Glass baffles in Sump

Carriegiesler · 11/07/2009, 06:05 AM

When putting glass baffles into a glass aquarium to build a sump do you need to leave extra room on each side of the side baffle for exspansion like you do for acrylic. Will the silicone need room to exspand. I ask this because the sheets of glass I am working with are pre-cut exactly 12 inches wide and my tank is 12 in wide. Should I trim alittle off each side.
Thanks
Carrie

Carriegiesler · 11/07/2009, 07:09 AM

I had to trim the edges as it wouldn't fit. So I took off an entire 1/4 inch to allow to semi snuggle fit with fill in space for silicone. I only cracked one piece of glass, but it is still usable. Not the prettiest cuts, but glass cutting is alot harder than as decribed. It is a one shot kinda deal.

Jim96SC2 · 11/07/2009, 09:09 AM

I made templates out of cardboard with about 1/16th space on either side.

knowles101 · 11/07/2009, 10:35 AM

When I was setting up my 30 gallon sump I just had the glass cut to the size of the inner walls. When I installed them they were snug but not tight, the silicone did the rest and they never budged.

Nickjr000 · 11/07/2009, 09:05 PM

yeah for glass a tight fit is good

NanoReefWanabe · 11/07/2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carriegiesler

I had to trim the edges as it wouldn't fit. So I took off an entire 1/4 inch to allow to semi snuggle fit with fill in space for silicone. I only cracked one piece of glass, but it is still usable. Not the prettiest cuts, but glass cutting is alot harder than as decribed. It is a one shot kinda deal.

dont be discouraged cutting glass isnt all that difficult...trimming it a 1/4" is a way different story though..painfully difficult...much easier done with a dremel or wet sanding.

a 32nd to a 16th is the desirable thickness of silicone between the tank and the baffles, 1/8" wont hurt but wont be as strong (strength of joint is of very little concern in a sump though )...you dont want the baffles touching the tank, but at the same time you dont want the the baffles floating either..

danrobberg · 11/07/2009, 10:00 PM

i had a 40 breader for a sump, and i put two glass pannels in and put them in snugly. what a nightmare. it cracked the tank. the tank was put in the stand befor the main display because it was too big to fit through the stands doors. so when i had to remove it i had no choice but to take a hammer to the 40 breader. do you have any idea how hard it is to break a tank under a stand with a hammer. worse reefkeeping experiance i ever had. make sure to leave enough room. just use a lot of silicone

tat2shawn · 11/07/2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickjr000

yeah for glass a tight fit is good

This info is not correct. You need A littlegap between the glass for the silicone to fill.

bglegs · 11/08/2009, 09:12 AM

I just made my sump/fuge last weekend out of 55gal.The glass baffles are about an 1/8 to 3/16 shy of the width and they seem strong enough to hold.

Carriegiesler · 11/08/2009, 09:49 AM

Well I worked on it most of the day yesterday and I trimed all the glass only breaking one piece completely in half and chiping another. I trimed one side of each piece down. There is about 1/8-1/4" on each side in which I filled in with silicone.

It is definitly not the neatest workmanship. However for my first attempt siliconing a larger project and cutting glass...its not bad. I will do a water test once the silicone has curred for 48 hours. I will try and post pics later.

11/07/2009, 06:05 AM	#1
Carriegiesler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 245	Glass baffles in Sump When putting glass baffles into a glass aquarium to build a sump do you need to leave extra room on each side of the side baffle for exspansion like you do for acrylic. Will the silicone need room to exspand. I ask this because the sheets of glass I am working with are pre-cut exactly 12 inches wide and my tank is 12 in wide. Should I trim alittle off each side. Thanks Carrie

11/07/2009, 09:05 PM	#5
Nickjr000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jersey Posts: 17	yeah for glass a tight fit is good __________________ It's a money pit! Current Tank Info: 215 Mixed reef

11/07/2009, 07:09 AM	#2
Carriegiesler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 245	I had to trim the edges as it wouldn't fit. So I took off an entire 1/4 inch to allow to semi snuggle fit with fill in space for silicone. I only cracked one piece of glass, but it is still usable. Not the prettiest cuts, but glass cutting is alot harder than as decribed. It is a one shot kinda deal.

11/07/2009, 09:09 AM	#3
Jim96SC2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 181	I made templates out of cardboard with about 1/16th space on either side.

11/07/2009, 10:35 AM	#4
knowles101 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 14	When I was setting up my 30 gallon sump I just had the glass cut to the size of the inner walls. When I installed them they were snug but not tight, the silicone did the rest and they never budged.

11/07/2009, 10:00 PM	#7
danrobberg Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 193	i had a 40 breader for a sump, and i put two glass pannels in and put them in snugly. what a nightmare. it cracked the tank. the tank was put in the stand befor the main display because it was too big to fit through the stands doors. so when i had to remove it i had no choice but to take a hammer to the 40 breader. do you have any idea how hard it is to break a tank under a stand with a hammer. worse reefkeeping experiance i ever had. make sure to leave enough room. just use a lot of silicone

11/08/2009, 09:12 AM	#9
bglegs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 15	I just made my sump/fuge last weekend out of 55gal.The glass baffles are about an 1/8 to 3/16 shy of the width and they seem strong enough to hold.

11/08/2009, 09:49 AM	#10
Carriegiesler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 245	Well I worked on it most of the day yesterday and I trimed all the glass only breaking one piece completely in half and chiping another. I trimed one side of each piece down. There is about 1/8-1/4" on each side in which I filled in with silicone. It is definitly not the neatest workmanship. However for my first attempt siliconing a larger project and cutting glass...its not bad. I will do a water test once the silicone has curred for 48 hours. I will try and post pics later.