Teeth or no teeth???

[eww]

When building your own sump do you prefer to have teeth on the top of your baffles or no teeth? Obviously it is a lot easier to make them without, but is there any other benefit other than keeping snails and larger floating material contained? I am referring to acrylic baffles not glass.

 

[akunochi]

I did it without this time...with last time...didn't really notice a difference either way so I vote both.

 

[mfinn]

My last 5-6 sumps had no teeth on the baffles.

 

[mojoreef]

Ageed I dont see any real benefit from having teeth on the baffles.

Mike

 

[TJL]

Eric, you needed to be more specific in stating that this baffle is the last one separating the return section from fuge. You don't want to further confuse Seth, and now we all know he goes both ways :shock:

Cheers, Todd

 

[user 2204]

No teeth for the skimmers baffle section. Yes to teeth on the fuge baffle. Or at the very least maybe a piece of eggcrate on top of the baffle for the fuge.

 

[eww]

Thanks guys. We are going with no teeth since there isn't any apparent advantage to having them. And for the last baffle between the fuge and return section, instead of water flowing over the baffle through teeth we have decided to go with a perforated acrylic sheet allowing the water through it but not all the macros and other critters. I will either perforate it by drilling lots of holes or cutting slots. It depends on which is easier with the tools on hand. This way if the ATO quits working or I forget to fill it we have the entire fuge/return area to evap before the pump runs dry.

Oh, and Seth... what else haven't you told us

 

[Krish]

Never used teeth or slots. I have seen Marc over at melevsreef use them a few times. Here is a link to one of them Melev's Reef - Sump Model A . I guess he uses it to strain the water rather than using a sponge that would need cleaning. From what I undestand with teeth, you want the edges smooth so algae won't have something to grab onto, but Frankie will have to be the one to confirm as I believe it was him that mentioned it.

 

[eww]

From what I undestand with teeth, you want the edges smooth so algae won't have something to grab onto

Sounds like another vote for no teeth...

 

[akunochi]

Eric, you needed to be more specific in stating that this baffle is the last one separating the return section from fuge. You don't want to further confuse Seth, and now we all know he goes both ways :shock:

Cheers, Todd

HEY....remove your mind from the gutter LOL


I do prefer no teeth.......:badgrin:

 

[Aquanaut]

I have found that having teeth on the last baffle prior to return pump does increase/introduce air bubbles that the initial baffling was suppose to prevent! Especially in high flow returns where my water rises +1" above and over each wall at 3,000gph!

 

[trido]

I never liked teeth either......





















Now Im sumpless.

 

[akunochi]

I have found that having teeth on the last baffle prior to return pump does increase/introduce air bubbles that the initial baffling was suppose to prevent! Especially in high flow returns where my water rises +1" above and over each wall at 3,000gph!

Enter debate about your flow rate through the sump LOL

 

[Paul B]

The teeth block some of the waxy substances that would normally flow over the top so I use a slot. Mine has about a 1/4 inch horizontal slot that is at the water surface. I have never lost a fish or snail in it and it provides a large area for the surface of the water to flow un obstructed into it.

 

[acclnz]

I built my corners out of glass and was afraid of cutting the teeth into it so I left them out. When I added the fish they found their way over the wall and into the sump. After that happened 2 times more I added teeth by way of a cap so I vote yes to teeth.

 

[jrgilles]

I have only had w/o teeth and it seems great. If I was planning on building a fuge into my sump, I would have teeth after the fuge to keep the macro contained while allowing the water to flow. Only reason I can think of that I would add in teeth.