Frag tank sharing common sump input wanted

[Fly Guy]

Here is the deal.

I am setting up a 70 gallon frag tank. 48x24x14. I want to turn the 100 gallon sump on my 225 into a common sump for both the 225 and the frag tank so there is absolutely nothing in the frag tank but some powerheads and a overflow to the sump.

The frag tank will be sitting only 10 feet away from the display in a different room(the garage). Heightwise, the frag tank will be pretty much right above the sump in a different room of course.
Im going to switch out the mag 24 i am currently using for the return and chiller on the 225 for a mag 36 and add another T in the line so it will be returning to two tanks and the chiller. The 225 is of course business as usual on the drain end, the frag tank will be draining into the sump right next to the current drain.
The sump can handle the extra flow through it no problem as ive got 3" in between and under the baffles and 1000 gph of it is a CLS to the chiller and back to the sump. It can also handle the extra little bit of backsiphon from the frag tank if the power goes off.

Am i missing anything?? It seems simple enough. Just want to run it by a few other minds. Is there anything else i should consider, or any other ideas??
thx for any input.

[Geoff]

the biggest problem with doing this is getting the amount of backflow correct if the power were to go out. with a 75g you should be fine with a 100g sump, but you might want to double check this. you do not want the sump to overflow on you.

G~

[Fly Guy]

yeah, the way i have my 225 set up it drains almost 20 gallons. I have room for another 25 anyway, so i will set the 70 up to drain aboout 10 and be fine.

[Wiskey]

Sounds good to me, the only potential problem I can see is temprature control on teh frag tank depending on how much heat is added to that system.

One thing I might do though is have 2 seperate return pumps, one for the 225 and one for the 70 so you could shut off each individually.

FWIW SharkBait runs the 10G frag tank off his 90G's sump in the same mannor your suggesting but he uses 2 seperate pumps.

Whiskey

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Sounds good to me, the only potential problem I can see is temprature control on teh frag tank depending on how much heat is added to that system.

One thing I might do though is have 2 seperate return pumps, one for the 225 and one for the 70 so you could shut off each individually.

FWIW SharkBait runs the 10G frag tank off his 90G's sump in the same mannor your suggesting but he uses 2 seperate pumps.

Whiskey

Thanks for the input. Heat wont be an issue. The built in controller on my chiller will do what it needs to do either way. The only equipment running in the tank will be a few powerheads, and even on tthe rare occasions that it gets near 100 around here, my garage never gets over 90, and that is just a few days a year, and i believe the 225 and the chiller and will handle that no prob.

Even though it will be one pump running two tanks and a chiller, there will be a ball valve there to shut each off individually if ever need be. I can shut the entire thing off with a switch on my control panel.

SO...sounds like its covered. I was just wondering if there were any better ways to do it.

I am going to be lighting this tank with a single 250 w 10k xm, , lumenarc III reflector/pendant that will be on a motorized track going back and forth so only one bulb will be needed. Its only 14" deep tank, so i wont even need to have the bulb close enough to the water to create much heat.

Im not sure how high I will run it. Im figuring i will start it at 14" off the waters surface and play with it from there.

I also just bought a BubbleMaster 250 skimmer for the 225 and the G4+ is FIRED....

It also just crossed my mind, that since I am having to cut a hole in my living room wall anyway, that i might just cut a big enough one to go ahead and move ALL the equipment from the 225 out of the living room and into the garage. My 90 runs pretty quiet, but the 225 isnt as quiet as i would like it, so might as well kill that problem while im at it.

[Geoff]

my wifes system was setup very similar to this when it was up. be prepared for the frag tank to become a settling tank for most of the detritus, unless you keep the flow very strong in the frag tank also.

after plumbing an 8 way OM, there is not much that could be harder.

G~