Planning DIY Algae Turf Scrubber tank

I have recently been planning a 30 gal sump tank to add an Algae turf scrubber. I want to ask if anyone has any opinions on to help me make this an easy install. My questions I have are; there is a 1/2" outlet on my Mag 7 pump I purchased. Should I run a 3/4" PVC piping back to the tank, or should I go up to 1"? The pics are a side view of the tank, cutting threw the wall to and from the sump. Should I add Live rock rubble to minize splashing? Also I was thinking to use braided tubing off the pumps, but will probably look for some screw to pipe converter to them. Also how tall should I make each side of the bubble trap? Ive seen to make them 1" to 1.5" between each baffle?

I still have my HOB reef octopus skimmer I think I will incorporate as well. But have to extend the tubes to hit the water level in the tank. Thanks in advance

 

Well took the Lowe's trip today and I am going to use 1" piping to and from the DT to the sump tank. Also will be using 3/4" tubing for the construction of the Algae scrubber. Now to maximize on space am going to finagle the turf scrubber sideways to fit both reflector lights into the tank closely. I've gotta do some more research on the bubble trap for widths and such, picked to a few sheets of glass to make it fit.

 

Well seems as if I'm figuring this one out as it goes. Attempted to cut a sheet of glass so I can put in my bubble trap. Yeah that didn't work out as well as I had planned. There was a ridge in the glass and when i attempted to cut off that little lip got a spider crack. Could I use acrillic instead of glass? I may have some one cut the pains for me. uggh

 

The wider the bubble trap, the more effective it is. That said. 1-1.5" is typically all that's needed. If you have room, I would go with a 1.5" as it's easier to clean as well. I suggest you make the bubble trap as tall as possible to increase the water volume of your system and to give you more room for evaporation etc.

 

I believe it's more common to use acrylic than glass. Acrylic is a hell of a lot easier to work with. There is no down side, besides cost. But for baffles it's not much. Lowes sells some acrylic sheets and some will even cut it for you!

 

acrylic would work, ive had poor success with stopping micro bubbles from entering my DT

but grim on the other hand, that man knows his sheet!

 

Another suggestion is to run the algae scrubber directly off the overflow line so you only need one pump (your return pump) This guarantees all water that flows through your sump gets scrubbed and gives you less equipment to deal with.

 

Are you sure they are coming from the overflow and not getting produced in the return lines? I had a bad micro bubble problem that I finally tracked down to a small hole in one of my return pump lines. No amount of baffles or size was going to fix that!

 

Ok cool, I think I will take back my sheet of glass and have them cut me acrylic pieces. Thanks for the feedback. I will focus on getting the plumbing set. I have already bought an extra pump for the ATS so I'm gonna run with that for now. I have to rig something up for the clip on reflector lights above the tank to hold on to for the lights to be close to the knitting screen.

 

Here is pretty much my plan revised after looking at it.