Help with sump redesign

Below is the design I was recommended to use, but it a proportion of 4/5ths to the measurements (24" tank as opposed to 30" in diagram). The simmer I will be using is Hydor. The inflow for the skimmer is 13" from the bottom, but the water level should be at about 14". My sump is 16 1/2 inches tall. How can I make this work without putting the skimmer in the DT?

 

easy, raise the #1 and 3 baffles to 14"s, more water volume that way easy too

I'd raise the huge baffle up higher too

 

I would have to cut 1 and 2 14", right? Could 3 remain 10" or would I need to raise it 3" to 13" too?

Would the water being 2.5 inches from the top be an issue?

 

I'd raise both of them up or else you're gonna have an issue with evap and keeping your return pump under water. I'd go higher on both, do a power failure test, and if need be, cut the 3 baffle out and have it recut lower, but I'd def want more water over that pump, expensive thing to have burn out

 

and 2 doesn't matter much on height as long as its above the water line and has a few inches below it

 

Well the water line will be 14", so it should be a 14" piece, 1.5" from bottom. Ace you suggesting 3 be lower than 10"?

 

#2 doesn't control the water level, it just needs to be above it and end about 2"s from the bottom, #1 controls the water level and should be set at the right skimmer height, I;'d say 14-141/2"s, number 3 I'd set at least at 12"s so you don't have to deal with evap issues as much, #4 should ne pretty high

heres mine and it seems to work good, although I only have 2 baffles in the skimmer section

 

Will baffle 1 being 2-2.5" from top of tan be an issue? If I have a 290 gph return in the 20, should it be almost wide open so flow is 10x sump volume?

 

nah, my fuge baffle is 1" below, its an overflow part so it can't really flood there, just do a power failure test outside to make sure ya don't have an issue.