Two tanks, one sump. Will this work?

[ecugman]

I currently have a 46g bowfront FOWLR that has been up for about 4 months. I plan on adding a room to my home next spring and would like to incorporate a larger tank (125-200g) into the design of the room. I had thought about creating a reef tank with the 46 and having larger more agressive (Lions, Tangs, etc.) fish in the big tank which would be a FOWLR.

My question is, could I use the same sump (I have an extra 55g tank), heaters, skimmer, etc to run both tanks? This way I could have a much larger water volumn (250+g) and would only have to monitor and maintain one water column.

PS - Any advice on incorporating the tank into the new room would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

g

 

[whirley]

Yes, you can share the same sump.
I currently do it with my 20 and 30 gallon tanks.
And, it's cheaper than buying another skimmer, heaters, pumps, etc.

Only downside I see is that they share the same water. So, if one tank has an issue, usually the other tank will as well.

whirley

 

[platylover]

check out this link for a similar concept

 

[EEreefer]

Outside of the "shared" water quality issue, you just need to make sure the sump volume has enough room left over for the "power went off and I wasn't home

" event for both tanks

. JMO.

 

[ecugman]

Hey EEreefer,

I have never used a sump (I'm a newbie here) what type of event are you refering to?

Also, anyone know where i could get some good schematics of the sump system? Including pumps, plumbing, valves, etc.

TY

 

[EEreefer]

When the pumps turn off, the overflows from the tank/tanks will continue to feed water to the sump until their siphons are broken. Same is true for back-flow through the plumbing that normally returns water to the tank from the pumps. Search the board for siphon breaks and such to find ways to stop this from being a problem. The easiest/safest is to just make sure the sump can handle all the extra water that "can" siphon from the tank before the overflow and returns are emptied. HTH.

 

[bradwent]

Just thought I might put this out there...

Consider what an agressive, messy eater predator large tank will have on the water quality for both tanks and how that may affect some sensitive corals. Will this begin to degrade the water quality, and if it does, can it be corrected easily?

 

[sharkdude]

here is a rough diagram of my modest three tank system through one sump.

pump supplying upper 15 is in overflow of main tank.

 

[sharkdude]

here is a rough diagram of my modest three tank system through one sump.

pump supplying upper 15 is in overflow of main tank.

 

[AuroraDave]

I agree with Brad.
I have 2 reefs on the same sump and they need the same water quality.
Larger fish, especially those that need to be fed larger live food like eels, lions, triggers etc would make it more difficult for you to maintain reef quality water.
You would need to do more frequent water changes.
it also depends on what you plan on keeping in your reef.

 

[ecugman]

Good Points about the water quality with the predator type fish, I thought that could be a problem. What if I stayed a way from the predatory type fish and just had free swimming fish (I really want a Tang of some type and I know the 46g is just not big enough).

Thanks for the schematics!

I guess I have some decisions to make!