sump baffles got me baffled!

Rothaquatix · 10/06/2009, 11:54 PM

so Ive noticed all my local fish retailers sumps all have stages divided by baffles so I you tubed a diy and went ahead and did it...bare with the lack of picks but my sump as is has one divider furthest to the right side from top to about 1 inch from the sump floor...this is where my outlet from my tank dumps water through a filter sock... so the fist thing i did was install the first baffle about 2 inches to the left of the factory divider starting from the sump floor to about halfway up the sump....this was followed by the exact same thing about a foot more to the left creating a dead area in the middle to which i had hoped to establish a refugium... after this, the last baffle mirrors the factory installed one so from top of sump to about 1 inch from the sump floor....after this water goes back up to the display tank.....so now that you have a mental image the problem is that since the flow of water i guess has slowed due to more obstructions the pump sucks that last chamber down till its suckin in air!! so I know a simple gate valve can solve this by limiting the pump but its barely enough gallons per hr on max to meet my tanks requirements.... so any opinions? ive been considering lowering my baffles to make for less restricted water flow but ive seen higher baffles operating in fish stores what am i missing?? thanks

atkinsg · 10/07/2009, 12:09 AM

Did you ever run this sump prior to adding your baffles? Is the pump pumping more water to your tank than the overflows can handle? Do you need more water in the sump?

Rothaquatix · 10/07/2009, 12:58 AM

yes ran fine prior to baffles......no the overflow boxs are reletively empty as im not using stand pipes and sump level is normal...hmmmm

Rothaquatix · 10/07/2009, 12:58 AM

on another note removed baffles now running fine...

hebygb · 10/07/2009, 08:07 AM

Puzzling because regardless of the baffles, once running, the amount of water out of the tank and the amount being returned is the same. The starvation of water in the 3rd chamber is likely due to a couple of things:

1. The need for more water in your system to compensate for the resevoir in the center section of the sump.

2. Perhaps you are restricting the flow in a new way, such as a sponge (could be dirty with debris... miracle mud, Chaeto, detritus) between the baffles.

One of the things you want to do is make sure that there is enough water volume in the system... Adding baffles does increase the need for more water, as well as the need for accurate float switches (for ATO). The addition of the baffles (to create a refugium) often times includes adding things like sponges, or bags of carbon in the bubble traps... this can inhibit the flow enough to cause the starvation in the return chamber.

hebygb · 10/07/2009, 08:08 AM

Just be sure that you still have enough room for the water to fill the sump if you the pumps are shut off or there is a power failure.

Bzar · 10/07/2009, 11:47 AM

hmmm
1) turn off pumps.
2) does the water level in the return pump section cover the return pump intake? If yes good. If not add more water.
3) turn on pumps. Does the water level in the return pump section go below the pump intake? If no good. If yes, add more water. (evap water should not be replaced with salt water, but with fresh).
4) I guess if adding more water doesn't fix it then check your drain pipes for blockages (fish, snails, aglae, etc). Could be something is messing with the drainage and now that you have sections the problem can become evident. Or perhaps the drain system can't keep up with the pump.

hth

Also as mentioned:

Quote:

Just be sure that you still have enough room for the water to fill the sump if you the pumps are shut off or there is a power failure.

Rothaquatix · 10/07/2009, 12:02 PM

all great advice the water level thing seems like it might be the tickit since i just simply replaced the exact water i removed it would make sence that the water level is too low if baffles require more water I will try to add more...So it sounds like this might be a bit of a liability as you guys stated if the filter pad or sponge becomes logged with debris when im not home I could possibly have an over flow....? also the baffles i made are removeable which alows a little water to make it through the seems but still does the job should i just silicone the seems and make it permanent? thanks

10/06/2009, 11:54 PM	#1
Rothaquatix Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West los angeles ca Posts: 136	sump baffles got me baffled! so Ive noticed all my local fish retailers sumps all have stages divided by baffles so I you tubed a diy and went ahead and did it...bare with the lack of picks but my sump as is has one divider furthest to the right side from top to about 1 inch from the sump floor...this is where my outlet from my tank dumps water through a filter sock... so the fist thing i did was install the first baffle about 2 inches to the left of the factory divider starting from the sump floor to about halfway up the sump....this was followed by the exact same thing about a foot more to the left creating a dead area in the middle to which i had hoped to establish a refugium... after this, the last baffle mirrors the factory installed one so from top of sump to about 1 inch from the sump floor....after this water goes back up to the display tank.....so now that you have a mental image the problem is that since the flow of water i guess has slowed due to more obstructions the pump sucks that last chamber down till its suckin in air!! so I know a simple gate valve can solve this by limiting the pump but its barely enough gallons per hr on max to meet my tanks requirements.... so any opinions? ive been considering lowering my baffles to make for less restricted water flow but ive seen higher baffles operating in fish stores what am i missing?? thanks

10/07/2009, 12:09 AM	#2
atkinsg Chemist/Software Dev Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 312	Did you ever run this sump prior to adding your baffles? Is the pump pumping more water to your tank than the overflows can handle? Do you need more water in the sump?

10/07/2009, 12:58 AM	#3
Rothaquatix Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West los angeles ca Posts: 136	yes ran fine prior to baffles......no the overflow boxs are reletively empty as im not using stand pipes and sump level is normal...hmmmm

10/07/2009, 08:07 AM	#5
hebygb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elmhurst, IL Posts: 2,207	Puzzling because regardless of the baffles, once running, the amount of water out of the tank and the amount being returned is the same. The starvation of water in the 3rd chamber is likely due to a couple of things: 1. The need for more water in your system to compensate for the resevoir in the center section of the sump. 2. Perhaps you are restricting the flow in a new way, such as a sponge (could be dirty with debris... miracle mud, Chaeto, detritus) between the baffles. One of the things you want to do is make sure that there is enough water volume in the system... Adding baffles does increase the need for more water, as well as the need for accurate float switches (for ATO). The addition of the baffles (to create a refugium) often times includes adding things like sponges, or bags of carbon in the bubble traps... this can inhibit the flow enough to cause the starvation in the return chamber.

10/07/2009, 08:08 AM	#6
hebygb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elmhurst, IL Posts: 2,207	Just be sure that you still have enough room for the water to fill the sump if you the pumps are shut off or there is a power failure.

10/07/2009, 12:02 PM	#8
Rothaquatix Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West los angeles ca Posts: 136	all great advice the water level thing seems like it might be the tickit since i just simply replaced the exact water i removed it would make sence that the water level is too low if baffles require more water I will try to add more...So it sounds like this might be a bit of a liability as you guys stated if the filter pad or sponge becomes logged with debris when im not home I could possibly have an over flow....? also the baffles i made are removeable which alows a little water to make it through the seems but still does the job should i just silicone the seems and make it permanent? thanks