Pressure Locking Baffles for sump

[sirpat]

I stumbled across this article and it so cool. I'm surprised that we haven't seen some variation of this before. I'm in the process of rebuilding my entire system, and this will be a big help. Check it out:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i1/Baffles/baffles.htm

[dakar]

Now that looks like an interesting approach... a reconfigurable sump/refugium, minus the mess and fuss of silicone. If you find a retail source for the EPDM weather strip be sure to post it!

[PurpleAardvark]

Oh boy this means no more fingers glued together. Nice find I am going to have to try that one.

[lReef lKeeper]

very good idea, as Dave said ... if you find a retail source for the EPDM weather strip be sure to post it!! to bad i didnt know about this before i made my sump with silicone.

[perpetual98]

That's killer! I think I have a bunch of that stuff at work! Saving to my forum. :)

[Whoyah]

That is a pretty cool idea. I am curious to know how well it works. I wonder how it would work on a larger sump with more pressure.

[dakar]

Eric did you find any of the EPDM weather stripping hanging around? I need to make a couple of sumps and would like to give this a shot instead of gumming up a tank with silicone.

[perpetual98]

I have a couple different types of it, but I'm not terribly sure if it's EPDM. How do you tell? I have some that's about 1/2" wide and kinda pourous, and some that's about 1" wide (you could cut it I suppose) that is less pourous.

Eric

[dakar]

Any guess who might have it retail?

[terrible-one]

i am also wondering where i can get that stuff?? its not the same stuff as is at canadian tire or home depo is it?

[jojo22]

Time to bring back an old thread. Has anyone tried this yet???? I am considering it as an option on the sump for my 72 gal.

[seahorsedreams]

Thanks for the bump! I have to build a sump for the Mantis tank!

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

Good idea. I want to add a bigger sump to the 75 so I can have a fuge in there. The little 20-30g seaclear sump isn't big enough. I will have to track down the EPDM. I love building sumps. Each one is better then the last. I just hate pulling the old one out. Now I won't have to. I can just rearrange it. you know us women. We're always rearranging things.

[Whoyah]

Has anyone tracked down where we can buy the EPDM stripping at???? Does it go by different name? I would like to add an additional baffle to my current sump. This would be much simplier.

[jojo22]

Boat supply/repair stores. Maby even the local marina.

[reefgeek]

EPDM=ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber

Your weather stripping in your car=EPDM

Frostking makes EPDM stripping @ your local Home Depot, Lowes, or other such hardware supply place... You can get it at marine supply but you will pay through the nose....

Its kind of funny, I just got done replacing a bunch of stripping on an airplane I co-own with a buddy.... and I went to the garage, and OMG its EPDM !

[Whoyah]

Thanks for the tips. On the stuff from the hardware store, does it have a sticky back on it?

[dakar]

Its kind of funny, I just got done replacing a bunch of stripping on an airplane I co-own with a buddy.... and I went to the garage, and OMG its EPDM !

OT: Maybe I should get you to talk to Angel about why I should be 'allowed' to buy an airplane.... LOL This post will earn me a good lump!

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

http://heating-and-cooling.hardwarestore.com/33-160-weatherstripping/premium-epdm-rubber-weatherstripping-285593.aspx


Will this work?

Angie

[reefgeek]

yep... the adhesive should peel off with a hairdryer, or it should at least kind of ball up as you rub it down the strip on top of itself.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

good and thanks since I already ordered it for my new sump.

Angie

[Whoyah]

Thanks.

[jojo22]

good and thanks since I already ordered it for my new sump.

Angie


YEAH finally someone else to try this before I do!!!!

YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT!!!
:WHY: becasue you love all of us and would do so just to make us happy!

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

I will post the pics of the sump project as I go. I get the tank tomorrow, I have no idea when the weather stripping will get here. Soon I hope. I ordered it Tuesday afternoon so it probably didn't ship untill yesterday.

Angie

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

Just FYI... ace hardware also carries EPDM. I just picked up 2 -17ft rolls for future sump projects. $7.49 a roll.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

Ok, maybe not future sump projects, lol. If I decide to section the 75g into fry tanks I will use it there. That way I can adjust the "sections" as needed without using silicone. Woo Hoo......I like that Idea. Nothing is permenent anymore!!!

