Stumped by the Sump

[PJs_Bucket_List]

I just got this setup, and I'm still figuring out the specifics of the equipment. My first saltwater aquarium has HOB filters, so I know very little about sumps, other than their purpose and the most basic stuff. This one in particular is a 75 gallon tank (I think it's actually an Aqueon 60 breeder) DIYed into a sump. Ignore the pipes in the photo. That's plumbing from the previous setup and not connected to the tank yet, it's just sitting in there. That's a matter for another (probably next) post. I know it sounds dumb, but which end is which? The sump has 3 chambers, separated by one baffle at one end and three baffles (like a bubble trap?) at the other end. Which chamber do I run the drain lines to, and which end is for the return pump? I'll be making different posts for my other questions about setting up this tank. Going over every aspect of it in detail, so I fully understand how it works. Thanks in advance for letting me pick your brains .

 

[chaples55]

That's a pretty basic sump design, but you probably want your return pump in the smaller side (so left side in the photo). The return pump chamber will have a variable water level as water evaporates. If you have an ATO it should be set up there as well.

Water should drain from the tank into the larger section of the sump. You can add a filter sock holder there if you'd like and any other equipment like skimmer, heater, refugium, etc should go in this chamber as it will have a consistent water level.

 

[PJs_Bucket_List]

That's a pretty basic sump design, but you probably want your return pump in the smaller side (so left side in the photo). The return pump chamber will have a variable water level as water evaporates. If you have an ATO it should be set up there as well.

Water should drain from the tank into the larger section of the sump. You can add a filter sock holder there if you'd like and any other equipment like skimmer, heater, refugium, etc should go in this chamber as it will have a consistent water level.

Thank you. That's what I was thinking, but I wanted to be sure. Husband knows about plumbing, but nothing about aquariums, reefing, sumps, etc. He was convinced the return pump should be in the middle, simply because that's where the previous owner left it while in storage, and where it currently is, with pipes attached. But that doesn't make sense to me, and I've never seen a sump arrangement with the return pump in the middle. You also answered a few more questions I had about equipment placement, so you get a virtual cookie , and an extra Thank You!