Not Satisfied with my Sump

[chaungo]

I had a 30 gal Rubbermaid sump for about 2 years and recently upgraded to a 30 gal acrylic sump with baffles, refugium space, and return space. The return section has that greasy film on the water surface, the detrius (that I normally vaccumed in the Rubbermaid) is everywhere in the refugium section, I have to top off my water everyday by hand which is a royal pain, and there are bubbles in the display tank.

I don't have room for an autotop off system, the detrius and film drive me crazy, and the bubble are everywhere. This sump is supposed to be "better" but I'm not exactly thrilled with it.

Someone explain what can I do to fix the above or I might just go back to the Rubbermaid sump-my water was cleaner and corals liked it better.

 

[Playa-1]

Why did you switch? You didn't really pick up much added benefit from going from a 30g to a 30g. If it were me I might use both containers for the added water volume and even more room for maintenance and auto top off systems. The added water will give you increased stability.

The bubble issue is interesting. You added a bubble trap and now you've got bubbles in the display. It would seem that something is not working the way it should be.

 

[chaungo]

I changed because I thought my Rubbermaid sump was archaic and tried to move to better "technology" in the sump with baffles. I thought that the different compartments would channel from the input section, have space for my chaeto algae, and minimize bubbles back into the display. I wasn't trying to go for more volume.

I am maxed out for space so can't add both to the tank. And the baffles are supposed to get rid of bubbles so I thought. Does anyone else siphon out the detrius? My Octopus skimmer takes up all of the refugium space so I just have some floating chaeto in that space.