2 sumps 2 overflows 2 pumps

CaribePiranha · 05/23/2014, 02:22 AM

ok now i have searched all over the Internet for hours and reading multiple opinions. figured get my own answer and help someone else in need for future

Heres what is going on.

175 gallon with dual separate overflows.

2 wet dry aquaeon model 3 sumps planning on running separately to each overflow.

2 1000gph pumps ( one for each sump)

keep in mind Last thing i want to do is drill into sumps.

option one: use ball valves on both drain pipes and ball valves on both return pipes and adjust flow accordingly to which sump drains/returns more water to even out flow as much as possible also using float cut offs for flooding. two 1000 gph pumps running one in each sump. both sumps equal level under tanl and equal length PVC piping for drain and return to each sump

option two : drill 2 holes in each sump on the return pump sides then connecting them with two PVC pipes also 1.5 inch bulk heads , making one even return section also running the two 1000 gph return pumps in each sump ...if needed ball valves like option one will be in effect ....

please help need to go pick up a shoal of seven 10inch Piranha asap

if needed i can show pics

AcroporAddict · 05/23/2014, 02:52 AM

You will never be able to balance the flow with two separate sumps. No way no how. Drill a single hole for a 1.5" bulkhead in each sump return section towards the bottom and connect the two sumps together. You need the connection to maintain water balance between the two sumps.

A further option is to have the 1.5" pipe connecting the two sumps meet at a pvc tee, and feed a single larger return pump, and split the flow from the single pump to each return.

Either way, you have to have a leveling connection between the two sumps. You cannot have two totally independent, non connected sumps operating on the same system without monitoring it 24/7.

BTW, piranhas are boring freshwater fish. They hover motionless except when they feed. There are better choices.

CaribePiranha · 05/23/2014, 06:14 PM

click link and look how i drew everything up

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2412522

Pokerman11 · 05/23/2014, 08:46 PM

Your option 1 will never work. Even if you get it in balance, it will not stay in balance. All it will take is the slightest change from one of the overflows to throw it out of wack. Then over time all the water from one sump will be in the other.

I'm not so sure your option 2 will work. Even if you get the ball valves to balance, over time (like in days) these valves go out of balance and again one sump will be pumped dry and the other overfilled.

You just can't have these two sumps independent. Not sure why you need two sumps anyway, get one correct sized one.

However if you are going to go with two then find a way to interconnect the two so that the water flows between them, for example your 1.5" pipe connected between the two below the waterline would allow the water to self-level.

AcroporAddict · 05/24/2014, 10:34 AM

Your first sketch will work, except that you probably won't get 1000 GPH out of each overflow. If your overflow hole is a standard 1" bulkhead, it is rated at about 600 GPH in a gravity feed type situation.

In other words, you can do illustration one, but you won't need a 1000 GPH pump for each sump. I would look at a 500-750 GPH pump for each return. Otherwise, you will have to valve down the output of each pump so it doesn't return more water to the tank than the overflows can handle.

05/23/2014, 02:22 AM	#1
CaribePiranha Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 17	2 sumps 2 overflows 2 pumps ok now i have searched all over the Internet for hours and reading multiple opinions. figured get my own answer and help someone else in need for future Heres what is going on. 175 gallon with dual separate overflows. 2 wet dry aquaeon model 3 sumps planning on running separately to each overflow. 2 1000gph pumps ( one for each sump) keep in mind Last thing i want to do is drill into sumps. option one: use ball valves on both drain pipes and ball valves on both return pipes and adjust flow accordingly to which sump drains/returns more water to even out flow as much as possible also using float cut offs for flooding. two 1000 gph pumps running one in each sump. both sumps equal level under tanl and equal length PVC piping for drain and return to each sump option two : drill 2 holes in each sump on the return pump sides then connecting them with two PVC pipes also 1.5 inch bulk heads , making one even return section also running the two 1000 gph return pumps in each sump ...if needed ball valves like option one will be in effect .... please help need to go pick up a shoal of seven 10inch Piranha asap if needed i can show pics

05/23/2014, 02:52 AM	#2
AcroporAddict There is no substitute. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 2,269	You will never be able to balance the flow with two separate sumps. No way no how. Drill a single hole for a 1.5" bulkhead in each sump return section towards the bottom and connect the two sumps together. You need the connection to maintain water balance between the two sumps. A further option is to have the 1.5" pipe connecting the two sumps meet at a pvc tee, and feed a single larger return pump, and split the flow from the single pump to each return. Either way, you have to have a leveling connection between the two sumps. You cannot have two totally independent, non connected sumps operating on the same system without monitoring it 24/7. BTW, piranhas are boring freshwater fish. They hover motionless except when they feed. There are better choices.

05/23/2014, 06:14 PM	#3
CaribePiranha Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 17	click link and look how i drew everything up http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2412522

05/23/2014, 08:46 PM	#4
Pokerman11 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North East Ohio Posts: 221	Your option 1 will never work. Even if you get it in balance, it will not stay in balance. All it will take is the slightest change from one of the overflows to throw it out of wack. Then over time all the water from one sump will be in the other. I'm not so sure your option 2 will work. Even if you get the ball valves to balance, over time (like in days) these valves go out of balance and again one sump will be pumped dry and the other overfilled. You just can't have these two sumps independent. Not sure why you need two sumps anyway, get one correct sized one. However if you are going to go with two then find a way to interconnect the two so that the water flows between them, for example your 1.5" pipe connected between the two below the waterline would allow the water to self-level.

05/24/2014, 10:34 AM	#5
AcroporAddict There is no substitute. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 2,269	Your first sketch will work, except that you probably won't get 1000 GPH out of each overflow. If your overflow hole is a standard 1" bulkhead, it is rated at about 600 GPH in a gravity feed type situation. In other words, you can do illustration one, but you won't need a 1000 GPH pump for each sump. I would look at a 500-750 GPH pump for each return. Otherwise, you will have to valve down the output of each pump so it doesn't return more water to the tank than the overflows can handle.