All connected or 2x systems?

[fishhawk123]

OK, what to do? I am in the planning stages of setting up 2 display mixed reef tanks. One will be a 110 tall show and the other is a 125g 6'long tank. I also have a 55g and a 60g. And was planning on using each of them as dedicated refugiums with lots of live rock, live sand and live rock rubble. I am planning on using either other similar sized aquariums or Rubbermaid stock tanks as sumps. My questioning is a shared larger sump or keep the 2 systems separate? My thought is if a shared sump, then if one tank crashes then both tanks crash.If separate, then better? Also if separate systems, I can put them in different locations within my mancave. Any and all thoughts welcome...

 

[kmbyrnes]

I vote separate systems. You instincts are correct.
1. Anything affecting one tank affects both - disease, chemical imbalance, temperature or salinity accident
2. Location can make plumbing difficult

 

[thegrun]

You will find it easier to maintain the tanks if they are tied together. The advantage of keeping them separate is that if you have issues with one tank, disease or chemical overdose, one tank remains unaffected, but then again you double the odds of a user error when you are maintaining two systems. Since you plan on both tanks being mixed reefs I would tie them together for greater stability due to the larger water volume and ease of maintenance.

 

[fishhawk123]

Lol decisions....decisions... OK looks like its gonna be 2 separate systems as the layout of the mancave just won't allow for a 6' tank and a 4' 110 tall tank to be mounted one above the other in wall with 8' ceilings. I can however build a standard 60g tank over the 125 in wall and use the old 55g as my sump. The 60 gallon above the 125 as a display refugium / species tank with perhaps some critters that won't affect pod production much. The sump will probably also have a fuge section as well. I can't even imagine the back flow drain with 2x system 15 feet apart with piping run along the ceiling. Seem too many gallons in case of a power outage. So a nice system in wall backed by a modest 7' x 5 or 6' dedicated fish room, then a separate 110tall and probably a 55 gal sump/fuge underneath. This will either have its own tiny fish room or stand and canopy. The idea is to be able to lounge on a recliner or sofa, have a reef tank to my left and right, and my 50" 4k flat screen in front. A nice view all the way around right? That means besides building the main fish room, I will need to find a deal on one more old 55 or 60g tank and a couple of qt tanks. Things are always so simple in my head, which always translates into more like quantum physics by the time all is said and done hah!

 

[fishhawk123]

Ahh something I was toying with. I know some of the reefers here use Rubbermaid stock tanks as sumps. I would not be opposed to the 100gallon or 150 instead of the 55gal tank I was gonna use for the sump but how do they divide them for bubble traps, etc or do they? Do they need to be divided? Seems of I could use one of those, I could first use it to cure live rock before I change it over and plumb it for my sump?

 

[VWD]

I have a 120, and a 56 connected by 1 sump and controlled by apex, The 56 is really not a display yet. still not sure what type of coral I want to add. I like the added water to system. one chiller can maintain both tanks, The 56 lighting is T-5 and the 120 LED.