Angie

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

Here is the sump I'm building with the EPDM.

Angie

[Whoyah]

Thanks for the photo and price info. Just something else I need to pick up at the hardware store.

[jojo22]

You cuttin those things up yet??? It's not nice to tease us like that.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

more pics.....Done

[jojo22]

Do they seam preaty sturdy??? how tight was the fit???

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

To cut the plexi I used the dremel cut off wheel. It worked much better than the saw. No chips or cracks. You just have to hold it on it's side and run it down your line, then snap it. Kinda like a "deep" score mark.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

They are sturdy.....getting them to fit was interresting. They were too tight the first cut, so I sanded them with the sanding disk on my dremel. They fit now. Thay arn't wiggleing out of place that's for sure. :)

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

I also had to trim the bottom corners to get them to fit tight to the bottom. (around the tank's silicone)


I'm tired so I will get it installed under the 75g in the morning. I will have to get the rest of the plumbing done then. I had parent teacher conferences tonight so I didn't have as much time to work on it as I had hoped.

[RHAPALA]

i'm really looking forward to hearing and seeing more about this i too am thinking of doing it you really must show the finished product

[Whoyah]

Looks great. Thanks for all of the pictures. Any suggestions on the gap that should between the panel and the tank walls for a good fit but easy installation?

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

All I can tell you is that it's not "quite" as easy as the instructions make it sound. You may have to trim it. Then again, it may fit better for you. I'm sure I've said it before, building things is not one of my stronger qualities. I may have measured wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

If I can do it, chances are anyone can. I can't believe nobody else has tried this yet. I didn't take the adhesive off of the EPDM. According to the directions we're supposed to leave it on to stick it to the baffles. It's a very thin line of adhesive.

Bending the acrylic to get it into place is kinda tricky. At only 11 3/4 long and 10 in. high it doesn't bend well.

Good luck......I want to see other people's sumps when they are done.

Angie

[RHAPALA]

Angie
is this just a sump or asump/refudge??

[RHAPALA]

also plz when ya get everything in it show it off to us :)

[jojo22]

Jim from what i'm seeing it appears to be a combo, I could be wrong depending on what she is doing but he middle section is generally the fuge, couple this with the fact that it is for the ponys and if it's not a combo you can smack me with a jelly donut and call me grandma.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

It is a combo. Looking at the pic 1st chamber is for my mag 9.5 return. Middle is for the fuge., and the far right is for the ASM G3 and the water draining from the 75g seahorse tank. In the fuge there will be 3-5 lbs LR rubble (whatever fits) and a 4" sandbed.

[jojo22]

WHEW!!! *wipes sweat from forehead*

[perpetual98]

Hmm, I didn't think a G3 would fit in there. What are your dimensions? (Or did I miss them?)

[RHAPALA]

sweet i too am thinking of doing the same set up next week when i get my 75 gal. i'm planing on moving my rock that i hace now along with a sand bed and put it into a 10 gal tank and turn my 30 gal into the sump/fudge and run the tank while the new tank cycles with new rock............one other question are your baffles solid? do they have the for the lack of a better work notcher at the bottem to make it stand higher theb the other too?.....also i read that ya left the paper on the seal?? how is that gonna affect the tank? or will it not??

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

I just wanted to update this thread and make a few suggestions. Make sure you use thicker acrylic then I did for the sump baffles. Mine were too thin and didn't hold well. I ended up running beads of silicone along the edges of all of the baffles to keep them in place. Once it was filled with water and had actual water pressure against it, it was pretty flimsey.
I didn't want to take any chances of the baffles letting loose once it was under the stand. I would not be able to repair it under there and I already have to tear the tank down or cut the center brace to get it installed.
So my moveable baffles are no longer moveable :( But it's sturdy now. Now I just have to get it installed. I'm tired of looking at on the floor next to the tank.....ya just know I'm gonna cut the stand's center brace don't ya??? Please don't break.....please don't break.....please don't break...................

Angie