Plumbing 2nd tank in

Ncreefer · Mar 1, 2019

I have a established 150 reef. Bought a water box frag 60.3 tank. Instead of using sump I got it with it. Thinking about going with a bigger sump on my 150 like a icecap36xl and plumb to it. The thing is if I do that and use new sand in the water box. How bad is it going to effect my 150. Or let water box cycle then plumb to 150? Any thoughts

Ron Reefman · Mar 2, 2019

Are you adding the 60g tank to the 150 that already has a sump? Or are you adding the 60g tank AND a sump that is new to both tanks and that they wI've had several systems with 2 tanks sharing a sump. I had a 180g DT and attached a 75g hexagon DT and it had a 180g (10'x2'x18") sump/refugium. The new tank shouldn't really raise any issues with the old tank. The live rock and bacteria in the current tank will seed the new tank very quickly. I would watch ammonia and nitrate levels unit you are comfortable that everything is OK. You might see a small spike of ammonia but I doubt it, especially if the older tank has enough live rock and has been running long enough to be beyond having just cycled and is into the mature phase.

Ncreefer · Mar 2, 2019

Ron Reefman said:
Are you adding the 60g tank to the 150 that already has a sump? Or are you adding the 60g tank AND a sump that is new to both tanks and that they wI've had several systems with 2 tanks sharing a sump. I had a 180g DT and attached a 75g hexagon DT and it had a 180g (10'x2'x18") sump/refugium. The new tank shouldn't really raise any issues with the old tank. The live rock and bacteria in the current tank will seed the new tank very quickly. I would watch ammonia and nitrate levels unit you are comfortable that everything is OK. You might see a small spike of ammonia but I doubt it, especially if the older tank has enough live rock and has been running long enough to be beyond having just cycled and is into the mature phase.

Want to change sump on my 150 and plumb the 60 gallon to it. Was worried if I put sand in the 60 gallon if it would throw my parameters off. Don't want to do something and it wipe out my sps. Looking for a ice cap 36xl sump I think would work. I only have 40" in between doors on stand. One reason I want to use one sump I don't have to get twice the equipment and my parameters will be eaiser to maintain due to water volume.

Ron Reefman · Mar 2, 2019

Having one sump for two tanks works fine. The new sand shouldn't disrupt your parameters much if at all, as long as you aren't adding any new livestock. If you are worried about it, add the sand in small increments over several days and keep testing just to prove to yourself that everything is OK. After a few days and everything tests OK, then add some small CUC. I wouldn't add any new fish or corals to either tank until the new rock in the new tank has a chance to develop all the new bacteria it can.