2 10 gallon sumps HELP!!

PhilOlsen · 10-16-2006, 07:18 AM

I need some help on what to do to make 2 10 gallon tanks into sumps (1 sump and 1 refugium) for a 55 gallon tank. I especially need help with the plumbing.

Woodstock · 10-16-2006, 03:36 PM

Sorry, I know little to nothing about plumbing.... but here is a bump for your thread.

ex3004me · 10-16-2006, 05:31 PM

make one of the tanks higher than the other maybe a couple of inches then drill one of the sides put a bulkhead in little bit of pvc maybe a 90* elbow then let gravity do the work after that or tee off of your return to drain into the higher one then have that one drain back into the one with the return pump. i have my sump with the return then an 18tall that is feed by a tee on my return so i can slow the flow down for the refugium part wish i had a camera. hmm if you see the pictures youll understand why i need a camera but it get the point across i hope

sasquatch · 10-16-2006, 10:33 PM

Hey Phil what you need to know??

PhilOlsen · 10-16-2006, 10:48 PM

I have 2 10 gal tanks, currently the are on a metal stand next to my 55. I would like to know how to turn them into a sump and a refugium. What I really need to know is where should I have pumps, what kind of pumps and if they should be in a certain order (1-sump,2-refugium or vice a versa) and what is the best way to set up each tank so I am making the best use of them. I have access to all kinds of pvc for plumbing. I have live sand, rock and macroalgae for the refugium. If someone has some pics that would be great, the diagram is a great help as well. Please send pics to philolsen@sbcglobal.net I can set up under the tank if that would be better.

lcstorc · 10-17-2006, 09:19 AM

Well plumbing is certainly not my thing, but a few tidbits I have picked up.
1. You want a relatively slow flow through your fuge.
2. Put the fuge after the skimmer or other filtration particularly uv if you run it, so you get the pods and other good guys into the display.
now I will shut up and let those who really know what they are doing take over.

sasquatch · 10-17-2006, 10:42 PM

Tom are you putting a skimmer in the sump? is your tank drilled for overflow or are you going to use an overflow kit? do you want them side by side or end to end? lighting, media units, top off system, keep posting Steve

PhilOlsen · 10-18-2006, 12:10 PM

I am planning on putting my skimmer, heater and UV with the sump, what I have now for lighting is a standard tube fixture with a 10,000k bulb, top off will be done manually, if they go under the tank they will be end to end, but currently thet are next to the tank on a double stand one above the other and none of the tanks are drilled so I will be using overflows and plumbing over the backs of the tanks. I am not sure what to use for media so that is in the air.

sasquatch · 10-18-2006, 11:22 PM

Phil, baffels should be straight forward just triple check water heights when powered off, return pump is figure what flow and what head, how you fixed for power?

PhilOlsen · 10-19-2006, 06:57 AM

power is no issue, I have 8 oultlets available on 2 breakers, 20 amp each.

Couch · 10-19-2006, 11:01 AM

Phil, first figure out what type of overflow boxes to get, You should have 2 overflows out of your display tank going to the sump with the skimmer. From that sump you can have 1 submersible pump to return the water to the display, and in the return line install a pvc Y and a valve going to the fuge. With the valve you can adjust the water flow to the fuge. Get one more overflow box to overflow water from the fuge back to the begining of the skimmer sump. The display will need to be the highest tank. You can leave the fuge on the iron stand. You should however move the skimmer sump below the main tank. Just make sure that the skimmer sump is lower than all other tanks so water will gravity feed to it.

PhilOlsen · 10-19-2006, 01:16 PM

What size overflow and pumps do you recomend? Also any ideas on how and where to put baffles?

sasquatch · 10-19-2006, 04:57 PM

there was a link for baffles somewhere, glass or acrylic 1/4 '' smaller than the width, the edges were wrapped with closed cell foam( self sticking type) they are moveable which is a major +, you might want to consider a bubble baffle set for the inflow/skimmer end.Are you going wet/dry pumps or submersable only? Steve

PhilOlsen · 10-19-2006, 05:35 PM

I was planning on submersable.

sasquatch · 10-19-2006, 09:37 PM

personaly I like quiet one pumps,there wet or dry can go outside to lower heat in the tank, good price and made by the same company that makes tunze pumps

10-16-2006, 07:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! I need some help on what to do to make 2 10 gallon tanks into sumps (1 sump and 1 refugium) for a 55 gallon tank. I especially need help with the plumbing.

