I need help

[symtex]

I have just purchased 2 7.5 gallon mr aqua cubes. The plan is to have 1 as the display and the 2nd as a display refugium, My problem is I only have experience with single tank setups with hang on back equipment. I have a lot of questions, but I will only post a few for now and go from there.

If I had both tanks side by side with both of them plumbed to a sump, would I need 2 return pumps?
Would it be better to have a 3 tier stand with the tank draining into the fudge and sump with 1 return to the main tank?

 

[Loki]

I think it depends on what you want the overall setup to look like. You could run one pump if the tanks sat side by side. You could T the return off right before the tanks or just plumb them in together.

Ask away! We will do our best to answer your questions.

 

[wysiwyg]

as loki stated depends on the look your going for. but using 1 return pump and t-ing them off into both tanks is probally the most economical

 

[symtex]

At first I was thinking about having them side by side with one maybe 3 inches shorter, but I want all of the plumbing to be hidden behind the tanks. My next thought was to just use 2 tanks , but i am concerned about trying to hide the return pump in the refugium. I want the setup to be very clean.

 

[symtex]

So if I had a 1" drain in display tank 3/4" return and in the fudge 3/4" drain and 1/2" would that be ok, or would both tanks need the same size drain and return?

 

[Loki]

So if I had a 1" drain in display tank 3/4" return and in the fudge 3/4" drain and 1/2" would that be ok, or would both tanks need the same size drain and return?

It's very hard for me to understand what you are saying.

You have two tanks that you are going to use as a display with one refugium?

You have two options to make it simple (one return pump limited plumbing). Or Infinite if you want to get really creative and make it difficult.

Option one. One return pump that T's off and feeds each tank. Then each tank drains into the fuge (if wanted you could T them back together and have one drain).

Option two. Have one return pump feed your "main display" that's a few inches higher than your "second display" and have it drain via gravity into your "second display." Then have one drain from your second display into your fuge/sump.

 

[symtex]

Ok thanks for the help, I think I am gonna try and do them side by side with 1 return pump.

 

[Loki]

If you do that I would make a fail safe of some sort. If one of the tanks drain gets clogged the pump will continue to fill the clogged tank and over flow it. One way would've to have two drains in each tank. Another would be to plumb between the tanks so that they are basically one unit instead of two separate tanks.

 

[symtex]

If you do that I would make a fail safe of some sort. If one of the tanks drain gets clogged the pump will continue to fill the clogged tank and over flow it. One way would've to have two drains in each tank. Another would be to plumb between the tanks so that they are basically one unit instead of two separate tanks.

If I plumb the 2 tanks together, would 1 of the tanks need to be a few inches lower than the other?

 

[Loki]

It wouldn't be necessary. They should keep each other level if they are plumbed together. I'll see if I can find picture of what I am talking about.

 

[Loki]

This is what I am talking about. It wouldn't have to be that low in the tanks but it should give an idea.

 

[Loki]

Just more pics.

You wouldn't have to do side to side either. If it was me I would put a decent sized bulkhead in the back of each and run the pipe behind the tanks.