Two Tanks, Ideally One Sump Totaling 350G

reef-rc · Nov 5, 2019

I realized the biggest sump you can get with any tank is ideal in most cases. However I have a dilemma and constraints.

Dilemma: I like to leverage ONE SUMP for both 210G and 141G tanks. However each tank currently has it's own sump. 141G has a 45G sump. 210G has either a 40G or 60G sump depending on what I choose to use.

Question: Can leverage 60G sump for both? I am a little concern about it not being able to accommodate all the water in case of a power outage. Thoughts?

Jvesche20 · Nov 5, 2019

reef-rc said:
I realized the biggest sump you can get with any tank is ideal in most cases. However I have a dilemma and constraints.

Dilemma: I like to leverage ONE SUMP for both 210G and 141G tanks. However each tank currently has it's own sump. 141G has a 45G sump. 210G has either a 40G or 60G sump depending on what I choose to use.

Question: Can leverage 60G sump for both? I am a little concern about it not being able to accommodate all the water in case of a power outage. Thoughts?

I have a 45 gal sump for both my 25 and 125 gal. What it really comes down to is how much water will siphon back when the power is turned off. This can easily be controlled. are your tanks drilled? or is the return a HOB? The only thing that I dont like about doing this is that when I have 1 thing introduced into one tank it gets in the other. For example when I got monti eating nudis I had them in my frag tank and killed everything I had. Never touched my DT because I had a wrasse to eat it. But I didnt have this in my 25 gal tank. Also I got aiptasia and got rid of the issue in my DT with a copperband but they are infested in my 25 gal tank. I tried aiptasia-x but its not use. I gave up trying to get rid of them and I'm setting up a 220 and going to be getting rid of both tanks. So this is something to think about if you havent already when linking tanks together. make sure you able to get rid of the problem in both tanks not just one if something occurs.

reef-rc · Nov 5, 2019

Jvesche20 said:
I have a 45 gal sump for both my 25 and 125 gal. What it really comes down to is how much water will siphon back when the power is turned off. This can easily be controlled. are your tanks drilled? or is the return a HOB? The only thing that I dont like about doing this is that when I have 1 thing introduced into one tank it gets in the other. For example when I got monti eating nudis I had them in my frag tank and killed everything I had. Never touched my DT because I had a wrasse to eat it. But I didnt have this in my 25 gal tank. Also I got aiptasia and got rid of the issue in my DT with a copperband but they are infested in my 25 gal tank. I tried aiptasia-x but its not use. I gave up trying to get rid of them and I'm setting up a 220 and going to be getting rid of both tanks. So this is something to think about if you havent already when linking tanks together. make sure you able to get rid of the problem in both tanks not just one if something occurs.

Both tanks are drilled. I do understand the pests issues 1st hand unfortunately; both with monti eating nudis and aiptasia. The monti eating nudis wiped out 2 of my nano tanks 1.5 years ago. Aiptasia requires constant watch but is definitely more manageable than those little nudis. It's why I have a wrasse in almost everything tank since the aiptasia outbreak a while back.

I do understand the dilemma there and do appreciate the reminder on that.

Congrats on the 220.

rocsec1 · Nov 5, 2019

My 120 and 40 breeder share a 40 breeder sump and it works well for me.

Jvesche20 · Nov 6, 2019

reef-rc said:
Both tanks are drilled. I do understand the pests issues 1st hand unfortunately; both with monti eating nudis and aiptasia. The monti eating nudis wiped out 2 of my nano tanks 1.5 years ago. Aiptasia requires constant watch but is definitely more manageable than those little nudis. It's why I have a wrasse in almost everything tank since the aiptasia outbreak a while back.

I do understand the dilemma there and do appreciate the reminder on that.

Congrats on the 220.

You can calculate the amount of water that will be drained. When the water is filled and the water is drained. Take the 2 numbers and subtract. Then go on an aquarium calculator and see how many gallons. Do this for both tanks and see how much is being taken out and see if it is enough to be drained into the sump.

WillH · Nov 6, 2019

I have a 310 gallons of tanks hooked into an 80 gallon sump. Works well, I would not go much smaller, especially with the size of the equipment probably needed.