Will this work????

[glenn01]

I have been think of getting 40B reef only tank and a 40 gallon sump that will only fit side by side. I am thinking of getting two pumps, one will draw water from display at 550gph into the sump and have a return pump with a ball value so i can regulate the water flow. If i put a shut of valve on each tank this should protect me if a pump goes out. As for the noise I am not concerned because its going in our game room. WIll THIS WORK????? If not why?

[KafudaFish]

No.

The two pumps will not match flow. Eventually one will pump more water than the other and you will have a flood.

[DonCorsean]

Better to just have an overflow into the sump and one return pump.

[glenn01]

How will the flow work on a side by side tank? The angle from the display tank to the sump would be a slope of about 5in. From a hole at the top of DT sloped down about 5in into the skimmer is that enough gravity to have a good flow.

[Acronic]

5 inch slope is enough. the flow rate will only be affected by the size of you pump or the size of the plumbing.

[glenn01]

Thank for the help!! So a hole right below the top of my DT with a 1in pipe slopped for about 5in to the sump and return pump to push 550gph will work fine? Is 550 enough for a 40 gallon reef tank.

[Acronic]

that is plenty

[laugh]

You could connect the tanks with a U tube. Just use a small powerhead to pump from one tank to the other. It will work just like an overflow box. No drilling required.