Can Plexi Glass Be Used For Sump Baffels

[sweetpea355]

Well as the titke says can it be used ?
Thanks
Joe

[meco65]

I have a 20gal tank with plexi glass baffels and it work great.

[sweetpea355]

thanks for the help.
Joe

[nietzsche]

do you just use sillicone for it to attach it to the glass?

[meco65]

Thats the way I did mine, I did put it on a little heavy just to be safe.

[Engine 7]

If possible use 1/4" plexi. I used 1/8" and they bow in. I used a really thick bead of silicone with mine.

[Urban_Squrill]

I have used 1/4'' in my sumps before.

[Keelay]

Plexiglass is a brand name for acrylic. they make tanks out of acrylic. Yes is is reef safe. I have an acrylic tank and acrylic (plexiglass) baffles in my sump.

[meco65]

I think mine is 1/4 inch also its been up for 5 to 6 months and is as good as the day I made it.

[sweetpea355]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Keelay.

[Arthur1]

Have used acrylic on many sumps not ever a problem. 1/4'' on tanks 12'' wide and 3/8'' of tanks 18'' wide so there is no bowing. Copious amount of silicone, a level and a bench grinder to slightly round the botton corners of the bottom pieces and you're good to go Have fun

[Timbor]

is acrylic cheaper to buy than glass for baffles?

[bkoz]

I think there comparable in price but with acrilic you dont have to have it cut, much easyer to work with.

FWIW, I also have a 20L with acrilic baffles and have had no problems. Just make sure to use the proper silicone.

[scubadoo2]

Hey meco65,
Love the Avatar!
DougK

[Schplitter]

Acrylic will be about 3X the cost of glass. If you can have your HD cut the glass for you I would go that way but acrylic will work...

[scubadoo2]

Our local Home Depot no longer will cut glass. They sell acrylic panels as window glass replacement. I get my glass at the Local Ace Hardware, and they are pricey!

[bkoz]

Originally posted by scubadoo2
Our local Home Depot no longer will cut glass. They sell acrylic panels as window glass replacement. I get my glass at the Local Ace Hardware, and they are pricey!

I found the same to be true. It just seems easyer to me to buy a sheet of acrilic/plexi and cut it yourself.

[GrandeGixxer]

When you are using acrylic, make sure that you cut it about 1/8th" short. Acrylic takes on water the first couple of months and actually expands. You can crack a glass tank this way if they are tight fitting. I used 1/4" on my 40 breeder sump and it worked out fine.

[scubadoo2]

Good tip, Thanks!

[ufans]

I used acrylic on my 75gal sump and definitely regret it. The acrylic bows. I strongly suggest going with glass.

use posterboard to cut out the template and take it to HD. You can save money and eliminate any worries.

[Keelay]

Originally posted by ufans
I used acrylic on my 75gal sump and definitely regret it. The acrylic bows. I strongly suggest going with glass.

use posterboard to cut out the template and take it to HD. You can save money and eliminate any worries.

ufans does have a good point IF you intend on having a large weir with a water fall over it. The only reason to have large water fall (IMO) is if you are not implementing an ATO. IF you have an ATO, your water level will remain constant without a waterfall and there will be little pressure on any baffle to make it bow.

Water falls create noise, microbubbles, and salt spray. If you can avoid or minimize them do. An all cases avoiding and minimizing a waterfall will keep a baffle from bowing.

IF your not building an ATO, and therefore will have a water fall in the sump, and you're set on acrylic you can do something like the following:
Check the small strip across the last baffle to make it rigid at the top.

[scubadoo2]

What's an ATO?

[a1amap]

Auto top off

[Keelay]

Sorry