Sump design, why so many chambers?
 

Making a slow crawl to a larger tank with a sump, never having had a sump I always wondered why so many chambers. Other than a refuge and getting rid of micro bubbles is there really a need to divide up a sump and what would the disadvantages be to having a sump with zero baffles?

I only have a single baffle to control water height, leaves me a lot more room for equipment. And easier to clean :)

Clean? You're supposed to clean your sump? lol :D

Duh, of course. Every three years. Mine gets done next month :)

I'm guessing it has something to do with the water level for the skimmer

Exactly. Not required to keep level, but an easy way. If you had auto topoff with a float valve, that would work too.

In my last sump that I built, I use a float valve with my ATO to control water levels for my skimmer, and then just one set of baffles to trap bubbles before the return chamber. Works fine.

Okay this is sounds good. I'm trying to re-define the K.I.S.S. design to the overflow and sump but must be flood proof. The sump will likely be the existing 77 gallon display which is being replaced with a 150. I had some advise to have two 1.5" drains, one main, one emergency and decided on just one return.

My 180 uses dual 1" drains and a single 1" return with a check valve. Works fine. The dual drains are a good idea in case something gets in one. I've had snails, a filefish and a clown all get stuck in one of the drains. The other kept up.

A couple different height levels in the sump does help any debris in the water column to break free and fall to the bottom of the sump as well if you are not using filter socks. As well if you do have a couple different height levels in your sump where the water flows over a baffle it help bad gasses escape and oxygenates the water a bit.