Nicknjo Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 So I picked up a decent acrylic sump to go with my 60 gallon cube which I later found the cube leaked and decided to scratch the project. Then I picked up this 140 acrylic tank which came with a tiny little bioball drip through sump which is to small plus I want a refugium. My question to you all is, would it be possible to connect these two sumps to operate in series and make a longer run essentially making one large 5 chamber sump. I've researched for a bit and seems like it's possible using bulkheads as a connection but I'm thinking to actually join the two tanks permanently and cut an overflow from one tank to the next. Is this a dumb idea? Thoughts? Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What_The_Frag Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 I connected a 35 and a 45 gallon sump under my 200G tank using two bulkheads and it worked just fine. If you're not going to use PVC pipes in between the sumps then you will want to get some extra gaskets to put in between the sumps. It would be best to have a small amount of pvc in between the sumps though as i had an issue about 1 year in as the gaskets shrunk a bit and the bulkheads had to be tightened. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicknjo Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 I connected a 35 and a 45 gallon sump under my 200G tank using two bulkheads and it worked just fine. If you're not going to use PVC pipes in between the sumps then you will want to get some extra gaskets to put in between the sumps. It would be best to have a small amount of pvc in between the sumps though as i had an issue about 1 year in as the gaskets shrunk a bit and the bulkheads had to be tightened. Yeah that definitely seems like the easiest way to do it. Did you put the bulk heads at the top of the water level or near the bottom of the sump?Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 You will want to put the bulkeads near the bottom. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Bottom for sure. I’m doing that now 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicknjo Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 Thanks, I'm on the look out for a 55 to try to build my own if I cant get this to work but this is plan A for now. Fingers crossed.Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateDawg Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 If you end up going with the two sumps, it's easy to just cut a good sized hole in both sumps on either side where you want them connected then stand one sump on its end, add a few drops of acrylic weld-on to the one side and set the other sump on top of it allowing gravity to push the sumps together. Make sure the weld-on completely filled the gaps between the two sumps and when it cures, those two sumps will be stronger than if they were one unit to begin with. And no chance of them leaking if it was bonded correctly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicknjo Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 If you end up going with the two sumps, it's easy to just cut a good sized hole in both sumps on either side where you want them connected then stand one sump on its end, add a few drops of acrylic weld-on to the one side and set the other sump on top of it allowing gravity to push the sumps together. Make sure the weld-on completely filled the gaps between the two sumps and when it cures, those two sumps will be stronger than if they were one unit to begin with. And no chance of them leaking if it was bonded correctly.Which weld on? There is 2 or 3 different versions if I'm not mistaken, correct? I like this way as I feel like it eliminated the possibility of failure between the two sumps.Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 As someone that has a good deal of acrylic fabrication experience , I would strongly advise against trying thatWeldon is used to bond seams together and will work for patching holes with scraps of acrylic but getting two flat sheets (which are actually not flat anymore because they are used) to stick together and look even half decent is going to virtually impossible. Fabricators use special 2 part mixes for that sort of thing. Two bulkheads and a PVC union and you are on the way. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicknjo Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 Got it. 2 bulk heads it isSent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Late to the game here but just wanted to add that I have had pretty good success doing something similar with two separate sumps - one is run as a refugium with deep sand bed and the other has mechanical filtration, heating, dosing etc. The refugium drains into the latter with a shared return pump. I have separate drains running from the main tank to the two sumps so can separately control flow etc. (could also do this by splitting flow post drain if you only have one). My refugium is a taller tank that was already drilled so just ran a gravity drain to the main sump (a bit different than what has been suggested. Found this arrangement to be quite flexible and effective FWIW. I am running a 6foot 125 so had to work in a narrow footprint inside the stand and "daisy-chaining" sumps gave me a lot more capacity/flexibility. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicknjo Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 Late to the game here but just wanted to add that I have had pretty good success doing something similar with two separate sumps - one is run as a refugium with deep sand bed and the other has mechanical filtration, heating, dosing etc. The refugium drains into the latter with a shared return pump. I have separate drains running from the main tank to the two sumps so can separately control flow etc. (could also do this by splitting flow post drain if you only have one). My refugium is a taller tank that was already drilled so just ran a gravity drain to the main sump (a bit different than what has been suggested. Found this arrangement to be quite flexible and effective FWIW. I am running a 6foot 125 so had to work in a narrow footprint inside the stand and "daisy-chaining" sumps gave me a lot more capacity/flexibility.I had considered this option. I only have 1 overflow but I do have two drilled holes in the bottom of the tank I had planned on bulkheading closed. Maybe T off the overflow line with an adjustable flow valve to the refugium. Do you have any pics on your set up? I'd really like to see it.Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 2 minutes ago, Nicknjo said: I had considered this option. I only have 1 overflow but I do have two drilled holes in the bottom of the tank I had planned on bulkheading closed. Maybe T off the overflow line with an adjustable flow valve to the refugium. Do you have any pics on your set up? I'd really like to see it. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk I don't think the pics in my build thread are very easy to see. My tank has two separate overflows, each with it's own drain and return line so I was going to have to do some plumbing work if I wanted a more traditional single point of entry to a sump anyway. You could definitely do what you are proposing and split off the single drain and achieve the same result. I can try to take some better pics and send them your way. It's pretty tight down there so might be a bit hard to see 🤗 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicknjo Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 I don't think the pics in my build thread are very easy to see. My tank has two separate overflows, each with it's own drain and return line so I was going to have to do some plumbing work if I wanted a more traditional single point of entry to a sump anyway. You could definitely do what you are proposing and split off the single drain and achieve the same result. I can try to take some better pics and send them your way. It's pretty tight down there so might be a bit hard to see [emoji847]I'll search for your build thread and take a look.Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 3 minutes ago, Nicknjo said: I'll search for your build thread and take a look. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Here you go... http://www.pnwmas.org/index.php?app=core&module=system&controller=redirect&url=http://www.pnwmas.org/forums/topic/39193-back-in-the-game-125-reef-rebuild/&key=aab91671ff5a9465e1a9f668cabc1f1223084df28b3936c8cb8f47cafdeb2d11&resource= You can often find these listed in the profiles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Mine are tied together with two 2" pipes using bulkheads. Running that way for many years. You want just a trickle going through the uppermost pipe, it is your emergency overflow if the bottom pipe ever gets clogged. It's not a bad idea to setup a float switch in sump 1 as well, in case the bottom pipe ever clogs and you don't notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicknjo Posted January 1, 2020 Author Share Posted January 1, 2020 Update: I broke down and just bought a little bit bigger of a sump. Went with the R-200. Thanks all for the advice. I'm sure I could have made it work but I got the sump on sale so easy peasy.Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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