Return pumps to and from a sump! Is this possible!

[Glitchfish]

Hey all! I recently purchased a fluval sea aquarium! I know they are not the best as a custom made aquarium but since the store was closing down it was 50% off and I couldn't resist! Like seriously i used to be in the hobby before as i transformed an old trigon 190 into a marine aquarium! It was beautiful but i unfortunately lost all stock, LPS, Clams, softies! £1000'S OF FISH ;_;!

Anyways off topic I was just wondering is it possible to use two return pumps, one from the tank and then the other returning it back to the tank? I seriously don't want to drill as I don't want a leak :s!! + if it did my mum would kill me D: please help!!!

Also if I should drill how can I persuade my mum it will be safe from leakage! I really want a sump/refugium!

 

[tyler1503]

In short, sorry no it's not possible. You'd have to find a perfect balance between the pumps GPH rating. You don't want one pump going slightly harder than another and overflowing a tank while your out. I'm sure it's possible to wire something up with float valves and stuff, but that can be pretty complicated.
Drilling the tank shouldn't result in leaks if it's done right. You use bulkheads which have a rubber seal preventing any leaks. It's almost like bolting on a rubber O ring and the bolt is hollow allowing water to pass through into the plumbing.
They have hang on the back overflow boxes which work with a siphon. A lot of people use them without issues, but I wouldn't trust a siphon though.
Goodluck figuring this one out!

 

[Glitchfish]

that was one speedy reply :O! Thankyou :3 im a newb when it comes to sumps and things, i dont even know what a bulkhead is :3 gives me something to research :3 thankyou!

 

[tyler1503]

Please excuse my dodgy drawing lol. I'm using an MS paint type app on an iphone so it's not great.
A bulkhead is a plastic plumbing part that has an O ring (the red bit). You put the O ring over the vertical part of a hollow T shaped bit. The T shape has a thread on it (the rough jagged lines). You then put it through the glass hole (the grey bit) and screw a plastic nut onto the thread holding it in place.
The O ring keeps a perfect water tight seal and the T shaped bit is hollow to allow water to pass through into the plumbing to drain into the sump.
I hope that makes sense lol.

If your not the DIY type, the hang on the back overflow boxes are probably your best bet, maybe someone with some experience using those will chime in

 

[Glitchfish]

XD sorry to be a bother but the diagram is invalid :s! this is so nice that you actually went to draw a diagram to explain it to me :O! This is probably the best reef site I have been on! So helpful! Btw it does make some sense but I kinda want to see the diagram! just to make sure I understand fully

 

[tyler1503]

Yea R2R is awesome! Definitely the best reef site out there!
Ah no, it's showing up on my end lol.
I think drilling would be your best bet, I think it would be most fail safe out of all your options