Double sump

[rayn]

Anyone ever run a double sump system on a larger tank? Tank has dual overflows and returns. Was thinking one sump under each drain. Each sump identical with their own return pump, skimmer, heater, whatever.
In the past I've read that if two skimmers are used, one gets it all and the other not so much. Wondering if this would work being to separate setups.

Also it may be a fail safe if one return pump gives out.

 

[nervousmonkey]

It sounds like a great idea, however, I would be more worried about a return pump giving out, because if one breaks, the other will keep pumping water into the tank, where half will overflow into the sump without a working return pump. Even though chances are small that a return pump breaks, by having two returns, you effectively double your chances of having a catastrophic event if one pump goes out and the sumps can't handle the extra overflow.
I would suggest plumbing both sumps together to mitigate the risk of having two return pumps. Not much water will be exchanged between the sumps if they both have returns, but it helps to foolproof a system with two sumps. You could also make one of the sumps a refugium if you wanted, or a frag tank with no fish, etc. etc., but if it were me, I'd plumb the two together.
I like that idea a lot though, I may try it on my next build.

 

[rayn]

That is a good point. I had thought about it, but for some reason dismissed it in my head. Plumbing the two together should be that hard, just a couple bulkheads and pipe.

My last build had a remote refugium and I liked it. A good option. A frag tank is another good option.

 

[twilliard]

A water bridge!
Now that would be cool and no flooding for 2 sumps

 

[rayn]

I already thought the same thing! I would have to take the doors off my stand though so it could be seen.

Would be cool!

 

[briancarterkc]

It's not just a suggestion; it's a necessity to plumb the two sumps together. Your tank won't load balance overflow to the two sumps. Imagine having two bowls sitting next to each other and you're pouring a bucket into both at the same time. You will certainly put more in one than the other. If they were connected it'd all even out. Otherwise one fills up faster.

 

[Pdandy]

I run dual 40 breeder sumps on my 265 gallon tank. Each overflow drains to the sump on it's side. Each sump has a return pump going back up to each side. The left sump contains my skimmer and a refugium that is fed off of a T on this side's pump. The right side houses my heater and 4 filter socks.

The key to making this work is that the two pump sections are connected with a 2" piece of PVC in the back. This makes sure that the water levels are constant. So that if one pump fails, one of the sumps won't empty out while the other one overflows.

 

[rayn]

@Pdandy you have any other pics of your setup? What height did you set the pipe connecting the two sumps?

 

[Pdandy]

You can kind of see the 2" connector pipe in the back. It's held up with some pvc hangers too. Didn't want the weight of all the water in the tube cracking the tanks.





This was as I was building it. Waiting on some couplers and some extra length to connect the two halves.

 

[rayn]

Awesome! Thanks for the pics. Give a good visualization.

 

[BoB_25]

I run dual 40 breeder sumps on my 265 gallon tank. Each overflow drains to the sump on it's side. Each sump has a return pump going back up to each side. The left sump contains my skimmer and a refugium that is fed off of a T on this side's pump. The right side houses my heater and 4 filter socks.

The key to making this work is that the two pump sections are connected with a 2" piece of PVC in the back. This makes sure that the water levels are constant. So that if one pump fails, one of the sumps won't empty out while the other one overflows.

have you simulated a pump failure?

 

[Pdandy]

I turn my pumps off about once a month when I do water changes. Absolutely no problems. Even with just one off the connector pipe keeps everything in check.

Here's the system as it sits right now.

 

[skookum]

It's not just a suggestion; it's a necessity to plumb the two sumps together. Your tank won't load balance overflow to the two sumps. Imagine having two bowls sitting next to each other and you're pouring a bucket into both at the same time. You will certainly put more in one than the other. If they were connected it'd all even out. Otherwise one fills up faster.

So, basically, at this point you only need 1 pump, which is probably best anyways. I was thinking of having a high flow and a low flow sump on 1 aquarium, to achieve this I’ll likely just over size one of them.