in sump baffle height?

[ultimate125]

my sump is 36x12x15 1/2"...how tall should I make the baffles?

from L to R I'll have a refugium, return pump area, and skimmer area.
do you really need a bubble trap? I was thinking I would just have 2 dividers for the separate sections...?
kinda like Tswifty8's here

also, on the baffle height keep in mind I need some room for if the power goes out!

thanks!

 

[Capt_Cully]

bubble traps work exceptionally well.

How ever high you make them, make sure to allow for the amount of flow going thru the sump. If they are too high, you'll get alot of splashing and salt creep. Alot depends on your return pumps power and your overflows capacity.

 

[Tswifty]

I don't think they do... or well I should say I'm unsure how well they function with regard to microbubbles

I've ran sumps with them, and my new one doesn't use one... don't notice a difference. I'm run a filter sock on my skimmer's output until it finishes the break in period, and I have no bubbles in my DT.

I think you can minimize or just about eliminate any other bubbles being created by controlling the water levels in your different sections well.

That's just my opinion though.

 

[ultimate125]

ok, thanks!
I have a ocean runner 3500 pump and 2 1" overflows...

 

[Capt_Cully]

Tswifty is right, you can control bubbles with filter socks, very well.

My bubble trap is right before my return section of sump. I notice that when water is too high (for example, when I shut down skimmer to clean water level goes up) and it flow over versus thru the baffles/ bubble trap, I get microbubbles in the display.

I say, better to have it and not need it, versus need it and not have it. It would be miserable to have to take it all down to install one. What's one more slab-o-glass anywho. :thumbsup:

 

[drparker]

I agree add baffles upfront to the skimmer side. Because of the slower flow through my fuge side it has just the single wall.

Don't make the baffle spacing too skinny as the water flow would be to swift through them to allow any bubbles to rise. My 2nd fuge design has the trap walls set at 1.5" apart and works much better than when they were 1".

 

[ultimate125]

thanks for the advice!

 

[ultimate125]

well, I got the baffles in my sump today...
have a 17" long section for my skimmer, a 8" section for my return and a 10" section for my fuge...everything went well!

now just gonna let it cure and then a leak test on sunday!

btw its an acrylic tank from glasscages.com w/acrylic baffles...
nice quality on the tank, and very friendly place