Sump help

[gregzz4]

My filter socks are completely submerged. I think it keeps them quiet
I'd remove the drip tray completely as it's too high to have submerged socks. Doesn't the tray just lift out ?
Put the new baffle in I was talking about and then decide what height you want the sock tray to be at. Use the return pump to circulate the sump alone to see how things are going to work
For your sock tray, I'm thinking you'll want to use verticle legs on the bio-ball shelf support pieces to support the sock tray. You can adjust the legs to get the tray height you want once the new baffle is installed

For the baffle, I suggest you start with a piece of glass for testing. Use silicone to seal it up
Once your happy with how it works, you may want to install a permanent one using acrylic and glue it in. But, keep in mind that once this is done, it will be nearly impossible to remove later
I say this as silicone doesn't hold glass on acrylic very well and could let go at some later time

You won't need or be able to grow chaeto right away, so worry about it later once you're happy with the way the sump is running. And ya, you can light it from the side

[makana]

I never thought of running the sump without the tank, that is a good idea. I'm re-finishing the stand and was kind of waiting on that before experimenting.

How high would you recommend the filter sock tray? Would you make the tray the full size of the compartment? The sides of the sump are 3" verticle and 2" diaganol from the top of the baffle that the drip tray sits on. Would it be possible to keep the socks that high? Is there a downside to having them that high?

From what I've read bubble trap baffles should be 1" appart. I have 2" between the baffles where the spong sits. If I close in the one baffle to the bottom and cut it out around the same hight as the other one I could drop one from the top in between the two and make an actual bubble trap. Each side would be 1\16" shy of the 1". Will doing that work, or will it restrict flow too much?

[makana]

If I make acrylic baffles and put them in place temporary with silicone that will later be removed, does it stil need to be aquarium safe silicone? Will it be easy to remove or will I need silicone remover?

[hillegom]

You will have to use aquarium safe silicone, after all, your aquarium water will end up going through there.
If you are only trying out the sump without tank water, then IF you remove ALL traces of silicone then it will be ok. But for how much, 2-3 $ it would cost extra for aquarium safe silicone, do you want to chance it?

Its easy to remove silicone from plastic, you do not want to use any remover, might melt the acrylic.