What is your thought on adjustable sump baffles

[kniquy]

I posted this under the equipment page but i am thinking that i might get a better response from all you DIY people out there.

I am currently planning a 20g long sump. I saw online a way of making the baffles adjustable using insulating foam and plexi. It was termed - "pressure locking sump baffles". I know of the concern with using plexi baffles with a glass tank. I have heard that the plexi can swell and can crack the tank. This design using the foam around all the edges i would imagine would allow for some expansion of the plexi to help prevent damaging the tank.

i hope this is ok - here is the link to the website about the design
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume...bafflesart.htm

I really like the idea of making them adjustable so if i decide to change or add equipment in the future i am not limited to the space available in the sump.

Has anyone had experience with this type of sump set up?

 

[slief]

That link you posted didn't work. That said, I'm a big fan of adjustable baffles.

When I designed my latest sump fuge combo about 5 years ago, I included adjustable weirs into my design along with removable baffles. In my opinion, the ability to adjust sump levels is very useful in fine tuning a skimmer as well as eliminating micro bubbles. In my system, micro bubbles are not an issue at all. My sump/fuge design is not a traditional one. They are separate tanks with the fuge being downstream from the sump. Both the sump and fuge have compartmentalized return sections that are relegated to a corner. Both include an adjustable weirs with removable baffles. The adjustable weir is an acrylic plate held in place with nylon screws attached to the slots that protect the return section. Raise or lower the plate and the sump level rises or lowers. The baffles slide into acrylic tracks that hold them in place. This allows me to remove the baffles to make cleaning the return section easy as well as allowing me more flexibility had I needed to make a change to my baffling.

As it sits now, I have my baffles adjusted to their lowest position and use my float switches and ATO to control my sump levels but if I ever wanted or needed to maintain different levels in the sump and fuge, the adjustments could come in handy.

This is the return section of the sump. The down stream refugium has a very similar baffle/weir design. If you look close, you can see the adjustable weir in the front part of the return section.

Similar adjustable design in the refugiums return section.

This is the sump/fuge combo. Each tank is about 90 gallons and this system was designed to support high flow rates.

I put a lot of thought and time into this design and it's worked out great. I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[PolyReef]

It was built for 20 gallon aquarium

 

[kniquy]

Slief - that is quite an impressive set up. Seems far more advanced that I could ever design

 

[kniquy]

Just picked up my 20 gal at the petco $1 per gallon sale -- what a great deal!! I think it was originally about $46 and it was about $22 with tax. I am awaiting for my marine grade weather stripping to show up -- I am hoping that this will be ok to use with my adjustable baffles. I will certainly try.

I am guessing that if i don't make my water levels too different they should not be affected by any changes in water pressure and would hopefully not move.