The effect of baffles in sump

Dr. Chek · 03/03/2006, 07:52 AM

I currently have a small wet/dry acting as my sump... I have a AquaC Urchin Skimmer with the heater and return pump...
There isn't any baffle system.
All 'good' sumps, have baffles...
by me not having baffles set up to divide the water between the skimmer zone and the return zone... will this effect my skimming efficiency?

lewismw · 03/03/2006, 08:51 AM

the baffles are not there to increase efficiency of the skimmer. they are mainly in place to release the air in the water caused by the skimmer. This reduces microbubbles making there way back into the main tank.

REEFUR · 03/03/2006, 08:54 AM

thnaks

Dr. Chek · 03/03/2006, 01:35 PM

I ask this because I find that my skimmer is not working as well as it should. I have been getting zero skimmate for the last two months. -Nitrates through the roof-
I cleaned the Urchin out, made sure injector was clean etc, but still isnt accumulating much skimmate.
what do you all think?

RichConley · 03/03/2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lewismw
the baffles are not there to increase efficiency of the skimmer. they are mainly in place to release the air in the water caused by the skimmer. This reduces microbubbles making there way back into the main tank.

Not completely true, having a baffle that can keep water at a consistent depth WILL increase skimmer performance, and is why most people have a skimmer section for their sump.

Dr. Chek · 03/03/2006, 01:45 PM

yeah I figure there is a important impact the baffles will have on the skimmer performance, what about only skimming the water once, if you are able to output it into the next section?
but then again, the Aqua C Urchin has recieved good reviews...
any pointers as I try to improve it?

thrlride · 03/03/2006, 02:22 PM

RichConley is right. Having a fixed water level in your sump greatly helps the performance as well as dispersing micro bubbles.

jjmatti · 03/03/2006, 02:41 PM

Dr. Chek

The urchin is a good skimmer, dont give up on it yet.. I use a remora as a hang on on a tank that I have no room to use a sump. Here are a couple questions for you..
1) what is you bioload and how much live rock do you have? I am assuming this is being used on the 37 gallon tank??
- Sometimes if you have a real light bioload and lots of live rock you have little skimmate due to natural filtration.. But you should still get some..
2) What pump are you using?
--- The bigger the better from what I have seen ... I have ran mine on the Rio, and now a Mag 3... I saw one that was being run on a Mag 7 and it was out of this world..
3) Are you using any water conditioner?? (Stress Coat, Selcon.etc.)
--- I had the same problem of limited skimmate because I was new to the hobby and adding stress coat... This oil basicly shuts down foam production for a while.. If you are using RO/DI water and aging it before water changes and top-offs you will not have a problem...
4) May be a dumb question but do you put your hands and arms in the water a lot....????
- - Same reason as the selcon and stress coat ... The natural body oils could be enough in a 37 gallon tank to inhibit foam production.. (I doubt it but let cover all the bases.)
5) Do you clean the collection cup often??
--- The cleaner the collection cup the better your skimmer will work.. I suggest cleaning every week.. To be honest the biggest mistake I made was getting the collection cup drain.. IMO you should clean the collectino cup every time it gets full.. Sometimes I tend to let it go to long because I have all the crud draining into a gallon milk jug...

Hope this helps.. Most of these tips came right from Aqua C... They have the greatest customer service...

Dr. Chek · 03/04/2006, 09:52 AM

jjmatti, thank you for your reply.

I am using it on my 37gal.
I have 35 lbs of LR, I have 5 fish, and a whole bunch of hermits, snails, etc.
I am using the MJ1200 pump with the skimmer.
I am not using any water conditioners.
I have stopped putting my arm/hands in the tank for the last two months ( I bought a extension for my scrapper)
I clean the collection cup every week.

thanks again for your help!

Dr. Chek · 03/04/2006, 09:54 AM

PS) my anemone looks nothing like that now! he is tiny and his tentacles are basically gone... too many nitrates, I'm doing gradual water changes now too lower them.
And fyi, I use RO/DI water courtesy of Typhoon III.

