Sump design help

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Hello,

 

I am having some micro bubbles in my display tank, and I think the reason is the return pump is too close to the water outtake, the currently return pump location is shown in blue. (please see attached sketch)

 

The sump currently does not have baffles and the water from the tank comes to an overflow box, then to sock filter and to the main compartment where the return pump is. The skimmer is a CPR HOB refugium with protein skimmer.

 

I would like to modify the setup to have the following:

 

After the water passes through the sock filter, then it will go to a refugium section (or additional skimmer if necessary) and then passes through the baffles, and finally to the return pump. The CPR HOB refugium with skimmer will be in the same location.

 

Do you think baffles are necessary?

 

I would like to add feather algae caulerpa in the new refugium area in the sump and keep cheato in the CPR refugium area, is that a good idea?

 

Or should I get a additional skimmer in the new refugium area in the sump?

 

Is it beneficial to have the outtake of the CPR refugium going directly into the sock filter? Or should I plumb it out close to the return pump?

 

 

I am fairly new to this, so any expertise advise would be appreciated.