How to plumb second display tank

[myfristtime]

I want to install a second tank for coral frags and a few small fish, but I want it on the other side of the room with plumbing in the walls as kind of a second display tank. I used some masterful MSPaint skills to kinda show the plumbing will go up about 10 feet, over about 25, then down about 6 feet.

I'm thinking using two pumps; one in the sump to feed the remote tank, and one in the remote tank to go back to the sump. Also a level sensor in a HOB overflow and flow rate sensors in each direction to make sure the remote display tank doesn't overflow. I'm pretty sure I can code up a quick and dirty PID in the apex controller to make sure water level in the remote tank stays constant.

Has anyone had experience doing something like this? Or any thoughts about tanks/sumps where gravity cannot be used for overflow?

 

[texdoc77]

I can't see how this would work. One system is gravity fed, the other will be pump fed, but they need to be in symmetry. IMO, another sump, or cannister filter might work better in the frag tank.

 

[StatelineReefer]

As nice as this idea may sound in theory, in practice I wouldn't attempt it.

Keeping your filtration separate gives you redundancy should something in the 'main sump' fail. It would be a terrible and possibly hobby breaking experience should one single pump annihilate two tanks at once.

That said, if you are still willing to put all your eggs in one basket, use two DC pumps. You will be able to dial in your return rate back to the main plumbing easier. Make sure your primary pump has enough head to push water at a constant rate to both tanks, this will probably require an oversized pump, so a closed loop system is your best bet. HOB skimmers, inline heaters, and if you're using apex, their flow meters will be essential.

Good luck however you turn it out!

 

[myfristtime]

I was thinking of plumbing it together to get all the benefits of the sump and the biology of the water.
What I am unsure about is getting an apex to have two pumps perfectly sychronized, or if the apex can actively control pump speeds based on sensor input.