Display Sump/Fuge next to DT

[hubtech]

ok, i have setup and am cycling a 46 gallon bow front. aquascape is done, dead shrimp is chillin in the tank.

the reason i'm doing this is i'd like to raise pods in the fuge, and get a mandarin in a year or so.

I have found a local selling a 50 gallon tank that i figured i'd turn into a sweet oversized(for my dt) sump/fuge. I'm thinking about a 3 section sump.

1 - Skimmer
2 - Rock/Sand/Macro Fuge
3 - Return / Heater

That being said, i'd like to setup the sump as a display sump directly next to my 46 gallon tank. my DP is not drilled and cannot be b/c it's tempered, i'd assume the 50 gallon is as well. What is to stop me from running equal pumps from my DT to the sump, and back from the sump to DT?

 

[WLachnit]

The challenge is that even if you could get both pumps to equally pump from one to the other (which I don't believe you can), if anything happens to one, you will drain your tank. You are much better off having the display drain to your sump.


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[hubtech]

ok. how do i accomplish that with two tanks that can't be drilled and the tanks sitting next to each other essentially at the same lvl?

 

[mcgyvr]

What is to stop me from running equal pumps from my DT to the sump, and back from the sump to DT?

Life and reality is stopping you as stated above.... No 2 pumps will ever pump the same rate long term (or even short term).. That will guarantee a flood..

Without a difference in water height you can't start a siphon and cannot run a typical overflow (even HOB)..
You can install multiple large/oversizes bulkheads and just have straight pipe between each tank.. Then a single pump can be put in one tank that pumps water into another for circulation between the 2 systems..

 

[hubtech]

I'm going to engineer something. i'll get back with you

 

[MurphyLong]

I'm going to engineer something. i'll get back with you

This is every novice reefer's equivalent to, "Hold my beer and watch this!"

It will not work. You can NEVER perfectly adjust and maintain the flow of 2 pumps.
My recommendation would be to scour Craigslist (or the like) and find a different tank, or confirm 100% that the tank is in fact tempered all the way around. (Sides may be, but is the bottom?)

Trying to patch this sort of thing together as an afterthought seldom works. You can try a HOB overflow box, but even those will break siphon and fail.

 

[hubtech]

Hey Murphy, I wasn't talking about engineering a dual pump setup. i'll do some tinkering and let you know what I come up with! also, i will for sure check into the possibility of only the bottom being tempered on my 46... that's the only spot that has a sticker or any indication of being tempered.

 

[MurphyLong]

What is to stop me from running equal pumps from my DT to the sump, and back from the sump to DT?

Hey Murphy, I wasn't talking about engineering a dual pump setup. i'll do some tinkering and let you know what I come up with! also, i will for sure check into the possibility of only the bottom being tempered on my 46... that's the only spot that has a sticker or any indication of being tempered.

Perhaps this is where I got confused. Do you know how to check glass to see if it's tempered? There are several videos on YouTube that show how, using a phone or a laptop inside the tank, and polarized glasses to view it. Also, if you know who the tank manufacturer is, you can usually contact them and ask if the sides/bottom are tempered.

I know the bottom is the most common spot to be tempered, and if the sides aren't, then you can drill and install a wier with bulkheads to overflow into the bottom tank, then have a pump push it back up to the top tank in a standard design.

Again, your options are:

1. Drill the tank, and run it like everyone else's tank with a sump.
2. Use a HOB overflow, and eventually have a flood somewhere.
3. Use dual pumps, and have a flood somewhere.
4. Buy a different DT
5. Don't use a sump at all.

 

[mcgyvr]

Again, your options are:

1. Drill the tank, and run it like everyone else's tank with a sump.
2. Use a HOB overflow, and eventually have a flood somewhere.
3. Use dual pumps, and have a flood somewhere.
4. Buy a different DT
5. Don't use a sump at all.

6. Have the tanks next to each other and simply connect via bulkheads/horizontal piping.. A single pump can then be used in one to push water into the other for even circulation between the tanks..

 

[MurphyLong]

6. Have the tanks next to each other and simply connect via bulkheads/horizontal piping.. A single pump can then be used in one to push water into the other for even circulation between the tanks..

Oh yeah, that too...

 

[RobZilla04]

If you're willing to set the sump/tank lower than the height of the DT you could get away with a siphon overflow/drain. You could do a step style stand to hold the two.?.

 

[hubtech]

6. Have the tanks next to each other and simply connect via bulkheads/horizontal piping.. A single pump can then be used in one to push water into the other for even circulation between the tanks..

This is actually what I was thinking about coming up with. have the sump maybe 4-6 inches lower than the dt, and fab up a "ramp" for the water to flow from the DT into the sump. Maybe even setup an algae scrubber between the two on said ramp.

 

[MurphyLong]

This is actually what I was thinking about coming up with. have the sump maybe 4-6 inches lower than the dt, and fab up a "ramp" for the water to flow from the DT into the sump. Maybe even setup an algae scrubber between the two on said ramp.

A ramp that would have to send water UP before it sends it down, unless you drill the tank, or use a siphon overflow (which will eventually fail) Then you'd have to pump it back up. You can't perfectly match two pumps, ever.

Gotta drill it.

 

[mcgyvr]

This is actually what I was thinking about coming up with. have the sump maybe 4-6 inches lower than the dt, and fab up a "ramp" for the water to flow from the DT into the sump. Maybe even setup an algae scrubber between the two on said ramp.

That is EXACTLY what I did on one of my tanks a few years ago..
Worked GREAT..
Mine was a "fuge" tank that sat a few inches above the sump.. I pumped water up into the fuge tank and it drained back into the sump through this ramp/turf scrubber..
I didn't have to do anything to the sump but I cut a big slot in the side of the fuge tank and used glass/acrylic to make that ramp .. can't find pictures of it now..

edit.. found..
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1977420&highlight=scrubber&page=186
see post #4640

 

[newbie2014]

I remember seeing pictures of Ron Reefman's setup which includes a refugium sitting right next to his DT. Maybe, he can shed some light.............