Separate Sump and Refugium

[JimmyV]

So I am thinking about installing a refugium for my 180 using a spare 20 gallon tank I have. My sump has no room for me to put a fuge in due to my skimmer sits were I would do the fuge. I have enough space in my cabinet to slide in the 20 next to the main sump. So I was thinking of tapping off my supply line to run the supply to the fuge, or using a maxi 1200. Then using a 1200 maxi jet for the return to main sump giving roughly 250 gph through the fuge. Would this work . Also would using 2 inches of live sand be useful .

 

[5altkreep]

I wouldnt trust 2 pumps to move water back and forth. That's a recipe for disaster. I think the only safe options are to drill bulkheads and pipe them together or raise the smaller tank up some and use an overflow. Thats just my thoughts, im sure others will chime in.

 

[JimmyV]

I wouldnt trust 2 pumps to move water back and forth. That's a recipe for disaster. I think the only safe options are to drill bulkheads and pipe them together or raise the smaller tank up some and use an overflow. Thats just my thoughts, im sure others will chime in.

Yea I'm not really keen on the Idea of two pumps myself , and drilling won't work due to both tanks are tempered glass . I due have and old overflow from a previous setup I will have to check to see if There is enough height to raise the 20

 

[ca1ore]

Asking two pumps to stay in perfect synch is asking too much. You could do it with float switches on the pumps though.

 

[wranodj]

I'm looking to do the same but want to use gravity as much as possible.

How about a power head to the refugium and gravity to the sump?

I'd purchase a refugium but can't seem to find one that I like

Not enough room in sump for an adequate size sump for a 135.

 

[wranodj]

I’m considering using a spare 20 gallon as a separate sump also. I’ll need to drill a hole for the return to sump. Not sure how easy/hard that would be. Haven’t found a refugium that I like for the money.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

2 pumps wont work out. Why not set it up next to the display tank as a display fuge? T off the display drain and gravity drain back into the main sump. Most 20g tanks only the bottom is tempered so you can drill the side glass. Make sure before drilling. If you know it tempered Pecto $1 per gallon sale is now.

 

[Jeffdstafford]

agreed..2 pumps will 100% flood at some point if you don't have an equalizing line connecting the two containers. I've seen side by side sumps done before with an over-the-top equalizing line connecting via siphon, but it eventually lost siphon and constantly had to be purged of air. Either drill both containers and connect with pipe and bulkheads, or one has to be higher than the other to gravity drain. Anything else will eventually make your life miserable lol

 

[Jeffdstafford]

duplicate

 

[JimmyV]

2 pumps wont work out. Why not set it up next to the display tank as a display fuge? T off the display drain and gravity drain back into the main sump. Most 20g tanks only the bottom is tempered so you can drill the side glass. Make sure before drilling. If you know it tempered Pecto $1 per gallon sale is now.

agreed..2 pumps will 100% flood at some point if you don't have an equalizing line connecting the two containers. I've seen side by side sumps done before with an over-the-top equalizing line connecting via siphon, but it eventually lost siphon and constantly had to be purged of air. Either drill both containers and connect with pipe and bulkheads, or one has to be higher than the other to gravity drain. Anything else will eventually make your life miserable lol

Yes I am looking into putting the fuge next to my dt. I am starting a material list for this. Thanks

 

[Pivitol]

I am getting ready to move my tank to an area that allows me to utilize a 100gal sump and have been looking a options for a separate fuge. One option was using a Rubbermaid tote and making a "box" from plywood maybe 3-4" from the top of the tote and bracing it with 1x's drilling a hole for a bulkhead through the tote above the plywood, superglue a eggcrate overflow around the bulkhead drain and also use a strainer on the bulkhead to gravity drain back into the sump. And use a MJ1200 to pump sump water up and over to the fuge.

Edit: After reading this rambling that makes sense in my head but has no pics if you have questions or see any issues feel free to ask or point them out