Plumbing 2 "Sumps" Together

[tbrown]

Ok, so I purchased a RS200 for my 125 gallon tank that I'm setting up. The shop I purchased it from says it may not be big enough to handle the pumps shutting off in the case of a power outage (or if I shut it off to feed). I haven't tested it yet, but I do have a sump on the 75 that I'm tearing down. Both are acrylic and the shop said I should drill both sumps and use a bulkhead to combine the two. The question: Would I have to drill them or would it be possible to use a siphon tube instead? I'd probably want to do a 1.5" siphon tube since it's a dual 3/4" overflow system. Also, I was thinking of having it flow into one and then siphon into the second with the pump going out of the second. Would it be better to plumb it that way or set up the second sump as a regular tank with either a refugium or a frag tank? I like the idea of a frag tank or refugium better I think but looking for thoughts/opinions.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

I don't think the syphon would work unless one sump was placed higher than the other. You also risk losing the syphon and over filling the first sump causing a disaster. If it was my tank, I would drill them like the LFS suggested.

 

[JGT]

Agree, I don't like the idea of a siphon. Too much that could go wrong IMO.

 

[wonderphil-reef]

yeah I had so many issues with a siphon had to replace the floor 3 times because it failed when I needed it the most. you could just put a return pump in and have it piped into the other sump. but again if you lose power that's not going to help

 

[tbrown]

Thanks guys! I just didn't like the idea of drilling the tanks but I don't want any overflows either.

Do you think it's better to have all water go through both or have a "T" off the pump and a small amount go through a frag tank back into the sump?

 

[JGT]

Drilling acrylic is easy. Just make sure you get the right size bit and proper bit. I've used both a hole saw and a forstner bit successfully.
I like the idea of linear sumps. But if you go that route how would you get water to/from the frag tank you mention?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Thanks guys! I just didn't like the idea of drilling the tanks but I don't want any overflows either.

Do you think it's better to have all water go through both or have a "T" off the pump and a small amount go through a frag tank back into the sump?

If I was doing 2 sumps to increase back flow volume, I would drill out the main sump in the return chamber and use 2 pipes between the tanks. One would be near the inlet of the return pump and one would be away from it. I would them either do a cryptic section of use the other sump as a fuge. You could even do both, depending on the second sump.

One thing to think of. You will need to have flow in the remote sump. This can be accomplished by hacing a small pump in the return section of the remote sump and having that pump move water back to the first chamber in the remote sump.

Between the links (one closest to return pump inlet and one farthest away),the small pump moving water in the remote sump, you should not have any stagnet water and water should flow between the 2 sumps. The link nearest the return will have some water pulled through it from the remote sump due to the return and then the other link will pull water from the main sump into the return.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Just drill it already.

 

[tbrown]

If I was doing 2 sumps to increase back flow volume, I would drill out the main sump in the return chamber and use 2 pipes between the tanks. One would be near the inlet of the return pump and one would be away from it. I would them either do a cryptic section of use the other sump as a fuge. You could even do both, depending on the second sump.

One thing to think of. You will need to have flow in the remote sump. This can be accomplished by hacing a small pump in the return section of the remote sump and having that pump move water back to the first chamber in the remote sump.

Between the links (one closest to return pump inlet and one farthest away),the small pump moving water in the remote sump, you should not have any stagnet water and water should flow between the 2 sumps. The link nearest the return will have some water pulled through it from the remote sump due to the return and then the other link will pull water from the main sump into the return.

The way I plumbed my last couple of sumps was a "T" off the return pump with a ball valve that would go back into the Fuge section. I'm thinking that I would do the same thing here and plumb it into the inlet side of the second sump and drill the return side plumbed into the inlet section of the primary sump. The second sump would either be a Fuge or a frag tank - I like the idea of a frag tank but I'm not certain my wife shares that feeling!

Thanks!

 

[tbrown]

Something like this...

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Something like this...

That will work as well. My only concern would be macro clogging up the piping between the 2 sump. This could be prevented with regular maintenance and some egg crate to make a small box around the pipe in the fuge.

 

[tbrown]

That will work as well. My only concern would be macro clogging up the piping between the 2 sump. This could be prevented with regular maintenance and some egg crate to make a small box around the pipe in the fuge.

I think I'm probably going to go with a frag tank instead of a Fuge, but I agree. I'm thinking about using the plastic craft mesh since it has smaller openings and it'll keep any snails/fish in the frag tank from swimming back and forth between the two sumps. I'll just have to make sure it doesn't plug up with detritus or algae.

Thanks!

 

[dmsc2fs]

You can look at how red sea has done this. Scroll to the bottom and you can see how the flow is done.

RedSea

 

[tbrown]

You can look at how red sea has done this. Scroll to the bottom and you can see how the flow is done.

RedSea

Perfect! Pretty similar to what I'm looking at. Thanks!

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I think I'm probably going to go with a frag tank instead of a Fuge, but I agree. I'm thinking about using the plastic craft mesh since it has smaller openings and it'll keep any snails/fish in the frag tank from swimming back and forth between the two sumps. I'll just have to make sure it doesn't plug up with detritus or algae.

Thanks!

For that, you can make it larger than needed. This will allow for more surface area for water to pass through and more time between cleaning. Heck, for the price of cross stitch mesh, you could make a few "cages", swap when needed and clean the dirty ones when you have time.

 

[tbrown]

For that, you can make it larger than needed. This will allow for more surface area for water to pass through and more time between cleaning. Heck, for the price of cross stitch mesh, you could make a few "cages", swap when needed and clean the dirty ones when you have time.

Yeah, my wife has tons of it in her craft closet. I use the egg crate for lids so I have sheets of that as well.

 

[Freenow54]

Thanks guys! I just didn't like the idea of drilling the tanks but I don't want any overflows either.

Do you think it's better to have all water go through both or have a "T" off the pump and a small amount go through a frag tank back into the sump?

Just set up your main tank for anti siphon no worries then. You did not say how big the one sump is

 

[tbrown]

Just set up your main tank for anti siphon no worries then. You did not say how big the one sump is

It's the Eshopps RS200. Supposed to be rated for 125-200 gallons, but the shop said it's too small to handle all the drain down when the pumps shut off. I'm going to test it first before setting everything up permanently.

What do you mean by anti siphon? I'm going to have an overflow which let's the water drop a specific amount before it stops overflowing. On my return lines I drill 4 small holes just below the surface of the water which keeps the return from siphoning. Is that it or am I missing something else?

 

[tbrown]

RS-200 Reef Sump 4th Gen

Eshopps Reef Sumps are designed for use in modern reef tanks, offering a large open area for your protein skimmer as well as a spacious return pump chamber. The Reef Sump line will enhance the function of your filtration system and provide the optimal space for all of your aquarium equipment in...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Freenow54]

Yes that is it. I don't know if I would bother with all the extra effort. That is obviously be for you to decide. Just think of what you want to have in it. Looks like you have lots of room for a skimmer. I have been in the trades all my life, and would not drill a tank on my own. You need a diamond tipped bit. Get it done by LFS Then if they screw it up its on them ( just me )