linking 2 10gal for sump - how to?

[T469]

i've got a 55 tank(wishing it was a 75) and wanting to add a sump and planning on using 2 10 gal tanks linked together and using the first for lr and any other filtration, including heater, etc. and the last for a bubble trap and skimmer intake. do i dump the skimmed water back into the first tank or into the second close to the return pump? right now in the process of building a geoff skimmer also, just haven't decided on location or pump size yet. waiting on getting the sump design first. using a rubbermaid tub right now for a sump with an unkown pump flowing about 250-300 gph

if anybody else has this setup let me know how it has worked and how you did it.

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!



the best and easiest way is to drill both tanks and put bulkheads between them. how tight are your tolerences? the tanks may need to be about 6" apart in order for the bulkheads and connecting pieces to fit. i suggest putting unions between the bulkheads. i suggest at least 2 1" holes. depending on your total flow. should handle about 1200gph.

as for plumbing, water in on one side out on the other. this gives the maximum length for bubbles to leave the water column.

G~

[T469]

Thanks for the quick reply and that was what i was planning to do or at least try (worried about drilling), although i wasn't sure which side to put the skimmer intake/ return on, the first tank or the second. what i didn't want to do was overskim the water.

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by T469

Thanks for the quick reply and that was what i was planning to do or at least try (worried about drilling), although i wasn't sure which side to put the skimmer intake/ return on, the first tank or the second. what i didn't want to do was overskim the water.

why would you not want to over skimm the water? what do you want to keep in the tank?

G~

[T469]

well i guess your right, just afraid all the water wouldn't get skimmed but after thinking about it all of it makes sense.

so now lets talk pumps, should i go with a mag 5 on the skimmer and 7 on the return and then regulate the return. or just go with 2 mag 5's? i've been using an unkown pump that has around 300 gph(possibly more) and am going to upgrade when i add the skimmer and new sump just don't know to what yet. the limiting factor right now is the diy overflow siphon which works well just now sure it will keep up with a mag 7.

[Geoff]

are you using a 1/2" venturi valve? do you know what the overflow can handle?

i like to match my return rate to match the amount of water the skimmer can process. i would say 2 Mag5's. it is better to add flow using a CLS (closed loop system) or PH's than increasing the return rate.

G~

[T469]

do you think that the 1/2 venturi is adequate or should i go with a 3/4. going to go with 2 mag 5's for the pumps, one for return and one for skimmer. going to try to drill the first tank this weekend, still waiting on getting the second.

the overflow is a 600gph box, just purchase to replace the old one, only for flow reasons, just as cheap to get one off ebay as it was to build a higher volume pvc model.

also on the overflow box where do you run the hose that is supposed to maintain siphon? does it need a vacuum pump or can i plumb it in the pump some way?

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by T469

do you think that the 1/2 venturi is adequate or should i go with a 3/4. going to go with 2 mag 5's for the pumps, one for return and one for skimmer. going to try to drill the first tank this weekend, still waiting on getting the second.

a Mag 5 is not powerfull enough to really push a 3/4" venturi. i would stick with the 1/2"

Originally Posted by T469

the overflow is a 600gph box, just purchase to replace the old one, only for flow reasons, just as cheap to get one off ebay as it was to build a higher volume pvc model.

i am not understanding here. are you connecting 2 overflows here?

Originally Posted by T469

also on the overflow box where do you run the hose that is supposed to maintain siphon? does it need a vacuum pump or can i plumb it in the pump some way?

do you have a pic of the overflow? i am a little confused on this.

G~

[T469]

sorry for the confusion, but the overflow was a homemade diy pvc pipe model. and instead of making a new one to handle the flow i bought one off e-bay it was a dreaded cpr model with the vent on the top(which requires a ph or vacuum pump to keep siphon, which i found out after i purchased it). so in order to be safe i bought a traditional model with a u tube also. didn't want to take any chances of floods. both were rated for 600gph.

i did end up sticking with a 1/2" venturi, along with 2 mag 5's. right now i'm waiting on parts (bulkheads, pumps, etc) but have managed to drill one tank and shatter the other. so looking for a local freebie 10gal and have found one to try to drill tonight. if it fails i'm buying an all glass from the lfs.

next prob. is getting the tanks in the stand. debating on draining and setting in from the top or cutting the cabinet. figured cutting would take more time and alot more room for error(especially after the many beers this will take) and easier possibility of cracking a tank. but haven't gotten to that point yet, maybe in a few days.

[T469]

alright just about have all the stuff in line to build this thing. just wandering on the flex hose i plan to put b/w the tanks. i'm using 1" bulkheads so i'd like to keep it 1" and needs to be pretty flexible in a short distance so 6-7". what kind of hose is out there that would work?

[T469]

got everything hooked up and working without too many problems. now just having some noise issues, with the overflow and the intake to the sump making bubbling noise. all works well including the linked tanks, so far so good.

[Geoff]

got pics?

G~

[T469]

not yet my dig. camera got lost(borrowed to be never returned) but i plan to borrow one here at work to try to take some. its a tight fit but looks good. plan on modifying the drain pipe that goes into the sump to try to cut the noise, i dread the plumbing since i did all the original work with the tank off the stand, but i'll let you know how it goes.

any good ideas on how to cut down on the bubbling noise coming from the drain other than raising it to water level?

[Geoff]

you can try a bunch of 90 degree bends just before it reaches the water. the problem is ussually the straight fall into the water. if you can ease the fall it will quiet things down.

G~

[T469]

yeah i'm going to try some 45 elbows and not glue everything together so i can play with lengths and angles but such a small space is going to make it tough.