[Speakerman]

the 35g long tank (brown trim) with the 3 drains in it is my sump, should I do a baffle system in it or could I leave it like it is with the return pump on the left side and the skimmer in the center.

If anything, what if I just do one baffle on the left side just before the pump? I'll do a bubble trap on the left side to reduce micro bubbles in the main tank, in addition the water level by the skimmer will stay at or above that height. All I'm putting in there is the skimmer and the return pump, and probably some rubble, doesn't seem to me like I should need a complex baffle setup since my refugium is a whole different tank (the taller black trim 39g)... thoughts?