What is the purpose of a third sump baffle?

dtaranath · 11/17/2010, 12:43 PM

title says it all. Many designs seem to use the three baffles (over, under over). If the water in a sump goes over the first baffle and under a second baffle into the return pump area, why does it need to go over a third baffle? It seems that if the water level gets too low in the return pump area, the waterfall over the third baffle will cause more bubbles.

jeff@zina.com · 11/17/2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtaranath

It seems that if the water level gets too low in the return pump area, the waterfall over the third baffle will cause more bubbles.

Bubbles are no problem. Microbubbles from the skimmer are. Besides, a fall of a dew inches doesn't really produce bubbles.

Jeff

der_wille_zur_macht · 11/17/2010, 02:28 PM

Also, it helps break up the surface of the water. If you have water flowing under an "under" baffle with no "over" baffle after it, it's common for the surface to get stagnant, which can cause a nasty film to collect.

RocketSurgeon · 11/18/2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by der_wille_zur_macht

Also, it helps break up the surface of the water. If you have water flowing under an "under" baffle with no "over" baffle after it, it's common for the surface to get stagnant, which can cause a nasty film to collect.

I have noticed this, as I am only running two baffles. I put a K nano power head to help circulate the water surface.

11/17/2010, 12:43 PM	#1
dtaranath Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 542	What is the purpose of a third sump baffle? title says it all. Many designs seem to use the three baffles (over, under over). If the water in a sump goes over the first baffle and under a second baffle into the return pump area, why does it need to go over a third baffle? It seems that if the water level gets too low in the return pump area, the waterfall over the third baffle will cause more bubbles.

11/17/2010, 02:28 PM	#3
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Also, it helps break up the surface of the water. If you have water flowing under an "under" baffle with no "over" baffle after it, it's common for the surface to get stagnant, which can cause a nasty film to collect. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

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