Has anyone tried plumbing 2 tanks side by side?

[CAT]

Hi folks.

I've got a 28 gal bowfront softie reef that I really like. I thought I'd be able to grow some macro algae in it for nutrient export but the grape caulerpa in there keeps getting stripped down. The culprit has to be the fire shrimp since nothing else in the tank would be interested. My nitrates are now at 5 ppm and I'm worried it will keep rising. I have no intention of cutting back my feeding or getting rid of the shrimp, so I'm looking for another solution.

I can't add a refugium/sump under the tank because the stand has a brace in the middle, but I do have a cool 14 gal hex tank that I'd like to plumb to the main tank. Unfortunately it has a stand that would bring it about the same level as the main tank, I could adjust the water level by a couple of inches to create a slight difference in water level for a syphon but I'd like to figure out a 'flood proof' way of plumbing them together. Would drilling holes below the water level in the tubing that goes in both directions take care of the problem? Also, if the syphon breaks, what's the best way of re-starting It?

As you can probably tell, this would be my first sump so I'd like some suggestions from people who've figured this process out -I've already had my fair share of soggy carpets without trying to plump 2 tanks together

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome,

Cherry

[cyberchef]

I found when I set up my refugium that I needed at least a 4" height difference between the tanks in order for one tank to gravity drain to the other tank. If they are too close in height than you will get little or no flow from one tank to the other.

If your wanting to set up the two tanks side by side and use a syphon system to run between the 2 tanks, similair to a hang on refugium, then it should work. Drilling a hole in the syphon tubes just below the water line, in each tank, should act as a syphon break if either of the tanks shoul have a drop in water level. Just make sure that both tanks can handle the amount of water input that it would take for the other tank to break the syphon. This could mean keeping both tanks filled to an inch or 2 below the top of the tank.

Another thought might be to use a breeder net container, like they use for guppies and such. It is a small container that is covered in mesh that hangs inside of the tank allowing water to pass thru but not allowing the babies to get out or other fish to get in. Put your calupera inside of the container and harvest it as is grows. This keeps the calupera inside of the main tank for nutrient absorbtion but keeps the fire shrimp out so he can't eat it.

[CAT]

Hi cyberchef. I had e-mailed lifereef about their overflow but they said that their system would need a minimum of 12" drop. Your info on the 4" drop was exactly what I was looking for. How's the turnover rate with your set-up and what kind of pump and tubing did you use?

I got to thinking about running 2 identical pumps, one in each tank to feed the other but started wondering what would happen if one got clogged up ... Ouch!

I wish I could add a seperate little box but I've run out of room in my tank...

Cherry

[Minnreefer]

I would recomend getting a few bricks from Home Depot and raising the hex tank a few inches. Have a small pump pump water into the hex then have a gravity overflow drain into the main tank. Don't bother with the 2 pumps, it will never work reliability. HTH

Jon

[CAT]

Hi Jon. Good thinking about the bricks. The stand for the Hex is wrought (sp?) iron with 5 'legs' that curve under into a design. It would have looked pretty ugly to have to build a 'box' to raise it. I might be able to hide the bricks with something (maybe paint or fabric) that could match the color of the floor.

[cyberchef]

Originally posted by CAT
Hi cyberchef. I had e-mailed lifereef about their overflow but they said that their system would need a minimum of 12" drop. Your info on the 4" drop was exactly what I was looking for. How's the turnover rate with your set-up and what kind of pump and tubing did you use?
Cherry

I've never measured the flow thru my refugium but it is pretty good. I use 3/4" clear tubing for the drain from the refugiums to the main tank... The back of my refugs are drilled with a 1/2" bulkhead and the lines from the sump to the refugs are also 3/4" clear tubing... I have one pump supplying all of my water returns for both of the refugs and the main tank... My refugium page shows/describes the setup

[CAT]

Hey, cyberchef -your set up looks really nice. I like the idea of displaying the refugium -it's a good contrast to the main tank and you can see what's happening in there...

thanks,
Cherry