Help with redesigning DIY sump.

[BitFix]

My sump holds about 10 gallons of water, I designed it to be able to have filter socks and a large refugium section, but after about 1 year of having it, I am deciding to change the layout due to a few issue.

Firstly, the filter socks don't filter the water very effectively, I didn't intend to use them in the first place, so the first chamber wasn't able to fit the filter sock holder. I also thought for some reason that baffles of the same height would be a good idea, the issue is water usually just flows on top of the middle chamber and detritus accumulates int he refugium very easily. The bubble trap is also unnecessary, as I don't use an skimmer, it just serves to collect detritus.

TLDR: I am trying to change the design of my sump and would like feedback on my ideas. Anything would help a bunch. Also just ignore the fact I used MS paint.

This is the sump currently (the first chamber is the overflow section, the middle is the refugium and the third one is the return section):

I'm currently thinking about changing to one of these two:
A design that is able to use a filter sock holder effectively (same layout as the current sump),

or a design that uses filter floss instead (first section is the refugium and overflow, followed by the mechanical filtration and then the return section).

 

[Ron Reefman]

I'm not going to claim to be a sump expert. But I've had sump/refugiums from 180g (10'x2'x 18") to my current little 24g with just 2 chambers.

The tank drains through a filter sock into section 1 which is a refugium with various macro algae. There are just 2 baffles (different sizes) and the 2nd section has the skimmer and the return pump. Lots of people like them complicated, but that doesn't necessarily make them work any better.

I made this for my 40g DIY tank and the photo is just after it was set up. I now use it on my new 90g DT (36x30x20) and it still works just fine. BTW, I built the PVC box for the sump to sit in. The PVC box contains spills and splashes. It also has a drain at the back which runs out of the house in case there is a major leak.

 

[BitFix]

I'm not going to claim to be a sump expert. But I've had sump/refugiums from 180g (10'x2'x 18") to my current little 24g with just 2 chambers.

The tank drains through a filter sock into section 1 which is a refugium with various macro algae. There are just 2 baffles (different sizes) and the 2nd section has the skimmer and the return pump. Lots of people like them complicated, but that doesn't necessarily make them work any better.

I made this for my 40g DIY tank and the photo is just after it was set up. I now use it on my new 90g DT (36x30x20) and it still works just fine. BTW, I built the PVC box for the sump to sit in. The PVC box contains spills and splashes. It also has a drain at the back which runs out of the house in case there is a major leak.

The PVC box is a really great idea, the only issue is that it reduces visibility, maybe an acrylic box would be more practical. Thankfully my apartment has a ceramic like floor, so I don't need to worry about water damage much at all, but I'm sure this could be very good for people with carpet floor.

Maybe I'll take a similar route and just have as little baffles as possible. Do you think I can get away with jus removing the first baffle?