Sump setup

[Studjunior]

My sump is 30x20x18 and is split into 3 compartments. Since I set up my tank 4 years ago I had the protein skimmer in the first compartment, then LR and Cheto and the my return pump in the last compartment. The baffles are around 12in high.

I changed my skimmer today and took the opportunity to clean out my sump big time and not did it need it. In the process I removed all the LR from the sump and now I'm thinking that I don't want to put it back.

There is a pic of my sump now (excuse all the filter floss, I need extra to help filter from the clean up) and a pic of what I'd looked like before.

Questions:

1) do I need 3 compartments in my sump??
2) should I get rid of the baffles and make it one large section.
What should go in my middle section? Should I put my GFO and Carbon reactor in there??

Thoughts??

 

[iReef86]

keep your bubble traps! Added live rock is great, why get rid of it? You removed the detritus, which is probably the best thing you could have done. You could use the space for reactors and such, but I prefer extra rock in my sumps.

 

[Studjunior]

Thanks for the advise. After seeing all that detrius that had accumulated down there under the rocks I was both disgusted and scared to leave any more LR down there (Plus I'm loving the nice clean look. I'm most definitely going to move by reactors to that section as it's currently in a very hard to reach area. As well, I'm thinking of adding another reactor for Rowaphos or something to help be reduce phosphates as I recently started getting hairalgee which i never had before. If I have room after moving the reactors I may add back some of the LR.

Thanks,

 

[iReef86]

Sounds like a good plan. Increase the flow in that chamber and you will reduce the amount of detritus that will settle.