Ok, I did a little playing around today. Getting closer to the goal. I ordered panes of 1/4" glass from a local glass shop for the baffles. I went 12" on the first, 11.5" on the second, and 11" on the third based on the suggestions above. They won't be ready for a week :-(! So I have time to drive myself crazy fiddling with the design. I pulled my skimmer out of my current wet/dry to dry fit it in the new sump. I still would love to make that section smaller if I could to make the fuge and/or return section larger. If I turn the skimmer sideways it takes up way less horizontal space. Only problem with that is that the 2filter sock holders take up 10" of horizontal space, so it only buys me an inch.
Let me ask this one. Is it possible that I could split up the drain socks? Could I keep one drain going into the skimmer section and put the other one in the fuge section or even the return section?