connecting to tanks on same level

jon99 · 02/28/2008, 07:11 PM

I wanted to get some ideas of how to go about connecting two glass aquariums that are on the same level. What I'm doing attaching a frag grow out tank to my sump/fuge. The tanks will be next to each other on the same level. Should I drill both tanks and connect the two with bulkheads/pvc pipe and just have an insump pump in the sump pushing water into the frag tank which would then empty back into the sump through the pvc/bulkheads ? ...or would it be better to just connect the two as described before and then add a pump at the end of the frag tank that would return the water back up to the display tank? I don'twant to over think or over complicate things, just wanna do it right the first time.

bertoni · 02/28/2008, 07:22 PM

Are they both the same height, as well?

jon99 · 02/28/2008, 07:27 PM

Not sure, I haven't gotten the frag tank. The sump is a standard 55 gallon. The frag grow out will probably be the same, maybe more like a 30. But what ever will keep things simpler I will do. They will be "inline" on the same level.

marduc · 02/28/2008, 07:32 PM

What type of overflow/drain do you have on your display tank, and is there room to push more water through it?? what diameter holes are we working with, and how many GPH do you estimate your return pump is already pushing through it?

jon99 · 02/28/2008, 07:42 PM

The display is 135 with 4 1" bulkheads located on the back wall near the top (about 3 inches below where water line will be). I was going to use 2 (maybe 3) of them to drain down to the sump/fuge below and 1 (or 2) for closed loop circulation. I have another 1 inch bulkhead on one side of the 55 gallon sump/fuge that was going to feed an external pump that would push the water back up to the display. I have since decided to add the frag tank and figured I could use this bulkhead in the side of the sump to connect the two. I would then just use an insump pump to push water back into the display. As far as the gph of this pump ??? I don't have it yet (none of this is set up yet). I heard you don't want too much flow through a fuge so I was thinking maybe around 300 gph, just enough so I can use two of the 4 overflows on the display tank for the sump and use the other 2 for closed loop. Hope this is makeing sense.

marduc · 02/28/2008, 07:54 PM

If you just plumb them together with a pair of bulkheads and use the display overflow it will work, so long as they are level with each other, but you will get issues with a surface film accumulating on the frag tank.

If it was me I would drill the frag tank and make its own overflow and plumb that through the sump, then either use a dedicated return for the frag, or tee off the existing return with ball valves for both tanks to control flow to each.

The closed loop can take care of flow issues in the display, then either go powerheads or another closed loop for flow in the frag tank.

There is more than one way to skin this cat, but with the surface scum issues this is how I would plumb it.

jon99 · 02/28/2008, 08:09 PM

marduc,
If I drill the frag tank to overflow into sump I will have to elevate it higher so it will drain down into it. How much? I was wanting to keep the two on the same level to keep things simpler with the stand, but I see what your saying about the film build up. Is there an easier or more practicle way of connecting a third tank to the sump that I'm missing? Seemes like many people have an independent frag grow out tank connected to the system. Any other ideas?? Any suggestions are appreciated, thank you.

02/28/2008, 07:11 PM	#1
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	connecting to tanks on same level I wanted to get some ideas of how to go about connecting two glass aquariums that are on the same level. What I'm doing attaching a frag grow out tank to my sump/fuge. The tanks will be next to each other on the same level. Should I drill both tanks and connect the two with bulkheads/pvc pipe and just have an insump pump in the sump pushing water into the frag tank which would then empty back into the sump through the pvc/bulkheads ? ...or would it be better to just connect the two as described before and then add a pump at the end of the frag tank that would return the water back up to the display tank? I don'twant to over think or over complicate things, just wanna do it right the first time.

02/28/2008, 07:22 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Are they both the same height, as well? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/28/2008, 07:27 PM	#3
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	Not sure, I haven't gotten the frag tank. The sump is a standard 55 gallon. The frag grow out will probably be the same, maybe more like a 30. But what ever will keep things simpler I will do. They will be "inline" on the same level. __________________ Current tank: 210 gallon mixed reef 2x250w radium, 1x400w radium, 2x vortech mp40, 2 seaswirls. 40 gallon frag tank 250w radium, vortech mp10, seaswirl. 55 gallon sump w/ remote DSB, turf scrubber, SR Current Tank Info: 210 in the works

02/28/2008, 07:42 PM	#5
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	The display is 135 with 4 1" bulkheads located on the back wall near the top (about 3 inches below where water line will be). I was going to use 2 (maybe 3) of them to drain down to the sump/fuge below and 1 (or 2) for closed loop circulation. I have another 1 inch bulkhead on one side of the 55 gallon sump/fuge that was going to feed an external pump that would push the water back up to the display. I have since decided to add the frag tank and figured I could use this bulkhead in the side of the sump to connect the two. I would then just use an insump pump to push water back into the display. As far as the gph of this pump ??? I don't have it yet (none of this is set up yet). I heard you don't want too much flow through a fuge so I was thinking maybe around 300 gph, just enough so I can use two of the 4 overflows on the display tank for the sump and use the other 2 for closed loop. Hope this is makeing sense. __________________ Current tank: 210 gallon mixed reef 2x250w radium, 1x400w radium, 2x vortech mp40, 2 seaswirls. 40 gallon frag tank 250w radium, vortech mp10, seaswirl. 55 gallon sump w/ remote DSB, turf scrubber, SR Current Tank Info: 210 in the works

02/28/2008, 08:09 PM	#7
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	marduc, If I drill the frag tank to overflow into sump I will have to elevate it higher so it will drain down into it. How much? I was wanting to keep the two on the same level to keep things simpler with the stand, but I see what your saying about the film build up. Is there an easier or more practicle way of connecting a third tank to the sump that I'm missing? Seemes like many people have an independent frag grow out tank connected to the system. Any other ideas?? Any suggestions are appreciated, thank you. __________________ Current tank: 210 gallon mixed reef 2x250w radium, 1x400w radium, 2x vortech mp40, 2 seaswirls. 40 gallon frag tank 250w radium, vortech mp10, seaswirl. 55 gallon sump w/ remote DSB, turf scrubber, SR Current Tank Info: 210 in the works

02/28/2008, 07:32 PM	#4
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	What type of overflow/drain do you have on your display tank, and is there room to push more water through it?? what diameter holes are we working with, and how many GPH do you estimate your return pump is already pushing through it?

02/28/2008, 07:54 PM	#6
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	If you just plumb them together with a pair of bulkheads and use the display overflow it will work, so long as they are level with each other, but you will get issues with a surface film accumulating on the frag tank. If it was me I would drill the frag tank and make its own overflow and plumb that through the sump, then either use a dedicated return for the frag, or tee off the existing return with ball valves for both tanks to control flow to each. The closed loop can take care of flow issues in the display, then either go powerheads or another closed loop for flow in the frag tank. There is more than one way to skin this cat, but with the surface scum issues this is how I would plumb it.