Plumbing Question

[Bacchus_fl]

I recently added a 55G sump/frag tank to my system. I am running a dual overflow which I ran one hose to the 55G and one to my 30G fuge. I am also using Mag 5s to return. I can't seem to match the flows even after adding a ball valve to the mag that was returning faster.

I need to permanently resolve this problem since it could very easily cause a major overflow. What is the best way to fix this problem?

I have thought of several ways but they all seem to have too many variables for me to trust while I am away. The best idea I have had so far is to plumb the mag 5s externally and combine the intakes for both pumps. This would eliminate the worry of a pump failure since they would be drawing water from both tanks. I have never done this before though so I am not sure if it will work properly.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

first off are they durso's? second are both pumps new? third the fuge should not get the same amount of flow that your sump is getting to start with. are the sump/fug glass or acrylic? if they are acrylic then i would go suggest getting a mag 12 for the return pump and have both drain into the sump and tee off one to the fuge for slower flow via valve. using 2 pumps on seperate returns is tricky. check the drawing below

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let me know what you think. btw i'm george friend from titusville

 

[MIKE ALERS]

joe...the plumbing guru.

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

no guru i just like sniffing the glue:rolleye1:

so when am i coming over to plumb your tank?

 

[sytanek]

Your doing mine sunday right? ;P

Need to pick up 2 more bulkheads tomorow, chris didn't have the 3/4" in stock.

 

[MIKE ALERS]

im almost ready to start plumbing.but im still missing the pump that was supposed to be shipped to me.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

That would work but I forgot to mention the 55G is on the other side of the wall from where the 30G is. There are 2 4" holes in the wall about tank high that allow access.

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

do you have pics of the setup? if there is access to it and you have room the another option is to get the refuge higher than the sump and allow the fuge to drain into the sump via gravity and then have the main pump pull from the sump. and that would get rid of everything under the sump for some more gadgets. post a pick and when i get home i'll take a look. you can also call me at 321-266-8564. if i don't pick up leave a message

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10842828#post10842828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sytanek
Your doing mine sunday right? ;P

Need to pick up 2 more bulkheads tomorow, chris didn't have the 3/4" in stock.

yep. making a list as we speak or as i speak to my self when i'm typing this. give me a call

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10842999#post10842999 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MIKE ALERS
im almost ready to start plumbing.but im still missing the pump that was supposed to be shipped to me.

yea say that thread about the pump. let me know what size you want and i'll see what i can come up with. and save so money for the plumbing. i like to use alot of unions to make everything removeable in case of failure.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

unfortunately I don't know how to post pics. I would love to share pics with everybody. I will post if you can explain to me how.

If not I will call you some time this week.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

open a photobucket account and upload you photos to the account. the reply to the thread and click the img button. it may come up with a scripted windows bar below you explorer toolbar right click to accept from the website then click the img button again and a url will apper. delete the http portion and the go back to photobucket and right click the img code and the paste to the drop panel in rc and the hit sumbit. sounds like a pain but a soon as you do it a couple of times its a snap. if it won't work for you email me the photos at skinnyjoe@cfl.rr.com and i'll upload them.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Alright lets see how well this works. Thanks so much for all your help.

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This is the left side of the 55G sump. You can see the port hole where the intake would come through the wall from the overflow box.

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This is the right side where tha return pump would go and again you can see the port through the wall to the display tank.

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Here is a pic of the 30G fuge which is mounted under the display. As you can see there isn't allot of extra room. On the right side is where the overflow tube enters and the left is where the return pump would be.

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This is a close up of the return side of the fuge.

I think the way I mentioned in my orginal post is the best way to do it without buying a new pump, I am just not sure if it will work, or if the pumps draws will compete with each other some how.

Thanks Again!

Jason

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Well the pics worked. Now I just need to learn how to resize and rotate...

 

[skinnyjoe1976]

cool to see the pics. the only way i can see you not buying a new pump is to raise the fuge above the sump behind the wall and drain one return into the sump and drain the other into the fuge and sump and use one pump to return to the left side return and use the other to return to the right side.

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[Bacchus_fl]

That would also work flawlessly. Unfortunately my biggest issue he is the lack of space under my display. My 30G only has about 6" of space above it. Next year when I upgrade to a 180 I will be able to correct all of these issues but I don't have the time or the money to do that right now.

Here is an illustration of the best way I can think of based on my space requirements. Let me know if this will work.

Thanks again for all your help. When I set up my new system I will definitely be consulting you first.

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[dugg]

Using 2 pumps from searate sources looks like a flood waiting to happen to me. If one pump sticks, and the other stays running, both the sump and fuge will keep on getting water from the overflows. The one that lost it's pump will overflow until the second pump sucks air.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

That is why both pumps would pull from both tanks. If there was a pump failure there would still be one pump running just at a slower return speed which I assume would prevent a flood.

 

[dugg]

That would be true if each pump pulled from both tanks evenly, but the pumps should pull from the easiest source and not evenly from both tanks. It might slow down a flood, but i don't think it would stop it. Even though they are the same size of pump, they won't be equal in thier flow, so plumbing them on the same line should also be an issue. If you are going to try it this way, make sure that each pump has it's own plumbing rather than tieing them together like in the drawing. I still think trying to balance the 2 pumps and overflows is going to be a losing battle. Everything needs to flow into a central location and be pumped back by one source.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Ok so, what if I have both overflows go into the 55G then pump the water from the 55 to the 30 and then return from the 30 to the display?