Cascading sump idea

[Smokeshow]

Hello. I had a 75 dt and 55g sump that I took down last year because it developed a leak on the bottom seal. Moved the livestock to a 125. I recently moved and i dont have room for the 125. I finally got the 75 resealed. I have a curve 5 elite skimmer and working with it under the stand was a nightmare. So I was thinking about placing a 10 or 20 gallon next to the tank for the main drain to go into where it will go through the filter socks then skimmer then a drain to go to the 55. Main concern is keeping a consistent water height in the skimmer sump.
Something like this.

 

[dmsc2fs]

If you moved the drain of the 20 gallon to the water level you wanted that would solve your problem? Add an e-shops overflow at the water height you want to maintain.

 

[Smokeshow]

My 75 gal has an eshopps small overflow box that's rated for 600 gph. If that's my goal could I get by without running gate valves and adjust the flow of my return pump? Using 1" pvc. Here's a rough mock up.

 

[Smokeshow]

Or could go down to a 3/4" drain after the union to lower the gph through the sumps.

 

[Smokeshow]

Got the stand for the 20gal built and cut the acrylic for the filter sock and skimmer chambers.


The skimmer chamber wall should set the water level at 8.5 inches. Going to drill the side glass for a 3/4" bulkhead to go to the 55 gal sump.