Baffled about Baffle Distance

[Figstr822]

I've read some place their baffles 1" apart and others 2" apart. What's the most effective distance between them? Also, how far up off the bottom of the sump should the middle baffle be?

[tendar]

Distance between baffles will depend on how much flow you will have going through them and how wide you sump is. Generally unless your running over 1000 gph through your sump 1" will be fine and 1-2" off the bottom will also be fine for middle baffle.

[Figstr822]

Thanks for the help Tendar. The bulhead is a 1" and I'll be using a mag 9.5 going to 4 returns. So I'm far awaaayyyy from 1000 gph. Maybe someday I'll be "lucky" enough to need that much flow (sigh) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[tendar]

Just so you know a 1" bulk head will max out draining around 600 gph but you should be ok with 4 out and some head.

[Figstr822]

A number of people suggested I get a SCWD to help increase the head pressure so I don't outrun the sump and to put a valve on the return as well. My SCWD just came in yesterday but can't start plumbing until next week. I'm waiting on my bio tower and baffles to be cut. There's an acrylic shop in the area and they cut the pieces you need - a bit on the expensive side, but still much cheaper than buying ready-made items. I hope to eliminate the need for poweheards by using 4 returns (one under the live rock as well).

[tendar]

The easiest way to control the out put of your return pump is to put a gate or ball valve on just after your pump. The SQUIDS are nice and you will loose about 20% water flow to them. I dont know that you mentioned how large of tank system you have but you will want a min of 10x tank turnover per hour through your system with higher flow rates even better.
You mentioned one of your returns will be through your rocks. One thing you need to be carefull of is when any plumbing that goes into the tank deeper than a 1-2" needs to have a break syphon hole drilled in it near the water surface and the hole needs to be kept fairly clean from algea build up. What will happen is when you cut the power to your return pump it will back syhon water out of your tank back to your sump till it gets air to break the syphon.

[Figstr822]

I already have the siphon break drilled into the top elbo. My LFS has a valve with airline tubing running from the valve into the overflow which works really well. They were kind enough to give me a valve since I was unable to find it at the usual places. The tank is a 65G and I'll be using a Mag9.5. The sump is a 15g with a seperate fuge. I just got my acrylic for my baffles and bio tower yesterday. I hope to have the tank filled for testing (in the garage of course) by this Sunday.

[tendar]

Sounds good. Good luck with it.