Seperate refugium sump DT

[FlyTekk]

Whats the best way to plumb a 125g to a Precision Marine Sump and to a seperate tough rubbermaid container for refugium?

The 125 has 2 drains and 2 returns on either side of tank. But if i simply put a return pump in the sump and another in the refuge, im afraid that if sump pump fails the other will keep pumping and will cause an overflow in the sump.... etc.

 

[Imbarrie]

Depends if you run a filter sock or not and if you intend to have the fuge draining into the return section of the sump. You basically have two options that could work;
Tee directly off the return pump one going back to DT and the other going to the Fuge. Put a ball valve in each return then you can control the flow going into the fuge. If you intend to run one filter sock this method would trap the most detritus.
Or
One drain to the sump the other to the fuge. This equally distributes to both but you would need two filter socks to fully trap detritus.

Whatever you do here you cannot have two return pumps. Unless you want to plumb your fuge and sump together so water can flow in either direction in the case of pump failure.

 

[FlyTekk]

One drain to the sump the other to the fuge. This equally distributes to both but you would need two filter socks to fully trap detritus.

Whatever you do here you cannot have two return pumps. Unless you want to plumb your fuge and sump together so water can flow in either direction in the case of pump failure.

If i have one drain to sump and one to refugium, but only one pump.... wouldnt one overflow?

 

[Imbarrie]

Not if they are plumbed together so water can flow freely back and forth. If one fills more then it is transferred over.

Do you want to sketch something and post it?

 

[FlyTekk]

What if i let one drain go to sump. The other to refugium. And use 2 pumps. But use float switches high up above the water, one on sump and the other in refugium. If water would ever make its way up to either of the switches both pumps will be shut off. Niether switch should get stuck since they wont be in water.... no salt creep, no snails.... etc.

 

[bigdog1428]

If u use 2 pumps ,, ur setting urself up fr disaster ,,, just have the refugium higher then the sump ,, and have it drain into it and return pump In the sump

 

[Imbarrie]

Basically stated, the more things you depend on in your system, the more things can go wrong.

You want to achieve your results with the least amount on mechanical or electrical input.

 

[FlyTekk]

Will do. Thanks guys.