Non traditional sump baffle question

jp1986 · Sep 18, 2025

Finishing getting my new set up all ready, and I am going back and forth on whether I want to put baffles in my sump after buying a baffle kit for it. My sump set up is a little different as it consists of a 60 gallon and 40 gallon connected via three 1.5 inch pipes. Pipes aren't fully completed yet as it depends how I end up finishing the sump.

The tank will drain in to the 60 gallon that would have my skimmer, heater, and would have room for live rock, and then it flows into a 40 breeder that would be a refugium with a sandbed. I have a hole on the end of the 40 breeder where my return pump will be on the outside.

Would baffles really serve a purpose besides a place for filter socks and a way to control height for the skimmer? The two tanks plumbed together already act as two different sections, but am I forgetting something the could affect it? Or am I overthinking this? Haha

Imrahilwjz · Sep 18, 2025

Seems like you could put your skimmer on a stand

PPBlimpy · Sep 18, 2025

Without a baffle your water height would be equal all the way across. If there is an issue where plumbing breaks or Overflow back to sump gets clogged you will drain your whole entire sump.

Baffles also help keep surface water movement.

The thing I despise most about my split sump(red sea s1000) is there is virtually no surface movement on 3 chambers till it gets to the final baffle for the return pumps. i have to run a powerhead in my extension to not get a film.

I prefer baffles to control water heights. I like my socks to be mostly submerged requiring a higher waterline, then setting a height for skimmer, separate chamber for your live rock and then flow into your 40G refugium, where i would have at least 3 baffles, one in and one out to contain sand bed, and a third for a bubble trap before you get your return pump.

If you didn't want to run baffles in the 60G I would at least put 90s on the inputs and make a stand pipe type surface skimmer to bring up the water level in the 60 to whatever heights suits skimmer and socks.

This will clean up the water surface on 60g and set a height. Just make sure you have enough to catch overflow if the return pump shuts off.

I probably would have ran the 40G as the main with socks, skimmer and heater and the 60G as the secondary for refugium(or frag grow out/ fish isolation in my case now) the water level can be lower and gives more room for the even of a shut down.