Reconfigurable baffles!

Can u move the baffles around with the sump full? Or would you have to drain it?

 

Nice idea, but it won't hold since the acrylic will bent/bow under the water pressure causing it to come undone. Also, I'd be concerned about the glue on the strips not being aquarium safe.

 

Nope, all you do is just un-wedge them, if that makes sense.

The acrylic doesn't bend or bow, because the water pressure is very small, almost equal from one side to the other. These are baffles, not walls of an aquarium... they just direct the flow of water, not contain it.

As for the glue, from everyone i've talked to, the glue is fine. That, and i've seen no ill effects of my own. Also, I doubt the glue is water soluable, as it's a weatherproofing strip...

 

I well a sure you the acrylic bents from the pressure, heat & even light. The properties of the acrylic changes over time. As for the glue, I'd be concern about possible toxins leaching into the water. But I do hope the best for you.

 

This isn't a new idea. We've been using it for years... and it works. If your acrylic bows so that it comes undone.... you're using acrylic that is too thin.

 

Thats a cool idea, sounds interesting. Wish I had seen that before.

 

If all the water levels are equal, it should continue to work fine for you. I only had the 1 baffle fail over and over, and since you've addressed that problem you should be good. Wet web media has a nice write up with detailed instructions/pics for those of you that are interested.

 

If the water level on each side of the baffle is equal the pressure difference will be negligible and should be equal. Also glass also changes over time as well but no one worries about that. It may be an issue if you plan to use for many decades other than that I would not worry about the time effects on acrylic. The pressure on one side will equal the pressure on the other side. I would be confident in their longevity, it just makes engineering sense.

 

I did something like that but I used 1/4 plexi for the baffles and wedged them in with angled pieces. Worked really well. But I found that the gray closed cell weather striping fared much better than the Black stuff which after some time started to deteriorate.

 

Thanks Incognito, I was going to say the same thing. Also all those people that say acrylic baffles cant be used in glass sumps are wrong. Not that I want to hijack this thread or reopen this debate.

"If you have a glass sump and want to add acrylic baffles, we all know silicone just doesnt seem to cut it."

Use the proper silicone and enough silicone and you dont have issues. If you buy AQUARIUM SILICONE (sold by All Glass Aquariums) that says it bonds to glass AND acrylic (not the GE stuff) and you use the proper thickness of acrylic for the baffles you will not have a problem. My sump has been set up for years with a glass tank and acrylic baffles. It took me almost an hour to remove one of the baffles when I upgraded to a larger skimmer.