Dual overflows, Dual sumps?

[Tarazed]

I'm upgrading to a 220. Tank comes Saturday. I am considering running to return pumps and sumps on the tank. This will reduce the needed plumbing and provide safety in redundancy. I have already lost a return pump and was very lucky to have suffered no losses. Any problems in doing this? Will I unnecessarily introduce other complications? It would be like running two separate tanks. :splitspin

 

[fishman1069]

I think it would be easier and cheaper to have one large sump and an extra pump on hand in case one fails. Is the new tank RR or drilled? or are you using overflow boxes?

 

[Tarazed]

It's rr. I was going to use an extra 125 I have but we changed the design of the stand and now thats out. So I'm considering two smaller tanks. One under the tank for a fuge and the other on the side so I am not limited when upgrading the skimmer. Going to run a euroreef 180 for a while. Then something alot bigger. Height is limited under the stand 2 sumps will increase options and placement. I just don't want to introduce too many additional problems. I'm going to run internal return pumps.

 

[albano]

unless the 2 sumps are connected, and both pumps are identical flow, there is a chance of 1 sump overfilling/overflowing




.

 

[junglebase]

IMO, i do not think that is a good idea. First off, on which sump will you have your auto top off set up? That will be crazy to manage, because even if your pumps are going to be similar, there will still be fluctuations and your salinity may eventually suffer. A better idea would be to link the two tanks together and just run one powerful pump.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I have two pumps on my 210gal and each pump is off a diffrent breaker in case one trips for some odd reason.Also if one burns out I still have the one. I am in the middle of adding 1 sumps because the flow into my one 75gal sump is alot.you could get micro bubbles if you dont have dividers in the sump.2 sumps will work As long as they tie into each other b/c they could fight eeach other and that sucks. I went thru this on my old tank.

 

[Wes]

unless the 2 sumps are connected, and both pumps are identical flow, there is a chance of 1 sump overfilling/overflowing




.

+!

No two pumps are the same. Even if both pumps are the same model there can be a slight difference. Over time, this will result in one sump filling up and/or the other sump running dry.

 

[artie1209]

It will be a disaster unless they are plumbed together.

 

[Tarazed]

I'm still trying to figure out if they would in fact fall out of sync. They would share the same tank water level, but, would be fed by separate overflows and would have separate returns. I would also use under rated return pumps. If the perfecto corner-flo theoretically flow 750 gph I will return maybe ~400 gph. I could connect the tanks if necessary and I'm beginning to think thats not option. Going to look at Jarrett Sharks thread.

 

[albano]

Originally Posted by albano
unless the 2 sumps are connected, and both pumps are identical flow, there is a chance of 1 sump overfilling/overflowing

No two pumps are the same. Even if both pumps are the same model there can be a slight difference. Over time, this will result in one sump filling up and/or the other sump running dry.

THANK YOU...exactly my point!

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I'm still trying to figure out if they would in fact fall out of sync. They would share the same tank water level, but, would be fed by separate overflows and would have separate returns. I would also use under rated return pumps. If the perfecto corner-flo theoretically flow 750 gph I will return maybe ~400 gph. I could connect the tanks if necessary and I'm beginning to think thats not option. Going to look at Jarrett Sharks thread.

If you were to get a damaged impeller you will be domed. I learned the hard way when I first started because my floor was slight uneven and it hugged one overflow more. this caused my one pump to burn out and then a mess all over my floor. Just connect the two sumps together if you can and you can sleep at night. if need a idea on how to connect let me know I seen a thread on RC

 

[anthony27]

i have had a set up like that on a 180 breeder custom build so it should work

 

[Wes]

I'm still trying to figure out if they would in fact fall out of sync. They would share the same tank water level, but, would be fed by separate overflows and would have separate returns. I would also use under rated return pumps. If the perfecto corner-flo theoretically flow 750 gph I will return maybe ~400 gph. I could connect the tanks if necessary and I'm beginning to think thats not option. Going to look at Jarrett Sharks thread.

it's because both overflows will drain into each sump at the same rate, but the return pumps will not pump at the same rate.

 

[Tim]

Another point to mention is if you have seperate sumps and the 1 pump go`s out the other pump will still pump water into the tank and into the overflow which in turn will flood the other sump because the pump is dead.There is no fail safe for a setup that way unless the two sump`s are connected in some way.....

 

[MIKE NY]

even if they are connected and one pump fails there still will be a flood....unless you leave plenty of room for the extra water. The one pump won't handle the overflow rate from the two ......one sump and one pump with a backup pump for a failure...... twenty years my system has been running..I think I have been through all the scenarios...LOL

 

[georgelc86]

I vote, very risky.