Dr. Chek · 03/04/2006, 12:14 PM

what do you think?

03/03/2006, 07:52 AM	#1
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	The effect of baffles in sump I currently have a small wet/dry acting as my sump... I have a AquaC Urchin Skimmer with the heater and return pump... There isn't any baffle system. All 'good' sumps, have baffles... by me not having baffles set up to divide the water between the skimmer zone and the return zone... will this effect my skimming efficiency? __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

03/03/2006, 01:35 PM	#4
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	I ask this because I find that my skimmer is not working as well as it should. I have been getting zero skimmate for the last two months. -Nitrates through the roof- I cleaned the Urchin out, made sure injector was clean etc, but still isnt accumulating much skimmate. what do you all think? __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

03/03/2006, 01:45 PM	#6
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	yeah I figure there is a important impact the baffles will have on the skimmer performance, what about only skimming the water once, if you are able to output it into the next section? but then again, the Aqua C Urchin has recieved good reviews... any pointers as I try to improve it? __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

03/03/2006, 02:22 PM	#7
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	RichConley is right. Having a fixed water level in your sump greatly helps the performance as well as dispersing micro bubbles. __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

03/04/2006, 09:52 AM	#9
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	jjmatti, thank you for your reply. I am using it on my 37gal. I have 35 lbs of LR, I have 5 fish, and a whole bunch of hermits, snails, etc. I am using the MJ1200 pump with the skimmer. I am not using any water conditioners. I have stopped putting my arm/hands in the tank for the last two months ( I bought a extension for my scrapper) I clean the collection cup every week. thanks again for your help! __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

03/03/2006, 08:51 AM	#2
lewismw Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Birmingham Posts: 275	the baffles are not there to increase efficiency of the skimmer. they are mainly in place to release the air in the water caused by the skimmer. This reduces microbubbles making there way back into the main tank.

03/03/2006, 08:54 AM	#3
REEFUR Moved On Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: shelby twp. MI 48317 Posts: 54	thnaks

03/03/2006, 02:41 PM	#8
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	Dr. Chek The urchin is a good skimmer, dont give up on it yet.. I use a remora as a hang on on a tank that I have no room to use a sump. Here are a couple questions for you.. 1) what is you bioload and how much live rock do you have? I am assuming this is being used on the 37 gallon tank?? - Sometimes if you have a real light bioload and lots of live rock you have little skimmate due to natural filtration.. But you should still get some.. 2) What pump are you using? --- The bigger the better from what I have seen ... I have ran mine on the Rio, and now a Mag 3... I saw one that was being run on a Mag 7 and it was out of this world.. 3) Are you using any water conditioner?? (Stress Coat, Selcon.etc.) --- I had the same problem of limited skimmate because I was new to the hobby and adding stress coat... This oil basicly shuts down foam production for a while.. If you are using RO/DI water and aging it before water changes and top-offs you will not have a problem... 4) May be a dumb question but do you put your hands and arms in the water a lot....???? - - Same reason as the selcon and stress coat ... The natural body oils could be enough in a 37 gallon tank to inhibit foam production.. (I doubt it but let cover all the bases.) 5) Do you clean the collection cup often?? --- The cleaner the collection cup the better your skimmer will work.. I suggest cleaning every week.. To be honest the biggest mistake I made was getting the collection cup drain.. IMO you should clean the collectino cup every time it gets full.. Sometimes I tend to let it go to long because I have all the crud draining into a gallon milk jug... Hope this helps.. Most of these tips came right from Aqua C... They have the greatest customer service...

03/04/2006, 09:54 AM	#10
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	PS) my anemone looks nothing like that now! he is tiny and his tentacles are basically gone... too many nitrates, I'm doing gradual water changes now too lower them. And fyi, I use RO/DI water courtesy of Typhoon III. __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS

03/04/2006, 12:14 PM	#11
Dr. Chek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Warrenton, VA Posts: 373	what do you think? __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 37 G, DIY stand/canopy, 10G Sump, 10G Fuge, Typhoon III, AquaC Urchin PS