Baffle Design

[Lucas M]

I'm putting together my 40B frag system finally, and using a 20L as the sump. As this is a frag system, I don't need a true fuge, but I do want a space to put some live rock.

I already have a hang on filter sock/mount, Reef Octopus 4" skimmer, and Mag Drive 7 return pump. I'm going to add a BRS carbon/GFO reactor that will be externally mounted, but the flow pump will be in the sump.

I was going to do a 3 chamber sump with two sets of double baffles separating the chambers. Thoughts? I think this might be overkill. Do I even need to have a baffled system at all if I'm not going to have a sand bed/fuge in the sump?

Thanks in advance.

 

[northbay-reefer]

You probably not going to beed a baffle. My sump don't have any baffles and it is working just fine.

 

[Lucas M]

Good to hear. Thanks Tom.

 

[lokii_37]

the only reason i added baffles to my sump was so that i could keep a consistant water level in the skimmer section.

 

[coralfarmer]

Tom's right just a filter sock will work fine. But the reef octopus skimmers are a little finicky about water level.

 

[Lucas M]

My skimmer has a gate valve on the outlet, so water level will be manually controllable separate from sump water level.

 

[lokii_37]

I may be wrong but even with a gate valve as the water level drops from evaporation you will need to be constantly adjusting the valve.

 

[Lucas M]

Not if the gate valve outlet is above the water level, the change won't be substantial. Even still, I'll eventually put in an ATO.

 

[northbay-reefer]

If you have a good ATO, you won't have to worry about water level. I just use a simple Kent float valve and gravity feed the RO water. This has works fine for me for the last 10-15 years.