Tip of the Day – 7/19/2012

Baffles in a sumps, refugia, and other external filters have several very useful functions that make them mandatory in such setups. For starters, the dividing walls can set the water level, allowing for optimum depths to grow macroalgae and the most effective depth for a protein skimmer’s operation. On top of that, the baffles can be arranged in such a way to create an area that traps bubbles before they get sucked into the return pump and sent to the display aquarium. In a related function, the baffles can be installed on the intake side of the sump, trapping bubbles and holding up filter socks as part of a sump’s pre-filtering capabilities before the water hits the protein skimmer.