baffled with baffles

[Conan]

Hi everyone,
This might sound like a very dumb question but I'm looking into making a DIY sump and fuge. I will have my fuge dump into my sump like an overflow...
My question: why are baffles usefull? where should I put them and why?
Thanks

[ALRHA]

I believe they are to a) stop micro bubbles from making their way back into your main tank (by forcing the water to the surface the bubble clear out) and b) it can slow the water from just running straight through your sump and lets the water travel through the various compartments as you wish (i.e. more organized)

[Conan]

so if I'm only gonna have a protein skimmer in my sump, I don't really need them, right?

[Dadeo]

Alot of skimmers have micro bubbles in their output...without a couple of baffles those bubbles will just get pumped into your display tank.

[Conan]

hmmm... thanks. so I should make them horizontal baffles, not vertical, right?

[Dadeo]

No actually vertical....the water goes over the first and under the second. So the first baffle goes right to the bottom of hte sump and the second is about 2" off the bottom. Some people use a foam block between the two but it isn't always necessary. There are probably a ton of sump designs burried in the posts here...try a search.

[boostedsi]

i agree with dadeo, when i designed my sump i started with a small part with a baffle that the water has to go under then the next the skimmer compartment, then a series of over under over , then to my return pump, i can turn my skimmer way up and no worry about micro bubbles comeing into the tank anymore

[Conan]

cool thanks guys! I appreciate the info!