duel tank sump?

[Jisko]

ok so I've been planning this dorm room frag tank build for awhile now and I've noticed sumps are crazy expensive for the price range I'm shooting for. Now because I'm limited to a 24x24 space most likely because I'd like a 24x24x8 frag tank. Instead of having a sump built what about taking 2 10g tanks and putting them together to create a cube. Would be 20x23 or around that... the front tank could be a refugium and the back tank hold the skimmer heater and return pump.

any opinions on this or has anyone done this?

 

[MaddyP]

This could be done, so long as each tank was drilled and connected so the water level could "equalize" between the two. It would then essentially be a single tank with a divider in between...

 

[Jisko]

This could be done, so long as each tank was drilled and connected so the water level could "equalize" between the two. It would then essentially be a single tank with a divider in between...

yeah thats how I was looking at it... it would pretty much be a single tank at that point my only concerns are the bulk heads getting filled with algae and such from the refugium or if some type of overflow into that part of the tank would be needed

 

[MaddyP]

I wouldn't worry too much about bulkheads getting clogged if you have proper screen, however, I would worry about movement of tank cracking glass. 10 gallons don't have thick enough glass to be safely used with bulkheads. If you are careful, it's possible this could work. I've drilled a few smaller tanks and cracked most of those I drilled.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I did this exact thing for my 90 gallon cube except with two 20 gallon high tanks. One acts as my refugium and the other hold me skimmer and return pump. My bulkheads never get clogged from my refugium tank. I can get you some pictures in a bit if you want to see what it looks like.

 

[Jisko]

I wouldn't worry too much about bulkheads getting clogged if you have proper screen, however, I would worry about movement of tank cracking glass. 10 gallons don't have thick enough glass to be safely used with bulkheads. If you are careful, it's possible this could work. I've drilled a few smaller tanks and cracked most of those I drilled.

hhmm I wonder how much of a difference the glass thickness is vs a 29g tank 0_o I've drilled 3 29g tanks with no problem hhhmm I can't find anything on there site about there tank glass thickness

 

[Jisko]

I did this exact thing for my 90 gallon cube except with two 20 gallon high tanks. One acts as my refugium and the other hold me skimmer and return pump. My bulkheads never get clogged from my refugium tank. I can get you some pictures in a bit if you want to see what it looks like.

that would be amazing!!

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

This is the only picture I have of it and was when I first set it up. Right side is the refugium and the left side is my skimmer and return pump.

 

[Jisko]

This is the only picture I have of it and was when I first set it up. Right side is the refugium and the left side is my skimmer and return pump.

dang I'm way over complicating this haha... I'm looking to divid the first tank into 3 sections... Once the water falls into the sump it then goes into a skimmer section... then flows through a bulkhead into the other where it goes into a small holding point that flows into the refugium then at the other end of the refugium it flows into another holding section that then goes back to the first tank where it falls into a sponge chamber then goes into return section... kind of complicated I'll draw something up to give a better idea of what I'm trying to explain

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

The problem I had when I designed this, was that I quickly ran out of room for everything I wanted to fit in there. I think I get what you are trying to do. So you want the two tanks to be at the same height level?

 

[Eric LeClair]

@LongnoseHoawekfsh - I'm curious to know why the height would matter?

 

[Jisko]

I'm working on setting up a 3d render of the tank, stand and sump ^_^

sumo is 13" tall

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

@LongnoseHoawekfsh - I'm curious to know why the height would matter?

Just cause you have to drill less holes in the tank and its an easier setup, but I was more just curious.

 

[Jisko]

This I hope gives a better understanding of what I was trying to explain...

the closest tank is the refugium and the farther is the skimmer, return,bubble trap

sorry for terrible model aha I have no idea what I'm doing

 

[alanbetiger]

This is the only picture I have of it and was when I first set it up. Right side is the refugium and the left side is my skimmer and return pump.

I have two sumps. One is a standard sump with sections and the other is a refugium. My only suggestion I would add is like Longnose's. Only drill one tank and have it elevated. Then plumb it so it cascades down into the other one instead of drilling both and plumbing them together like in your picture. If you are even millimeters off then you are more likely to get a leak somewhere. That's how my two are setup as well.

 

[Engloid]

I agree with these guys...just raise one tank up so you only drill one tank. I would think about a larger bulkhead though, instead of just 1".

I have three sumps tied together with a similar concept. I have two 55g drums and then a storebought 30g that houses my skimmer and return pump.

 

[cilyjr]

I would worry about movement of tank cracking glass. 10 gallons don't have thick enough glass to be safely used with bulkheads. If you are careful, it's possible this could work. I've drilled a few smaller tanks and cracked most of those I drilled.

This. Drilling the tank isn't hard. I've drilled more than 1 ten gallon tank. After installing the bulkhead and pipe it can crack pretty easy with the slightest movement. The longer the pvc run the easier to crack (leverage).

 

[klp]

Just an idea I have never tried. You might try fixing another piece of glass and bond it to the tank wall. Drill through both. It may make it strong enough to resist cracking.

 

[Skydvr]

I was going to suggest what longnose did, elevating the refugium. Eliminates the issue of potentially cracking the glass if one tank shifts or if the tanks aren't aligned properly (might not happen immediately). If you need to do maintenance, or when you graduate and move or just move off campus, it will be easier to manage the tanks as you will not have to separate the plumbing to do so. Experimentation and maintenance will be easier.

I have drilled smaller tanks many times successfully. Plenty of water to flush the grit and patience are key. But shifting plumbing and misaligned plumbing will crack those tanks in a hurry.

I would personally raise the refugium a few inches and have the drain lines go to the primary sump with a valve and a teed off section that diverts a portion of the flow to the refugium. I am of the camp that believes the refugium should not recieve high flow, should recieve unfiltered water (ditritus and suspended particles to feed organisms that in turn help feed the tank), and should drain into the return pump section where organisms don't have the posibility of being sucked up into the skimmer or other filtration devices. I also prefer a Jaubet, or plenum, system to help control nutrients. Just dumping a bunch of sand in there doesn't quite accomplish the purpose of a deep sand bed. I am also starting to experiment with miracle mud, splitting my sump into half Jaubert method, half miracle mud refugium.
It is more flow through the refugium than I would like, but I don't have the space to do something different at the moment.
Ideally I would set the refugium higher than the aquarium and have that drain directly into the display, but that is a different matter than what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[Skydvr]

An added benifit of only diverting a portion of the water into the refugium section is that you eliminate the need for baffels.
Opens more space and simplifies construction.