Hi, I would like to share the sump/refugium we made using a 40g breeder.
Besides the tank you will need:
100% Silicone - I used GE Window and door - Just make sure it's 100% Silicone
4 pieces of 3/16" glass cut to:
1 piece 14 5/8 x 17 1/2"
3 pieces 9 x 17 1/2"
We built this about 5 1/2 years ago, I just measured the glass because I couldn't remember what the dimensions were. Please check the measurement for the width of the glass to make sure that it will fit, too tight and it makes it difficult to fit in.
You need to decide how much room you want in each section of the sump. If I had it to do over I would make the equipment and refugium sides larger and the return smaller.
Here are my dimensions: Hard to get exact measurements with water flowing!
Equipment side: About 9" wide: it's 10-1/4" to center piece of glass, space between center & outside pieces is about 1-1/8"
Center return: about 11-1/4" wide
Refugium: 11"wide
First we installed the center piece of glass on the equipment side of the tank! The reason we installed this piece first is so that we could place silicone on both sides of the glass. You need more stability for this piece as it is not touching the bottom of the tank. Leave it at least 1" off the bottom, mine is about 1-1/8" off the bottom, do to the thickness of the piece of wood we set it on. Make sure everything is square and silicone it into place!
The two outside pieces sit on the bottom of the tank as does the refugium glass. Again square up and place a board in between to keep your spacing even! You will only be able to silicone the outside edges and bottom of the glass on the equipment side. You can also silicone in the refugium glass at this time.
Hope this helps anyone that wants to save some money. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Besides the tank you will need:
100% Silicone - I used GE Window and door - Just make sure it's 100% Silicone
4 pieces of 3/16" glass cut to:
1 piece 14 5/8 x 17 1/2"
3 pieces 9 x 17 1/2"
We built this about 5 1/2 years ago, I just measured the glass because I couldn't remember what the dimensions were. Please check the measurement for the width of the glass to make sure that it will fit, too tight and it makes it difficult to fit in.
You need to decide how much room you want in each section of the sump. If I had it to do over I would make the equipment and refugium sides larger and the return smaller.
Here are my dimensions: Hard to get exact measurements with water flowing!
Equipment side: About 9" wide: it's 10-1/4" to center piece of glass, space between center & outside pieces is about 1-1/8"
Center return: about 11-1/4" wide
Refugium: 11"wide
First we installed the center piece of glass on the equipment side of the tank! The reason we installed this piece first is so that we could place silicone on both sides of the glass. You need more stability for this piece as it is not touching the bottom of the tank. Leave it at least 1" off the bottom, mine is about 1-1/8" off the bottom, do to the thickness of the piece of wood we set it on. Make sure everything is square and silicone it into place!
The two outside pieces sit on the bottom of the tank as does the refugium glass. Again square up and place a board in between to keep your spacing even! You will only be able to silicone the outside edges and bottom of the glass on the equipment side. You can also silicone in the refugium glass at this time.
Hope this helps anyone that wants to save some money. Please let me know if you have any questions!
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