Building my own Refuguim/sump and could use some feedback

Looks good except you only want to put a ball valve on the 'fuge side. You want the skimmer side to be able to take 100% of the flow as mentioned. Do not attempt to throttle down both sides as this can only lead to bad things. In other words, keep the skimmer side full size, with no ball valves. Tee off with the same size piping or smaller to the 'fuge.

 

Yes, ball valve on fuge only... you will only need about 100 gph... the rest on the skimmer side. Control flow through sump by throttling return pump.

With only 100 gph in the fuge, you only have a trickle over the baffle... there is no need for bubble traps after the fuge. If you have room go ahead, but I never had one. And on the skimmer side.. the ENSURE you have no problems, make them 1.5" wide... so 1.5 and 1.5" for 3" total. 1.5" under bottom plane too. Wider equals slower and you could put a river through and be OK.

If you are going to have a DSB, do not put any live rock on it. You want it clean with plenty of exchange. It needs to breath. LR or rubble just collects detritus and chokes it. The pods don't care, and it ads nothing to filtration. Get rid of all the u necessary maintenance you will need to do with no benefits.

The only thing left to do is take out those sponges out in the bubble traps and you are good to go. No need.