dpeter51
Member
Anybody try using a spillway instead of a bubble trap? I'm using a 20tall for my sump and I had two problems with the bubble trap I built between the refugium area and the return area.
1. Instead of using eggcrate at the top to keep the plants in, I drilled a bunch of holes an inch below the top of the baffle. This resulted in an "oil slick" on the surface of the refugium area because the water on the very top never moved.
2. Enough water was pouring over the third baffle into the return area that it was splashing instead of "sheeting" down the baffle. This was noisy and caused microbubbles, which of course defeated the purpose of the bubble trap.
So, I ripped out all three baffles and siliconed one of them in at an angle. I rounded the top corner of it to help keep the water "attached" as it flows over. I'll use eggcrate to keep the plants in. It's drying now so I haven't tried it yet, but I was wondering if anyone else has had success with this idea?
Here's a quick sketch:
1. Instead of using eggcrate at the top to keep the plants in, I drilled a bunch of holes an inch below the top of the baffle. This resulted in an "oil slick" on the surface of the refugium area because the water on the very top never moved.
2. Enough water was pouring over the third baffle into the return area that it was splashing instead of "sheeting" down the baffle. This was noisy and caused microbubbles, which of course defeated the purpose of the bubble trap.
So, I ripped out all three baffles and siliconed one of them in at an angle. I rounded the top corner of it to help keep the water "attached" as it flows over. I'll use eggcrate to keep the plants in. It's drying now so I haven't tried it yet, but I was wondering if anyone else has had success with this idea?
Here's a quick sketch: