Question for the plumbing gurus...

[Codeman00]

My friend has a 180 gallon aquarium with a rather large sump below. He told me this week that he wanted to add one of those large Rubbermaid tubs to the system to 1) gain volume of water and 2) make his water changes easier due to better accessibility.

He is trying to make a decision about plumbing this new container into the system. His choices are:

1) Use one of the two drains to drain into the new Rubbermaid container. This would split the flow...one drain to the Rubbermaid and the other to the sump. He would then get another pump to pump the water up to the display tank from the Rubbermaid and valve tweak down the return of the current pump. Parallel systems. (some water would miss the skimmer and the plants in the sump)

2) Use one of the two drains to go to the new Rubbermaid container which would split the flow. He would introduce the water back into the sump and use the current pump to pump all the water back up to the main display. Again, parallel path. (some water would miss the skimmer and the plants in the sump)

3) Have everything drain into the Rubbermaid container and plumb the container so its contents go directly into the sump and then use the current return pump to pump all the water back to the main display. (Series method)

I personally think that #3 would be the best solution and that #1 would be difficult in tweaking the proper flow rates. Am I right on this?? Is there anything wrong with setup #1 and #2 ? I've never plumbed a parallel system. Which one would you go with?

Thanks in advance,

Cody

 

[MrRyanT]

#1 and #2 are both recipes for disaster, in the name of flooding your floor. In doing #3 you need a good way to get the water from the tub into the sump. I tried 2 different rubbermaid containers, they were quite large(around 50 gallons), both leaked within several weeks of setting them up. I think the weight of the rocks, water, sand, etc. was just too much for it.

 

[just dave]

When I set up tanks and the space allows I plumb a Rubbermaid brute garbage can ( or something similar) into the system. I feed it with its own pump from the sump and it drains back into the sump. I also place a bulkhead at the bottom with a gate valve and a hose adaptor to take the valve to the threads found on garden hoses (I use this for water changes.) I do it to add volume and give me a place to make large water changes from without shutting down the system. If the return pump is of ample size it could be split to feed the vessel in place of its own pump. It also allows me a place to acclimate new arrivals. Release newly acclimated fish if I want them to have some time adjusting before meeting the "neighbors". It could also be a place to put newly captured tank mates that are being removed from the system until they can be placed someplace else. If done properly you can also siphon water from the main tank into it during routine ( or not so routine) maintenance without worrying about shutting down the system or how much water is being removed. Once done you can drain the water from the vessel along with any settled debris.


I'm not a plumbing guru but I did pass out in the parking lot of a Waffle House that was next to a Holiday Inn Express.

 

[neuroslicer]

sump design

sump design

there's no need for all the water flow to go directly past the skimmer or refugium. The skimmer is constantly removing waste out of the system, putting back the treated water... and it all mixes up together.

 

[dclark]

Just Dave, I really like the sounds of doing the water changes without messing with the main tank and shutting off the skimmer and all that. The only bad thing I can think of here is if the power goes off the rubbermaid will then overflow the sump. How do you handle the rubbermaid from completely draining out into the sump in this case?

 

[sperry]

I think the idea is to have a drain bulkhead in the rubbermaid at the water line.
The inlet coming from the sump to the rubermaid at or slightly above the water line to prevent siphoning.
The fitting at the bottom of the rubbermaid with the gate valve is usually closed except when doing the water change.

 

[dclark]

Makes perfect sense now just need to use my brain a little I guess, thanks Sperry!!!!

 

[just dave]

 

[dclark]

Thanks for the pics Just Dave!! I was thinking of going with the rubbermaid poly tanks but this looks nice with less floor space being taken up and probably cheaper. Is the trash can pliable enough I assume that the bulkheads seal ok with it being a round suface?

 

[just dave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11095798#post11095798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dclark
Is the trash can pliable enough I assume that the bulkheads seal ok with it being a round suface?

Yes.
The Brute line goes up to 55 gal.
You could use two 55s in the same foot print as one of the 55 stock tanks.