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.

 

[BZOFIQ]

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 )

Pretty sure he said they are acrylic so no diamond-tipped bits are required.

I've drilled acrylic as recently as last Sunday. Stepper bits make for easy clean holes up to whatever size you can find the bit. Don't force anything. You want the material to be shaved off and not melting from too much pressure/friction.

 

[tbrown]

Pretty sure he said they are acrylic so no diamond-tipped bits are required.

I've drilled acrylic as recently as last Sunday. Stepper bits make for easy clean holes up to whatever size you can find the bit. Don't force anything. You want the material to be shaved off and not melting from too much pressure/friction.

They are acrylic!

 

[madmarks]

Drill a pilot hole 1st, to avoid the hole-saw bit from 'skipping' off of the surface when drilling the holes. Use bulkheads and hose/pipe larger than the tank return to avoid creating a flow bottleneck that could lead to flooding or pump starvation.

 

[BZOFIQ]

They are acrylic!

Yeah, I said that.

 

[tbrown]

Yeah, I said that.

Sorry, I was agreeing with you.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Acrylic is easy to drill, get a hole saw with the finest, “most number of teeth.” Use a thick solution of Dawn Dish Soap as the lubricant. When tool working plastics, I find that a brand new cutting bit, may grab. Run a new hole saw through a piece of plywood first. Drill at least an inch from any seam, including baffles. If you want to use the sump in a different configuration, just plug the hole with a bulkhead with a plug in it.