the office is home anyway cause of the snow

Dimensions of the rear chamber:
13.5H x 2.5W x 15.5L

Goals of modifications:

• Surface skimming - create a fluted overflow from the tank into the first chamber (this is easy enough, once we figure out the glue)
• Bubble trap - the skimmer creates so many bubbles I can't currently use it
• Flow path - create a path for the water flow so that I can actually benefit from filter floss and chemipure placement
• Refugium - keep the fuge

Current baffle placement thinking (can someone also tell me how to modify the display size of a linked IMG? this is a bit bigger than I intended...):

1. Skimmer compartment - 5 inches
2. Bubble trap / Filter floss and chemipure - 2 inches - 2 baffles creating bubble trap and for filter floss and chemipure
3. Refugium - 3.5 inches, roughly under the light built into the hood
4. Return pump and misc - 5 inches - 1 baffle separating it from the fuge

Current setup:
http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab288/Ender62/Nano Wave 9 2010/IMG_20100928_231315.jpg

 

[aagresti]

if the acrylic pieces you're gluing in place have clean edges (i.e routed not saw cut)and fit snug then use weldon #3 or #4, if the pieces are saw cut then use weldon #16

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Custom King is your expert

 

[noobzy]

if the acrylic pieces you're gluing in place have clean edges (i.e routed not saw cut)and fit snug then use weldon #3 or #4, if the pieces are saw cut then use weldon #16

Will Weldon cure in the saltwater, and should I worry about using it in my tank?

Thinking the process over, if I create that overflow I mentioned, and glue it in place before I do the baffles, perhaps I could keep the rear chamber somewhat empty of water while I do this work... not sure how well it would work, but it's worth a try.

Also, does anyone have feedback on the baffle placement?

 

[KathyC]

I would NOT use Weldon in a tank with water in it.


I'd go with pieces cut extremely snugly and use ICGel to glue them in place

 

[KathyC]

Not sure I understand entirely...
are you planning to remove the current baffles? How?


I'd be concerned that once you add floss and chemi-pure into that second compartment (that you plan to add) that will double as the bubble trap..do you think the water is going to easily pass through that and go under that baffle into the fuge without a ton of resistance?

Assuming you are only going to put live rock or chaeto in the fuge?

 

[House of Laughter]

I don't think you'll be able to accomplish this without removing all the inhabitants regardless of the method you use. BOTH (weldon for acrylic to acrylic or silicone for glass to glass)

As for the above image - looks manageable,however, I'd go with 3.5 on the width.

HTH

House

 

[noobzy]

Not sure I understand entirely...
are you planning to remove the current baffles? How?

There are no baffles in the rear chamber at the moment. Hence the DIY project. It's all just one big compartment, with a slottable fuge "container".

I'd be concerned that once you add floss and chemi-pure into that second compartment (that you plan to add) that will double as the bubble trap..do you think the water is going to easily pass through that and go under that baffle into the fuge without a ton of resistance?

Well... that's why I'm asking. I don't want to create too many baffles because I just don't have that much room in the chamber.

 

[noobzy]

As for the above image - looks manageable,however, I'd go with 3.5 on the width.

3.5 on which? The pathway for filter floss and chemipure?

 

[KathyC]

There are no baffles in the rear chamber at the moment. Hence the DIY project. It's all just one big compartment, with a slottable fuge "container".


Well... that's why I'm asking. I don't want to create too many baffles because I just don't have that much room in the chamber.

Sorry this is dragging on Nooz..I'm sure you'd like to be ripping it apart about now...

New question..
a slottable fuge container??
Are you saying that what currently looks like (in the actual picture you attached) 2 baffles is a 3 (?) sided (including the bottom) basket kinda thing?

Why not use that as your base for your new baffles since it fits in there so well and take it out & mod it (or you could make it longer so it can have the 3rd baffle attached to it) and glue solid pieces of plexi onto the 2 long upright slotted pieces?

You could do all that out of the tank and allow to dry and then plop it back in.

Does that make any sense to you?

Not so sure you'll really have much space for a true fuge in that area, with sand rock, chaeto. You may have to settle for just chaeto.

If I may speak for Jim, I think he may agree the 2" width is too narrow to try and force water through between the skimmer and the fuge area. It will back up with the resistance from the floss/chemi-pure.

Hadn't you once asked before about the issue with the bubbles caused by that skimmer? No other solution than a bubble trap?

 

[noobzy]

Haha... no worries about the back and forth; I'm not the kind of person who just tears things apart without a proper plan.

It's basically a three sided basket thing, yes. Gluing acrylic to it is a very good idea... Not sure if that leaves me 3.5 inches for the filter floss + Chemipure channel, but I'll measure it tonight. Sounds like a plan, regardless

Bubbles should be resolved if I can get this plan implemented and also put an overflow in (I'll glue the overflow in place with IC Gel - that also sounded good).

Thanks again!