20L sump intake

[Michael Stetz]

I am making my sump for my new 40B. It is a 20L running filter floss, fuge, bubble trap and return section.

I do not plan to run a skimmer anytime soon (maybe on my future 75G lol).

Since I do not need to make room for a skimmer in my intake chamber can I afford to make it smaller to allow the fuge to be larger?

The intake chamber is currently about 7" on the off chance that I would ever get a small footprint skimmer but I can always build another $20 sump (I can get baffles for free) if I chose to buy a $250 skimmer. I am thinking I will be better off with a larger fuge.

Any thoughts on minimum size for that intake chamber?

 

[Michael Stetz]

And since we are on the topic of intake/fuge baffles I notice that a lot of commercially made fuge baffles have slits or holes cut in them. I originally cut mine to simple fill the chamber and flow over the top. Should I cut some holes down low to encourage more drain water to flow through the filter floss or other media on that compartment? Or will holes down low and water over the top stop any potential rotation that a chaeto ball may have had? Should I raise the baffle and have all water flow under?