Baffles, sump flow direction and water level

[Harris3005]

Hi everyone,

Just looking to check o have this sump the right way and I have a couple of questions about the picture below.

Am I right in thinking the water level in the drain section will be the height of the first baffle but the level in the return section will be adjustable?

Is the "under" baffle highlighted required or could I remove it for a bit more space in the return section?

Thanks!

 

[melonheadorion]

i would say it is not needed

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Hi everyone,

Just looking to check o have this sump the right way and I have a couple of questions about the picture below.

Am I right in thinking the water level in the drain section will be the height of the first baffle but the level in the return section will be adjustable?

Is the "under" baffle highlighted required or could I remove it for a bit more space in the return section?

Thanks!

It may or may not be needed. This all depends on the drop from the previous baffle and the amount of flow through the sump.

That last baffle is usually referred to as a "bubble trap". It helps to keep bubbles from water flowing over the baffle before it from making it to the return pump.

If this was my sump I would do the below from left to right. This is based on not having a refugium and only having a drain/sock chamber, then a skimmer chamber and then the return.



Drain section > then a baffle to where the water flows under > skimmer chamber > then a baffle to flow over 2" of space then a baffle to flow under > return chamber.

I would make the baffle height somewhat tall in the drain/sock chamber, then the baffle that will hold the water for the skimmer chamber just a tad higher than what the skimmer recommends for water height (easy to add a diy stand to raise skimmer up, and the the over baffle right before the return chamber to be just a couple inches (1-2") above the top of the pump.

This will usually ensure that there is enough room in the sump for back flow if the return fails or the power goes out.

 

[Harris3005]

It may or may not be needed. This all depends on the drop from the previous baffle and the amount of flow through the sump.

That last baffle is usually referred to as a "bubble trap". It helps to keep bubbles from water flowing over the baffle before it from making it to the return pump.

If this was my sump I would do the below from left to right. This is based on not having a refugium and only having a drain/sock chamber, then a skimmer chamber and then the return.



Drain section > then a baffle to where the water flows under > skimmer chamber > then a baffle to flow over 2" of space then a baffle to flow under > return chamber.

I would make the baffle height somewhat tall in the drain/sock chamber, then the baffle that will hold the water for the skimmer chamber just a tad higher than what the skimmer recommends for water height (easy to add a diy stand to raise skimmer up, and the the over baffle right before the return chamber to be just a couple inches (1-2") above the top of the pump.

This will usually ensure that there is enough room in the sump for back flow if the return fails or the power goes out.

This would mean re-doing all of the baffles though wouldn't it? That's what I'm trying to avoid to be honest. I think I'd honestly rather buy a new sump over cutting and siliconing glass

I'm going to keep it really simple As i know im limited with what i can do with the limited space. My roller filter will fit in the drain section and I'd hoped that my skimmer could just go in the same section as the return and I'll put the ato in that section too to keep the water level steady at about 8 inches?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

This would mean re-doing all of the baffles though wouldn't it? That's what I'm trying to avoid to be honest. I think I'd honestly rather buy a new sump over cutting and siliconing glass

I'm going to keep it really simple As i know im limited with what i can do with the limited space. My roller filter will fit in the drain section and I'd hoped that my skimmer could just go in the same section as the return and I'll put the ato in that section too to keep the water level steady at about 8 inches?

That sump will work, no question about it.

Your skimmer can be where your tank drains. You just may have to make a little stand for it from some eggcrate or scrap acrylic. It will not affect the skimmer being in the drain area.

I would suggest just setting the water level in the return section to be only a couple of inches (maybe higher if the pump sucks air at that height) in order to give the sump some more room for drain back. This will also keep and scum from being able to form in that section. If some does make it in there, it will be pulled in by the pump, shot through the tank, back down the drain and the skimmer can catch what it missed the first go around.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

That sump will work, no question about it.

Your skimmer can be where your tank drains. You just may have to make a little stand for it from some eggcrate or scrap acrylic. It will not affect the skimmer being in the drain area.

I would suggest just setting the water level in the return section to be only a couple of inches (maybe higher if the pump sucks air at that height) in order to give the sump some more room for drain back. This will also keep and scum from being able to form in that section. If some does make it in there, it will be pulled in by the pump, shot through the tank, back down the drain and the skimmer can catch what it missed the first go around.

You just set the water level in the return section by adding or removing water once the tank is running. You cannot set it with the return off, so my suggestion is to fill it to above the last baffle, get it all going, add water until the pump does not suck air and then set you ATO sensor at that level.

 

[Harris3005]

That all makes sense, thanks for all your help!

I may have to make a decision between the roller filter and the skimmer as i don't think I'll be able to squeeze the skimmer in the drain section once the roller filter is in there. I was hoping to use the small space beside the roller filter for some chaeto.

I take it my 8 inch water level in my original picture is a bit ambitious then? I suppose I'll know once I fill it to the level you suggested and turn everything back off and see how much drains back. Then I'll know if I can get away with a bit more water in that return section?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

That all makes sense, thanks for all your help!

I may have to make a decision between the roller filter and the skimmer as i don't think I'll be able to squeeze the skimmer in the drain section once the roller filter is in there. I was hoping to use the small space beside the roller filter for some chaeto.

I take it my 8 inch water level in my original picture is a bit ambitious then? I suppose I'll know once I fill it to the level you suggested and turn everything back off and see how much drains back. Then I'll know if I can get away with a bit more water in that return section?

Another option is to run the skimmer in the return section. Being as you plan to use a filter roller, having an undersized skimmer is usually the way to go. While this can lead to microbubbles making it through the return, there are ways around this, just a simple piece of coarse filter foam at the skimmer output or even turning the output away from the return pump can solve that.

I had 2 skimmers (reef octo 200 int) on a 100g rubbermaid tub as a sump for dual 7' tank system. I had 0 issues with bubbles and both skimmers were ran as hard as they could be run and only about 3" from the dual return pump. a little piece of mesh filter bag over the outlets was all that was needed until the skimmers were borke in. Once broke in, no micro bubbles.