Multiple Sump question???

jamesk · 10/01/2008, 06:12 PM

Do to size limitations under my tank I am forced to use 2 seperate 30 gallon sumps I have a 250 gallon tank with duel HOB overflows. My question in which I think I know the answer is do I have to connect the 2 sumps and run only 1 return pump or can I get away with 2 return pumps and not plumbing the 2 sumps together. Hooking them up means I have to drill out both sumps what size of holes do you reccomend. RIO32hf is the current return pump.

Please let me know.

ZeRo 91 · 10/01/2008, 06:28 PM

cant you take out a support in your stand i got a 50 gal sump that would work pro if not.

i think a safe bet would be 2 -2inch bulkheads 2 unions

thats what i would do. an while your at it maybe drill a third hole for a external pump in the future you could always plug the bulk head. for a later time.

SALT WATER CRAZ · 10/01/2008, 06:39 PM

if you are going to run 2 sumps plum them together.

2 diffrent sumps with 2 diffrent pumps would scare me if one of the pumps ever failed than you would flood.

jamesk · 10/01/2008, 10:13 PM

I have a 55 gallon sump that will not fit even if I pull the support out. If you know any one needing a Large Sump I have one cheap.

JUNI0R · 10/02/2008, 08:30 AM

If you plum the seperatly, you could have a flood even without a return pump failing. If more water goes down one of the over flows or if one return pump pushes more water water than the other one, you will end up with a rising water level in one sump and a decreasing water level in the other sump. You would need both return pumps to have the same exact flow rate and both overflows to have the same exact flow rate.

Mr. Brooks · 10/02/2008, 10:03 AM

You could put one sump higher than the other, drill two holes in the top of the taller one and use it as a refugium. Have one pump on the lower sump. Run two pipes from the taller sump over to the lower sump. That way everything would be gravity fed.

Cagdas · 10/02/2008, 04:50 PM

I had two sumps and used an overflow box to connect them one return pump, a second pump that runs my skimmer drains in to the second sump and overflow box makes the return to the first sump which has the return pump.

jamesk · 10/02/2008, 07:15 PM

My plan was to eventually once I have all of my Skimmers, UV and Returns set up was to install a 20 Gallon refugium on a shelf inside the cabinet and feed it with a small powerhead and feed back via gravity. I was fairly confident that I was going to have to plumb the 2 sumps but I am planning on having multiple HOB overflows feeding the 2 different sumps I have 3 1" inputs available to my sumps and am I planning on using a 2" pipe to plumb the 2 sumps together to help balance the 2 water levels. Any warning signs with this concept I don't need any floods.

Thanks
Jayme

10/01/2008, 06:12 PM	#1
jamesk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Orange County California Posts: 600	Multiple Sump question??? Do to size limitations under my tank I am forced to use 2 seperate 30 gallon sumps I have a 250 gallon tank with duel HOB overflows. My question in which I think I know the answer is do I have to connect the 2 sumps and run only 1 return pump or can I get away with 2 return pumps and not plumbing the 2 sumps together. Hooking them up means I have to drill out both sumps what size of holes do you reccomend. RIO32hf is the current return pump. Please let me know.

10/01/2008, 06:39 PM	#3
SALT WATER CRAZ Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: michigan Posts: 872	if you are going to run 2 sumps plum them together. 2 diffrent sumps with 2 diffrent pumps would scare me if one of the pumps ever failed than you would flood. Last edited by SALT WATER CRAZ; 10/01/2008 at 06:44 PM.

10/02/2008, 04:50 PM	#7
Cagdas Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Ankara, Turkey Posts: 333	I had two sumps and used an overflow box to connect them one return pump, a second pump that runs my skimmer drains in to the second sump and overflow box makes the return to the first sump which has the return pump. __________________ Cagdas D. Son Current Tank Info: 110 gallon + 20 gallon sump BKmini200 skimmer, 640W T5.

10/01/2008, 06:28 PM	#2
ZeRo 91 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Santa Barbara Posts: 275	cant you take out a support in your stand i got a 50 gal sump that would work pro if not. i think a safe bet would be 2 -2inch bulkheads 2 unions thats what i would do. an while your at it maybe drill a third hole for a external pump in the future you could always plug the bulk head. for a later time.

10/01/2008, 10:13 PM	#4
jamesk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Orange County California Posts: 600	I have a 55 gallon sump that will not fit even if I pull the support out. If you know any one needing a Large Sump I have one cheap.

10/02/2008, 08:30 AM	#5
JUNI0R Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 272	If you plum the seperatly, you could have a flood even without a return pump failing. If more water goes down one of the over flows or if one return pump pushes more water water than the other one, you will end up with a rising water level in one sump and a decreasing water level in the other sump. You would need both return pumps to have the same exact flow rate and both overflows to have the same exact flow rate.

10/02/2008, 10:03 AM	#6
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	You could put one sump higher than the other, drill two holes in the top of the taller one and use it as a refugium. Have one pump on the lower sump. Run two pipes from the taller sump over to the lower sump. That way everything would be gravity fed.

10/02/2008, 07:15 PM	#8
jamesk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Orange County California Posts: 600	My plan was to eventually once I have all of my Skimmers, UV and Returns set up was to install a 20 Gallon refugium on a shelf inside the cabinet and feed it with a small powerhead and feed back via gravity. I was fairly confident that I was going to have to plumb the 2 sumps but I am planning on having multiple HOB overflows feeding the 2 different sumps I have 3 1" inputs available to my sumps and am I planning on using a 2" pipe to plumb the 2 sumps together to help balance the 2 water levels. Any warning signs with this concept I don't need any floods. Thanks Jayme