10-16-2006, 03:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,862 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! Sorry, I know little to nothing about plumbing.... but here is a bump for your thread. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

10-16-2006, 05:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
ex3004me Tubeworm Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 25 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! make one of the tanks higher than the other maybe a couple of inches then drill one of the sides put a bulkhead in little bit of pvc maybe a 90* elbow then let gravity do the work after that or tee off of your return to drain into the higher one then have that one drain back into the one with the return pump. i have my sump with the return then an 18tall that is feed by a tee on my return so i can slow the flow down for the refugium part wish i had a camera. hmm if you see the pictures youll understand why i need a camera but it get the point across i hope

10-16-2006, 10:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! Hey Phil what you need to know??

10-16-2006, 10:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! I have 2 10 gal tanks, currently the are on a metal stand next to my 55. I would like to know how to turn them into a sump and a refugium. What I really need to know is where should I have pumps, what kind of pumps and if they should be in a certain order (1-sump,2-refugium or vice a versa) and what is the best way to set up each tank so I am making the best use of them. I have access to all kinds of pvc for plumbing. I have live sand, rock and macroalgae for the refugium. If someone has some pics that would be great, the diagram is a great help as well. Please send pics to philolsen@sbcglobal.net I can set up under the tank if that would be better.

10-17-2006, 09:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,524 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! Well plumbing is certainly not my thing, but a few tidbits I have picked up. 1. You want a relatively slow flow through your fuge. 2. Put the fuge after the skimmer or other filtration particularly uv if you run it, so you get the pods and other good guys into the display. now I will shut up and let those who really know what they are doing take over. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

10-17-2006, 10:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! Tom are you putting a skimmer in the sump? is your tank drilled for overflow or are you going to use an overflow kit? do you want them side by side or end to end? lighting, media units, top off system, keep posting Steve

10-18-2006, 12:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! I am planning on putting my skimmer, heater and UV with the sump, what I have now for lighting is a standard tube fixture with a 10,000k bulb, top off will be done manually, if they go under the tank they will be end to end, but currently thet are next to the tank on a double stand one above the other and none of the tanks are drilled so I will be using overflows and plumbing over the backs of the tanks. I am not sure what to use for media so that is in the air.

10-18-2006, 11:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! Phil, baffels should be straight forward just triple check water heights when powered off, return pump is figure what flow and what head, how you fixed for power?

10-19-2006, 06:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! power is no issue, I have 8 oultlets available on 2 breakers, 20 amp each.

10-19-2006, 11:01 AM	#11 (permalink)
Couch Ricordea Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mt Vernon, Ohio Posts: 186 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! Phil, first figure out what type of overflow boxes to get, You should have 2 overflows out of your display tank going to the sump with the skimmer. From that sump you can have 1 submersible pump to return the water to the display, and in the return line install a pvc Y and a valve going to the fuge. With the valve you can adjust the water flow to the fuge. Get one more overflow box to overflow water from the fuge back to the begining of the skimmer sump. The display will need to be the highest tank. You can leave the fuge on the iron stand. You should however move the skimmer sump below the main tank. Just make sure that the skimmer sump is lower than all other tanks so water will gravity feed to it.

10-19-2006, 01:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! What size overflow and pumps do you recomend? Also any ideas on how and where to put baffles?

10-19-2006, 04:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! there was a link for baffles somewhere, glass or acrylic 1/4 '' smaller than the width, the edges were wrapped with closed cell foam( self sticking type) they are moveable which is a major +, you might want to consider a bubble baffle set for the inflow/skimmer end.Are you going wet/dry pumps or submersable only? Steve

10-19-2006, 05:35 PM	#14 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! I was planning on submersable.

10-19-2006, 09:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 2 10 gallon sumps HELP!! personaly I like quiet one pumps,there wet or dry can go outside to lower heat in the tank, good price and made by the same company that makes tunze pumps

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