i think it doesnt make much of a difference, as long as the cross sectional area between the baffles is not much smaller than that of the incoming drain, which would be hard to do, i think you could design it in a number of ways.
fluid flow through the incoming drain pipe is usually turbulent but still dependent on the radius of the pipe. when the pipe dumps into an open system, like a sump, the flow changes to bulk flow because the radius is enssentially infinite. the flow rate to the next compartment will depend on the cross sectional area in the baffles. if somehow this is less than the incoming drain (only possible if the baffles are REALLY close together or there is a blockage) then the water just backs up in the upstream compartment. the wider the baffles are spaced, the more quickly the incoming water redistributes. assuming you are keeping the height in the 1st chamber constant, wider spacing = faster flow (more gph) but slower velocity and vice versa.
I think people get confused when they want to create a "slow flow" or "high flow" sump and get all caught up in the baffle spacing or sump dimensions. flow is gph, and all dependent on the incoming water flow (drain). in the case of an aquarium the incoming flow depends on the the return pump gph (return gph), because it just so happens its recirculating system.
HTH