Noobie~ Mostly good revisions though not all (IMO)....
I would keep the first chamber as it was (place it as high as you can even, do not lower it as you did now). Drill holes just under the top of the divider if you are worried about clogging. Though, I have never seen it in any commercial sump or I have never seen the water level rise in my first chamber b/c of clogging of the filters. The way you have it in your second design, the filters will be under the sump water level. That defeats the purpose of the filters somewhat. You want easy access to the filters too, for replacement every 3-4 weeks (I have filterfoam plus filter wool).
If you want to make another airtrap left to the skimmer (I don't think you need this though), make the dividers higher. The way you have it now (with the dividers so short) they are virtually useless. Keep the water flow in mind and I recommend you also draw in your design what eventually the water level in your sump will be. This will force you to think about how the water will flow and improve your understanding. Same applies for the dividers at the right side. You can stick filter foam (not filter wool - no need for eggcrate) between the dividers as an air trap. Normally you "stick" this foam at the bottom of the sump between two dividers (but the divider on the right leaves an opening to the return pump).
The return line should be smaller than 1". I use 5/8 ID (Inner Diameter). 3/4" would work as well. 1" is an overkill. Also, I would recommend using a flexible hose (1") as the drain line (you can buy these at the LFS), and a regular "flexible" tubing line for the return. Some people however prefer PVC. I don't. You can add a check valve to the return line but don't need it necessarily if you have the spray bar above the water level in your main tank. If the spray bar is under the water level it can cause a siphon when there is a power failure. You don't want this! The check valves will avoid "back flow" but the disadvantage of a check valve (IMO) is that water will always be present in the return line. If you like to clean the line (or remove it for whatever reason) make sure you empty it first! I prefer to break the siphon automatically with a little air hole drilled (just under the main tanks water level) at the end of my return. The unit at the end of my return line (not really a spray bar but something similar) I purchased at the LFS.
For the return line I attached a picture that Broomer5 posted when I was building my sump. I copied it and like it very much (I only did not need the tube union, the white thing connected to the Mag. The CAP 2200 pump that I use has a union that allows easy disconnection from the return line).
I personally don't like the picture of the overflow you posted. Imagine this big white bar in your display tank, I find that ugly but the choice is up to you. I would prefer an ******** overflow box or an overflow as I have in my refugium (see my website for a picture).
Okay, that's it for now. I look forward to see if you will use any of my revisions. If my recommended changes have been unclear to you, email me your design (is it a PowerPoint file?) and I will implement them myself for you. My email address is
oceanjumper@hotmail.com
Marc
