Double sump reef system

[Zbutcher]

Hey everyone,

I have a question, what are your thoughts on a double sump system?

In particular, what I was thinking of doing was having two sumps, mainly for the purpose of having a giant refugium roughly 25 gallons while my other sump that will house the skimmer and other equipment will be a 36"-48" sump.

The reason I want to do this is I find even in a 48" sump the refugium size is never really too big and I question its effectiveness over a ATS.

For anyone curious, the system I am getting made is 72"x36"x12" so its essentially a massive frag tank, I just really enjoy the growth and propagation of coral I find it more fun then a display tank and thats just my personal preference if anyone is curious on the weird size lol.

Anyways, please let me know your thoughts on a double sump system.

Thanks!

 

[lapin]

It will work just dont use a pump to link the 2 sumps.

 

[Zbutcher]

It will work just dont use a pump to link the 2 sumps.

How do you mean?

 

[KStatefan]

I guess that is what my system has a sump and a refugium.

 

[Zbutcher]

I guess that is what my system has a sump and a refugium.

Gorgeous sump!

Is the refugium connected to the sump or are the both independent with their own pumps.

The one I was think was to have not completely separate

 

[KStatefan]

Gorgeous sump!

Is the refugium connected to the sump or are the both independent with their own pumps.

The one I was think was to have not completely separate

The return pump supply the display tank and the refugium The refugium overflows back into the sump

 

[kenbennedy]

I am planning exactly this approach for my 150 gal system. Display tank will overflow/drain into ~20gallon refugium, refugium will drain into ~20gallon sump. Return pumps provide circulation to display tank. The refugium and sump can be physically separate, as long as each overflow can handle the gallons per hour of the return pumps.

 

[Zbutcher]

The return pump supply the display tank and the refugium The refugium overflows back into the sump

Interesting setup. Do you find it works well?

 

[Zbutcher]

I am planning exactly this approach for my 150 gal system. Display tank will overflow/drain into ~20gallon refugium, refugium will drain into ~20gallon sump. Return pumps provide circulation to display tank. The refugium and sump can be physically separate, as long as each overflow can handle the gallons per hour of the return pumps.

Are you going refugium drain before or after skimmer

 

[KStatefan]

Interesting setup. Do you find it works well?

I am still in the cycle stage. That is what Lifereef has been building for years

 

[Zbutcher]

I am still in the cycle stage. That is what Lifereef has been building for years

How much did it cost you my man

 

[DocRose]

I guess my question is why do you need/want a fuge attached to a frag tank?

 

[KStatefan]

How much did it cost you my man

I do not remember exact numbers $2000

 

[Zbutcher]

I guess my question is why do you need/want a fuge attached to a frag tank?

I would like to have a much larger refugium then what would normally be in a sump

 

[DKPminus]

I had the same thought of overflow going to fuge first but only 4 months into my 225g and might still rerout plumbing. Right now overflow goes to sump- pumped to fuge - 1.5” drain back to sump. working well so far.

 

[Zbutcher]

I had the same thought of overflow going to fuge first but only 4 months into my 225g and might still rerout plumbing. Right now overflow goes to sump- pumped to fuge - 1.5” drain back to sump. working well so far.

Very nice. How long has it been running?

 

[kenbennedy]

@Zbutcher (quote/reply fail on mobile)
My plan is that the refugium will drain into skimmer area.

 

[DKPminus]

Very nice. How long has it been running?

That’s not quite 4 months span. Used original sump to make fuge.

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

I

I guess that is what my system has a sump and a refugium.

I was going to say that Jeff @ Lifereef makes all of his refugiums separate. How do you like the lifereef skimmer? Is it as good as he claims? He'd building my gear this November.

 

[Trouble1375]

I love my dual sump system. I have a 125 gallon tank. I have a Simplicity 30 gallon sump on the left side - the filter sock was replaced with a roller mat, the refugium section is set to run very slow so it acts as a settling tank, then it goes to my return pump - my dosers are running into this section. My right sump is a DIY from a 29 gallon long. It has the return coming down into a 2 gallon tank which is full of live rock. The rest of the tank is dedicated to my DIY algae scrubber and the return pump. The 2 sides are connected with a water bridge. The layout is slightly different - these pictures are pre-roller mat. The plastic basket is sitting on the cover for the filter sock - that is gone now and replaced with the roller mat in this section. The light for the algae scrubber is now also properly mounted above the scrubber and the bridge has been lifted onto hooks so it's not sitting on the bottom of sumps. Each sump has a return from the tank coming down into it and a return pump back to the tank. The bridge maintains equal water level in both sumps.