Having Two Sumps! One Above The Other?

[garybuk]

Hey i think (Matthew5664) did this not 100% tho and i no hes left for abit!

But i was wondering if it can be done! two sumps one big one at the bottom and smaller one at the top!

if it can be done how would i go about it? any ideas? or links?

 

[Crazy fishes]

Just like if you have one but instead of the return going into the display tank have it in the second sump. The return from the second then feeds back to the display tank. Simply.... I think . Why are you think of two sumps??

Regards

 

[garybuk]

Just like if you have one but instead of the return going into the display tank have it in the second sump. The return from the second then feeds back to the display tank. Simply.... I think . Why are you think of two sumps??

Regards

Ahh soo i would just have to get the bottom sump pump right! and make sure non over over each other!

Just that i got two sumps! and replumed my tank in to a cabinet so i got the space to do it .....

two sumps gota be better then 1 right?

 

[Crazy fishes]

You could do the larger as a sump for equipment and then the smaller as mainly a refugium? Clean water that has been skimmered is then feed into the macroalgae; it would prevent the build up of debris of the macroalgae. You would need a return pump from both sump and refugium, but they would be smaller than a single for the sump as the height they are pushing the water head up is reduced. It seems a little superfluous but what the hell you only live once right??

Best of luck with that plumping and hope to see some pics

Regards

 

[garybuk]

You could do the larger as a sump for equipment and then the smaller as mainly a refugium? Clean water that has been skimmered is then feed into the macroalgae; it would prevent the build up of debris of the macroalgae. You would need a return pump from both sump and refugium, but they would be smaller than a single for the sump as the height they are pushing the water head up is reduced. It seems a little superfluous but what the hell you only live once right??

Best of luck with that plumping and hope to see some pics

Regards

Thats a good idea!!! hopefully get somethink on the go soon!

 

[garybuk]

A quick diagram? what do you think shud this work???

The only concern i have is that shudnt a refugium be a slow flow thur it is this right?

 

[SkiFletch]

Nope, that will not work. The refugium must drain back to the sump and you either need two pumps in the sump, or one big pump with a Tee and ball valve controls.

 

[Crazy fishes]

Ski why does the refugium have to drain to the sump?

Regards

 

[garybuk]

Ski why does the refugium have to drain to the sump?

Regards

Im gussing for the slower flow rate? but would like to no why too! back to the dwaring board!

 

[garybuk]

EDITED PIC:

How about this? i sopose this is better in the long run anyway as i can slow the flowrate in the refugium and the uv is just going thur a smaller cycle?

 

[SkiFletch]

Yes, the reason you can't do the old drawing is because then you have to try and match the flowrates of the two pumps which is impossible. Remember, the only reason a sump system works is because the drain can breathe and therefore automatically adjust flowrate to match the pump. Using a dual pump system never works

Gary, remember to have a ball valve on the pipe that goes to the refugium AND the pipe that goes up to the tank. You will need to close off the one to the refugium a LOT, so be prepared for that. And don't forget unions and check valves where necessary for servicing.

 

[garybuk]

Yes, the reason you can't do the old drawing is because then you have to try and match the flowrates of the two pumps which is impossible. Remember, the only reason a sump system works is because the drain can breathe and therefore automatically adjust flowrate to match the pump. Using a dual pump system never works

Gary, remember to have a ball valve on the pipe that goes to the refugium AND the pipe that goes up to the tank. You will need to close off the one to the refugium a LOT, so be prepared for that. And don't forget unions and check valves where necessary for servicing.

Thanks again ski!! tho why will i be closeing water flow off to the refugium alot? if im doing that , that would mean my uv wont be running water thur much???

And when you say and the pipe that goes up to the tank, are you meaning my main tank? and again would would i have one on there??

THANKS

 

[SkiFletch]

Because the refugium is at a lower height than the display tank, it has a lower pressure drop on that. And since water seeks the path of least resistance, most of the flow will "want" to go up to the refugium. Hence you need to tighten the ball valve down a lot to create a higher pressure drop to make more water "want" to go up to the display tank.

You'd want the ballvalve going up to the main tank just in case for some reason you wanted to shut that off but keep the refugium running. Maybe you run into a waterchange issue, or something else wierd, who knows. But it never hurts to have shutoff control on all components of the system.

 

[garybuk]

Because the refugium is at a lower height than the display tank, it has a lower pressure drop on that. And since water seeks the path of least resistance, most of the flow will "want" to go up to the refugium. Hence you need to tighten the ball valve down a lot to create a higher pressure drop to make more water "want" to go up to the display tank.

You'd want the ballvalve going up to the main tank just in case for some reason you wanted to shut that off but keep the refugium running. Maybe you run into a waterchange issue, or something else wierd, who knows. But it never hurts to have shutoff control on all components of the system.

Im kinda confused now .... sorry ski

On the dwaring the "FROM TANK" Is a pvc pipe that is nearenuff equele with the bottom of my main display tank! it would then flow thur the "big sump" then pumped up to the refugium and to the main display tank,

Then the refugium has a slow flow and then flows back to the big sump!!


OHH I THINK I GET IT NOW..... KEPT READING IT OVER AND OVER!!! so when i would ture off the flow to my main display tank i can keep my refugium and plants ect ect alive in there wooo thanks ski!!!!!

 

[garybuk]

Right got the refugium up on its shelf and the sump at the bottom, i was going ask what the best chambers was to use but i just won a
aqua medic riff 500 witch i could place in the bottom sump??

people have any thorts on the aqua medic riff 500?? is it nosiy?

shud i use this or get chambers put in! was going get glass cut tomorow but if the aqua medic riff 500 is better then chambers i wont??