Adding additional sump

[soheix]

I have a 175 gal main tank with a 40gal sump underneath and it houses a skimmer and two heater. I have a old 55 gal tank lying around I want to connect that to my existing sump. Is there anything I need to consider?

I want to make it into a refrugium so I can put a DSB and grow some macroalgae but at the same time I want to use that to change water and If possible I want to leave some space for fragging in the future. Its a rectangular tank with these dim: 48L x 19H x 13w I plan to put this tank on the floor in the backroom at the same elevation.

I'll try to draw a picture.

 

[mr_X]

you plan to drill the old and new sumps? if so, make sure the bulkhead can handle your pump return. how will you get water to the back room sump?

 

[soheix]

Yeah I plan to drill the new sump and use an existing hole in my old sump. BTW whats the bulkhead? See if this picture make sense. I plan to get water to the old sump by just natural leveling of the water if that make sense.

 

[mr_X]

i was talking to a guy who tried the 2 sump thing, and he said he had to go overboard with the connecting pipe in between. something about not enough water reaching the 2nd sump fast enough...even though it seemed to be big enough, i believe there is some sort of head loss just like that of pushing water. it's 3rd party information, but just something to think about.

 

[soheix]

Would it be better to have one of the overflow reroute to the new sump or pump into the new sump?

 

[cindre2000]

Definitely have one of the drains in the refugium. On a 125 I set up there are two 15g sumps (1" connect) and even with the drains in each sump there was a water level difference. It turns out the the overflows were getting a different amount of water.

 

[soheix]

Is there any typical way to setup the refugium for macroalgae? I was thinking just 4 inch of sugar fine sand and throw some Chaetomorpha and turn on the lights and call it a day.

 

[mr_X]

that will work soheix...actually, you don't even need the sand. :wink:

 

[mr_X]

that will work soheix...actually, you don't even need the sand. :wink:

 

[mr_X]

that will work soheix...actually, you don't even need the sand. :wink:

 

[cindre2000]

Trying to boost your post count...
:roll:

 

[mr_X]

eh...sometimes this forum gets stuck...you feel the need to click send again...then this happens. impatience actually