Can this sump handle two tanks?

[t_nix]

I have a 92 corner aquarium and I am currently using a ReefMaster Pro 100 Refugium (link below). The sump has one input. I am in the process of moving all of my filtration into the garage and I would like to tie in a 29 gallon tank into this sump (along with the 92 gallon). I was going to use a T-fitting to tie in both tanks but I am not sure if that would be too much water flow into one input.


I have a mag 7 return on the 92 gallon, and I was going to run a mag 3 on the 29 gallon.


I was going to use the 29 gallon for water changes (so I don't have to pull water from the display tank), and also as a large refugium to keep my PH up (at night).


Would this be too much water going into my current sump? Or should I just hold off on the 29 gallon until I have a larger sump?

 

[straydog]

If you were to use a mag 10 you could cut down on the need for two pumps . I would be worried that the sump might not handdle the extra volume of water when the pump was not running and the water drained from the tanks to the sump. I compensated for this on my system by placing my acrylic sump into a larger aquarium. That way it could handle the extra volume of water when the tanks drained into the sump/refugium area.

 

[superclown]

Im no expert so take what I say with a grain of salt but I would think instead of running 2 seperate pumps in a single sump you would be better off purchasing a larger mag pump add in a couple of t-s to control flow from one pump. The increased water volume in the system overall should provide some benefit to the system regardless if its in the sump or the other 2 tanks its still more than what you had to begin with. As long as the overflows are done right on both tanks, (no chance of back siphone or faster return than drainage or overflow issues in the event of power loss) Then you should be fine.

 

[jef4y]

Okay, so you have to do some math.

The sump holds 10 gal. You're going to have an operating height/volume of somewhere around 6g. That leaves ~4g for overflow from BOTH tanks when the return pump is cut. Can the sump handle that? How much are you dumping off when you kill the return to your current 92?

Also, IMHO you'll do MUCH better to have ONE return pump and the T & control with a ball-valve to the 29, leaving the 92 to take on the bulk of the return. Just easier that way.

 

[tbryan]

so the 29 will basically just be a refugium? will it also be in the garage?

 

[jef4y]

tbryan;812293 wrote: so the 29 will basically just be a refugium? will it also be in the garage?

Yeah, was wondering if the 29 will hold anything but water. If not, just buy a 40b or a used 55 and use that as sump.

 

[gmpolan]

Tiff, i got a mag 9.5 you guys can use if need be and i am assuming you will be using this for breeding?

 

[t_nix]

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">Thank you all for the input!</span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana"> </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I was going to eventually get to one pump for both tanks, but my question was more around the capacity that the (single) drain input can handle. Could one input handle the drain from both tanks (without slowing up the system)? I don't want water to be pumping up faster than what might be able to return into the sump. I don't know how much flow gravity will have on two tanks for one input. </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana"> </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">The 29 gallon will be in the garage and will function as a large refugium with some canister filters tied in (matrix, carbon, gfo). I wanted to have a large refugium to keep the PH higher at night (along with adding extra oxygen to the system to avoid putting in an O2 scrubber). I also wanted a large refugium for the extra water volume (and to pull from during water changes so I don&#8217;t have to drain in the house). </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana"> </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I know I can get other tanks and sumps, but I already have the 29 gallon that is plumbed up and has its stand and lights. I am trying to avoid spending more. (Someone has their eye on MP40's for Xmas). </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana"> </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">Geoff - I might take you up on the mag 9.5. But we gave up on the breeding. I still have 20 clownfish that would love to be in a nice 250 (now that you are putting fish back in). ;-) Thanks Bud!</span></span>

 

[tbryan]

You could just T off of the drain line to feed the 29, set it a little higher than the sump, drill you a hole in the side of the 29 and let it drain back into the sump.No extra pumps needed.