Is this plan ridiculous or possible?

pbauec · 08/29/2015, 06:07 AM

So my wife hate the noise from the pump, my kid really wants an lionfish and I would like an above tank fuge. My plan is to put some holes in the wall behind my main tank and run plumbing through it to make use of space in my office. (See my **** poor diagram)
What complications and problems can come from this design ? Should sump 1&2 be at the same level or sump 1 drain into 2 from a higher level ? I have a fair bit of leeway as the space is open and I'm in a rebuild now.

dkeller_nc · 08/29/2015, 06:46 AM

That depends on what your desired pump flow rate will be, and how big the pipe(s) will be between sumps 1 & 2. If you have, for example, 2 1-1/2" PVC connections between sumps 1 & 2 and your flowrate is under 1000 gph, you should be fine - the level in sump 1 won't be noticeably higher than sump 2.

But your drawing suggests to me that you're likely to get a good bit of flowing-water noise from a set-up like this, depending on the flowrate and how you plumb the overflows from the tanks and fuge.

You mentioned that your wife hates the pump noise. So what kind of pump are you using? There are many options for pumps that are almost silent, though that won't help with falling-water noise if the overflow configurations in your tanks aren't setup for silent operation.

ufans · 08/29/2015, 07:01 AM

Refugium are typically low water flow areas. Having the 20g refugium feed two displays of over 100g would be more like a sump. Why not just split the pump to feed both displays and have the refugium in its own closed loop.

If the refugium is going to gravity feed the displays the the pipes better be huge.

pbauec · 08/29/2015, 07:22 AM

What about one of these changes? Tee off of the single pump to limit the flow thru fuge or add a 2ND pump for dt only.

pbauec · 08/29/2015, 07:36 AM

I have a quiet one 4000 currently. Not opposed to new pumps but they are expensive to ship to Canada and not all are available here. Will happily take recommendations on quieter pumps. Have heard mixed reviews on DC pumps. I think I prefer the two pump option.
I have a BeanAnimal running on DT (I love it!!) And water noise on the other side of the wall is a non issue. I had thought that this would be an easier/safer way to achieve the above tank fuge (want to farm pods for a mandarin) and 2ND display tank.
I am very open to ideas and changes. The more ridiculous the better

BrettDS · 08/29/2015, 08:53 AM

I might consider one larger sump behind the wall, rather than two smaller ones... Less complication and less potential noise in the room with the big tank.

As far as the refugium goes, I wouldn't feed either tank solely through the refugium. Either use one pump or two and branch off from there, but feed all three tanks directly. You can still drain the fuge into both tanks. That way you can provide enough flow for the display tanks without pushing too much water through the fuge.

pbauec · 08/29/2015, 09:06 AM

I had considered the larger sump behind the wall but it would complicate the Bean drain and I am reluctant to risk that. If needed I will though. I am definitely coming around to feeding the tanks directly with only a portion flowing through the fuge.

08/29/2015, 06:07 AM	#1
pbauec Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 59	Is this plan ridiculous or possible? So my wife hate the noise from the pump, my kid really wants an lionfish and I would like an above tank fuge. My plan is to put some holes in the wall behind my main tank and run plumbing through it to make use of space in my office. (See my **** poor diagram) What complications and problems can come from this design ? Should sump 1&2 be at the same level or sump 1 drain into 2 from a higher level ? I have a fair bit of leeway as the space is open and I'm in a rebuild now.

08/29/2015, 07:36 AM	#5
pbauec Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 59	I have a quiet one 4000 currently. Not opposed to new pumps but they are expensive to ship to Canada and not all are available here. Will happily take recommendations on quieter pumps. Have heard mixed reviews on DC pumps. I think I prefer the two pump option. I have a BeanAnimal running on DT (I love it!!) And water noise on the other side of the wall is a non issue. I had thought that this would be an easier/safer way to achieve the above tank fuge (want to farm pods for a mandarin) and 2ND display tank. I am very open to ideas and changes. The more ridiculous the better Last edited by pbauec; 08/29/2015 at 07:43 AM. Reason: I get forgetty

08/29/2015, 08:53 AM	#6
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	Is this plan ridiculous or possible? I might consider one larger sump behind the wall, rather than two smaller ones... Less complication and less potential noise in the room with the big tank. As far as the refugium goes, I wouldn't feed either tank solely through the refugium. Either use one pump or two and branch off from there, but feed all three tanks directly. You can still drain the fuge into both tanks. That way you can provide enough flow for the display tanks without pushing too much water through the fuge.

08/29/2015, 06:46 AM	#2
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	That depends on what your desired pump flow rate will be, and how big the pipe(s) will be between sumps 1 & 2. If you have, for example, 2 1-1/2" PVC connections between sumps 1 & 2 and your flowrate is under 1000 gph, you should be fine - the level in sump 1 won't be noticeably higher than sump 2. But your drawing suggests to me that you're likely to get a good bit of flowing-water noise from a set-up like this, depending on the flowrate and how you plumb the overflows from the tanks and fuge. You mentioned that your wife hates the pump noise. So what kind of pump are you using? There are many options for pumps that are almost silent, though that won't help with falling-water noise if the overflow configurations in your tanks aren't setup for silent operation.

08/29/2015, 07:01 AM	#3
ufans Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 681	Refugium are typically low water flow areas. Having the 20g refugium feed two displays of over 100g would be more like a sump. Why not just split the pump to feed both displays and have the refugium in its own closed loop. If the refugium is going to gravity feed the displays the the pipes better be huge.

08/29/2015, 07:22 AM	#4
pbauec Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 59	What about one of these changes? Tee off of the single pump to limit the flow thru fuge or add a 2ND pump for dt only.

08/29/2015, 09:06 AM	#7
pbauec Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 59	I had considered the larger sump behind the wall but it would complicate the Bean drain and I am reluctant to risk that. If needed I will though. I am definitely coming around to feeding the tanks directly with only a portion flowing through the fuge.