Running Multiple Tanks on One Sump...

[Dom]

I've been pondering what I want to do with a 40 long that I have laying around. And I have this idea that I'd like to configure it as a sump and use it for filtration to all of my tanks.

I realize that while physically separate tanks, they should be considered ONE tank as they each share the same water. But this is the first time trying something like this (for me). And I'd like to hear from others who have done this.

I wonder; do you run a return pump for each tank in the return chamber or do you use one giant pump, splitting off to different tanks?

Can you think of anything else I should consider?

 

[sharpimage]

consider the drainback in power outage. Depending on size of tanks, it may be alot.

1 pump with valves on it would work. Multiple smaller pumps would also work

 

[Atomicus]

I run two sca 50s and a sca 66 all on one custom extrusion stand and advanced acrylics sump. Works great. I run all three overflows to left section on Sump which also has an Elos skimmer and korallin calcium reactor. This area flows into a large 2 ft x 2ft refugium area and after that have a return area with three separate return pumps going to each tank. I have a ato hooked to an adjacent 20 g tank in stand being used as a reservoir that feeds ato into a kalk reactor.

 

[Atomicus]

My sump is huge and easily handles power out drain backs. It is 48x24x20. Normally at 10” height so have about 50 gallons head room

 

[Atomicus]

Put calcium reactor before fuge so extra co2 eaten by plants. Put kalk from ato after fuge

 

[AlexG]

I run two displays, refugium tank, & frag tank to two interconnected sump tanks. I use one main return pump for the displays and frag tank and a separate pump to handling the refugium tank. The main consideration with plumbing multiple tanks together like this is water volume in the sump. If the power is turned off can the sump tank hold the water in all of the drain and return lines or will it overflow the sump? Using siphon breaks will help minimize the back flow of water and I would avoid check valves as they have a high rate of failure. If you pass the power off test without overflowing then its time to consider return pump options. A single return pump is a great option but it can create some issues for maintenance or in the event of a pump failure. Multiple return pumps can work as long as they are plumbed individually and not on a common return line. In my case I wanted the main return to feed displays and frag tanks only. The refugium return pump acts as a backup for ensuring the sump tanks still have flow in the event of a main return pump failure. I would go with whatever works best for your system on return plumbing.

 

[Miller535]

I currently have a 125 gallon running with a 55 gallon sump. I intend to setup a refugium tank next to my 125. Going to put a small pump in the sump that feeds just to the refugium. As refugium's only need low flow. But they are both going to share the same sump.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

Having multiple tanks on one sump is not very common in the hobby. Most reefers don't even have more than one tank. However, almost every local fish store runs multiple tanks on one sump. For commercial coral farms, it's very common to plumb multiple tanks into one sump.

 

[WVNed]

I run a 240, 75 and a 30 off a 100 gallon stock tank. I use 4 return pumps for them. I never really considered one big pump. The all your eggs in one basket thing.

If you split something or frag a gorg and have pieces of the same thing in 2 tanks you can instantly see if it's the water params or flow/light if you have a problem because one is happy and the other isnt. It's all the same water.

It appears I am not very common. Who would have guessed.

 

[ca1ore]

I've run multiple display tanks into a single sump for many years. Doesn't really matter how you feed each tank; whether dedicated pump, split pump or even (as i do) overflow drain from one tank into another. As already noted, the most important consideration is that the sump hold all drain down water across all the displays. All mine (now three, used to be four) have redundant drain systems - mostly herbie.

 

[Dom]

I've run multiple display tanks into a single sump for many years. Doesn't really matter how you feed each tank; whether dedicated pump, split pump or even (as i do) overflow drain from one tank into another. As already noted, the most important consideration is that the sump hold all drain down water across all the displays. All mine (now three, used to be four) have redundant drain systems - mostly herbie.

So you have your tanks plumbed in series... like a series electrical circuit. Interesting!

 

[ca1ore]

So you have your tanks plumbed in series... like a series electrical circuit. Interesting!

Yes. Basement sump. Main pump pushes water up a floor to the display. Modified bean animal drain then feeds a cryptic zone tank and a frag tank located in the basement. Those two tanks then drain into the main sump.

 

[BrandonS]

I have a 93 cube and 20 long on one sump. If using a manifold with one pump be careful to not bump the valves. You may end up with to much water going to the smallest tank. Your ato may alarm because it's been on to long and you may wonder what happened to the water when your tank begins to overflow.

Edit: @FishOfHex on YouTube has a single sump for his setup.

 

[Daddy-o]

I run 4 display tanks with 1 sump, 2 return pumps, and gravity.
Cheers! Mark

 

[Dom]

Yes. Basement sump. Main pump pushes water up a floor to the display. Modified bean animal drain then feeds a cryptic zone tank and a frag tank located in the basement. Those two tanks then drain into the main sump.

I like this idea as I see is as a great way to prevent flooding.

If I understand correctly, each tank drains into the next until the final tank in the chain empties into the sump. Then through the sump and back to the first tank in the chain. Correct?

By doing it this way, in the event of a power outage, the sump only needs to hold the volume of the last tank. Is this right?

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I like this idea as I see is as a great way to prevent flooding.

If I understand correctly, each tank drains into the next until the final tank in the chain empties into the sump. Then through the sump and back to the first tank in the chain. Correct?

By doing it this way, in the event of a power outage, the sump only needs to hold the volume of the last tank. Is this right?

Each tank will drain until the water level is even with the overflow. It doesn't matter if the feed to that tank is a pump from below or gravity from another tank above, when that supply ends it will drain the same amount of water into the sump.

 

[ca1ore]

It’s my interpretation of the ‘tower’ sump that some implemented back in the 1990s.

 

[ca1ore]

By doing it this way, in the event of a power outage, the sump only needs to hold the volume of the last tank. Is this right?

Unfortunately not. You still get the drain down from each tank collecting in the sump. Each tank just drains down through the next one on the chain, but the total volume that ends up in the sump is the same.

 

[Dom]

Unfortunately not. You still get the drain down from each tank collecting in the sump. Each tank just drains down through the next one on the chain, but the total volume that ends up in the sump is the same.

Actually, I agree with you after thinking about it. I did comment earlier in the thread that plumbing multiple tanks to one sump would be like having one big tank as the total water volume would be shared. So why wouldn't the total volume of overflow end up in the sump?

Thanks!

 

[KenO]

I have a 250 and a 130 gallon plumbed into one sump. I had the luxury during the construction of my house (single level) to put all my plumbing under the concrete slab. I also had a 4’ long x 4’ deep x 32” wide concrete sump built into the floor of my fish room. Both of those tanks drain into that sump. I put in 2” drain lines from the tanks and 1.5” return lines I use 2 return pumps for each tank. Sump has plenty of capacity but I still put flapper style check valves on each pump. The weight of the water in the 1.5” return lines slams those flapper valves closed. I also put in union ball valves to close off each line for maintenance.

I also have 2 - 40 breeders in a stand like bunk beds sitting next to the in floor sump.The upper one holds my roller mat filter and my skimmer. It is also a RDSB with about 6” of sand. I feed it with a pump that sits in the sump running around 800gph. All my drains are bean style overflows including my 40 breeders. The upper 40 breeder feeds the 40 breeder below it. The lower 40 breeder will eventually be my frag tank. Right now it has extra rock in it. The lower 40 then drains back into the sump.

Capacity of your sump is the critical factor. To me separate pumps are a must plus my 4 return pumps are the same flow and I have a spare if needed. With separate pumps I cane dial the flow and not have to worry about other items being fed off the main pumps. I can also run each tank with one pump if I had to.