baffle sizes

[sir_dudeguy]

ok, so my rubbermaid sump failed, as a few of you guys said it would oh well...it was just an experiment and i spent a total of 5 dollars on it....and now i know how to NOT make one.

anyways, i've now got a 20 gal glass tank that i'm going to use instead. i believe its 17 inches high, 12 inches front to back, and i dont know how long it is.

but how tall do i want the baffles? and do i just need 3? I will have a skimmer section, and possibly a fuge, but i'm not counting on the fuge for now.

someone posted some graphics design thing on a previous thread...i'll try using that to show what i'm picturing in my head.

but how tall do i need them?

 

[dcombs44]

People do lots of different things as far as baffles go. Some put 3 very close together, some space them out....as long as the bubbles created by the overflow entering the sump are able to reach the surface before the water hits the return you'll be ok..

Here's my old 10 gallon....I don't have any pics of my new 29 gallon yet...

It's kinda hard to see because of the small space in the stand, but you get the idea.....3 panels with 4 sections.....the first and 3 panels i split half way, and i left the 2nd panel shorter to create a "waterfall"

 

[GROSSR]

The height of the baffle depends on how much water will flow back into your sump if the pumps either fail due to no electricity or you turn off the pumps.

You can put the baffles so they go to the top, but make sure if you lose the pump little water will flow back into the sump.

My Lifereef sump I would guess was about 60% of the sump volume when it operated normal, and almost filled up when the pumps were turn off.

I have a 30 gallon that is about 18" tall and I have the baffles about 12". I siliconed in the baffles, so I can change the set up if I so desire.

rich

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ok thanks. my sump is 17" high, and i'm thinking of running just a little over half full..so i'll go for 9 inches i think. Also, i know that i've gotta watch for backflow from the return pump, but my return pump has a vave thing on it that can close off so no water can go either way...cant i just use that to stop backflow? altho i see your point on power outages, i'd have to manually turn it off...And i'm guessing theres no such thing as an auto...valve shutter thingy huh? lol

 

[CoolUsername]

I just modeled my sump using SketchUp (free google tool) Here it is:

This is just one variation of a sump design. I wanted all the cycle water to be forced through the refugium/DSB partition. This also made me make the skimmer section pretty deep. I have a custom skimmer designed aroung this. You can prop up any skimmer if you have the cab't height. But all skimmers have a max running height.

The overflow in the fuge is 14" high. So the water level is 14" high.

Design you bubble traps to make efficient use of space. Upward water current sections should be small and downward current should be as large as possible. The removes the most bubbles in a given baffle space.

Good luck.

 

[GROSSR]

I wouldn't worry about the valve you are talking about if you use it control the flow into the tank. I have one and I use it to throttle back the pump.

If you lose power, that would be the real test. 50% might be on the low side. Me personally, I would increase that to about 12 inches.

You want as much water in the sump as possible.

rich

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ok so 12 inches it is. i just dont wanna have the thing flood when/if the power goes out. Its a 20 gal. sump on a 40 breeder. And how far under should i have the returns?

 

[dngspot]

You can use a volume calculator, google it. Then just adjust the hight of the empty space in the refigium. This will tell you how high the baffles should be.
Good luck.

 

[CoolUsername]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7929184#post7929184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
ok thanks. my sump is 17" high, and i'm thinking of running just a little over half full..so i'll go for 9 inches i think. Also, i know that i've gotta watch for backflow from the return pump, but my return pump has a vave thing on it that can close off so no water can go either way...cant i just use that to stop backflow? altho i see your point on power outages, i'd have to manually turn it off...And i'm guessing theres no such thing as an auto...valve shutter thingy huh? lol

There are check valves for just this purpose, to keep water flowing one way (brevent backflow) but they require maintanence (periodic cleaning) I wouldn't want to rely on one.

 

[CoolUsername]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7930528#post7930528 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
ok so 12 inches it is. i just dont wanna have the thing flood when/if the power goes out. Its a 20 gal. sump on a 40 breeder. And how far under should i have the returns?

Put the returns where you want them in terms of flow. Use a siphon break to limit return siphoning.

To do this: Put your return in where you want it. Fill the tank get your system running. Mark the water line on the return plumbing. drain some water out or remove the return pipes. Then drill a hole (1/8"-1/4") in the return pipe about 1/4" to 1/2" below the water surface and put the return back and water back. Turn it back on.

Now when you turn off the main pump you will get only 1/4" - 1/2 inch of the display water back in the sump.