Converting Display and Frag Tank to Common Sump

[jharding08]

I am moving and my 120 gallon DT and 32 gallon FT need to come with me. I have been receiving great advice on my move thread here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2593671

One of the items that is high on my list of concern is the fact that I am going to move from having separate DT and FT systems (each with its own sump), to one common sump.

There are a couple reasons for this:
1.) At my current place, I couldnt have the FT that close to the DT, plumbing would be over 15 ft long
2.) The sump I am using for my FT is not great, I cant use filter socks and I cant access the back. The stand only has one door and it is small, so I cant fit, haha.

I have a whole room at my new place that the wife let me have for setting up the tanks. There are 3 walls, one has stair behind it (not good when kids get older and can throw stuff over railing into tank), one withe one giant window (not good for algae) and the largest wall that has two windows with about 10 feet between. This is where it is going to go.


About the DT:
120 gallon, 4'x2'x2', coast to coast overflow with bean animal drain (1" drains on left side of overflow)

Sump has drain chamber, filter sock section, skimmer chamber, live rock rubble chamber and return chamber (left to right)

Return pump is Waveline DC-6000, 1 1/2" return line with 1" manifold for TLF150 reactor

Return Pipe is now 1 1/2", but manifold still looks same:
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Old Picture with external return pump:


The stand has all of the electronics on the right panel (inside and outside) with an acrylic cover.



About the FT:
32 gallon 37"x17"x12". Built in external overflow with bean animal drains ( drains on left side)
Return: SCWD 3/4" flex PVC to two eductors facing opposite corner of tank

FT:

FT Diagram:



I am debating how to setup these tanks so that I can use a common sump. Both tanks have the drains on the left side and the common sump will have the drain on the left side of the stand and the return on the right.

I am thinking I want the FT to the left of the DT for the following reasons:
1.) I want easy access to the DT electrical panel and no FT water near it since FT is rimless
2.) Shortest drain distance. Return distance will be longer, but will use anti siphon holes and I dont turn returns off for feeding, just water change and power outage.

Some questions:
1.) Should I use the DT manifold to run the return back to the FT or two return pumps? I only have the Waveline DC-6000 at about 2/3% on my DT and am currently running a Sicce 3.0 on my FT, which one drain can handle, so I don't use the full siphon, just a durso. If I want to run two return pumps from the DT, I have a Sicce 5.0 that I can turn down to feed the FT from the common sump.

2.)Running two bean animal drains to the common sump will be 6 drain lines. If I do the manifold and just the one durso pipe can handle the FT flow, then I could just sneak that into the corner of the common sump return section. I am using flex pvc now, but could do spa-flex if the angles are tight.

3. I tried running my waveline at full capacity (1585 GPH) in my DT and the flow over the drain section into the filter socks was so violent that the water was splashing out of the sump and getting salt creep everywhere. Is there a way to run heavy flow but not have splashing if I have the full 1585 of one pump or 1500+ GPH of two pumps running?

I hope it isnt as difficult as I am thinking it is