Pictures of dual sump setups?

[litebulb]

I've done all the research about running to sumps using one for a refugium and the other for the protein skimmer and was curious if anybody who is doing this had any pictures they wouldn't mind sharing. I have a "brilliant" plumbing idea I'd like to try. Thanks in advance

 

[Pdandy]

Two 40 Breeders under my 265. The right sump takes the drain from the right overflow and runs through 4 filter socks. This sump also holds my heater and one return pump that feeds the right return. This sump is connected by a run of 2" pvc in the back to the left sump.

The left sump has the skimmer section where the left overflow drains to. This sump is sectioned in half where the return pump on this side is T'd off to feed the refugium and the left return.

 

[Pdandy]

LEFT



RIGHT

 

[litebulb]

Very nice. I'm wondering if anyone has ever used 2 external pumps and on each pump split the suction side to add a bit of confidence against pump failure along with plumbing the two tanks together at a higher level to allow overflow with pump failure?

 

[the_brewer]

LEFT



RIGHT

I just purchased 2x 20g today with the same plan you have here. My hurdle is i only have 1 overflow. Should i tee the overflow so it drains to both tanks? Or should i pump from one sump to the next?

 

[bdejong1112o]

This is my two sump setup. This was done to meet the requirements of the Triton method which requires a large refugium.

The left black tub is all refugium, all drains enter here. It is connected to the 40g sump through a 2" bulkhead and pipe.

The right sump has a large skimmer section first which then flows to the return pump in the middle chamber. The right hand chamber is a 14 gallon ATO reservoir.

Still waiting on the glass so the picture shows my cardboard templates i used for plumbing. I will also elevate the refugium about an inch once its finally done, this is due to the water height i need for the skimmer section.

.

 

[the_brewer]

This is my two sump setup. This was done to meet the requirements of the Triton method which requires a large refugium.

The left black tub is all refugium, all drains enter here. It is connected to the 40g sump through a 2" bulkhead and pipe.

The right sump has a large skimmer section first which then flows to the return pump in the middle chamber. The right hand chamber is a 14 gallon ATO reservoir.

Still waiting on the glass so the picture shows my cardboard templates i used for plumbing. I will also elevate the refugium about an inch once its finally done, this is due to the water height i need for the skimmer section.

.

Are you drilling into the glass to go from tub to skimmer section? Or are you elevating up and over the glass tank?

 

[PurduePete93]

Two side by side sumps, one for fuge one for skimmer. Two separate returns & pumps for redundancy. Have to connect sumps to keep level balances and allow for single pump when needed.

I originally tried connecting over top of sumps with siphon, but found that risky as siphon failed from time to time. Ended up drilling to connect. Much more reliable.

 

[Special_K]

This is my two sump setup. This was done to meet the requirements of the Triton method which requires a large refugium.

The left black tub is all refugium, all drains enter here. It is connected to the 40g sump through a 2" bulkhead and pipe.

The right sump has a large skimmer section first which then flows to the return pump in the middle chamber. The right hand chamber is a 14 gallon ATO reservoir.

Still waiting on the glass so the picture shows my cardboard templates i used for plumbing. I will also elevate the refugium about an inch once its finally done, this is due to the water height i need for the skimmer section.

.

What plastic container are you using? Square plastic totes tend to bend under pressure after filled with water.

 

[Special_K]

Two side by side sumps, one for fuge one for skimmer. Two separate returns & pumps for redundancy. Have to connect sumps to keep level balances and allow for single pump when needed.

I originally tried connecting over top of sumps with siphon, but found that risky as siphon failed from time to time. Ended up drilling to connect. Much more reliable.

Cool setup! where did you get the grey flexible tubing and how it connects to PVC?

 

[bdejong1112o]

Are you drilling into the glass to go from tub to skimmer section? Or are you elevating up and over the glass tank?

I will be drilling the glass. If I elevate there is not enough room to get the fuge light high enough. Connecting the two using a two inch bulkhead

 

[bdejong1112o]

What plastic container are you using? Square plastic totes tend to bend under pressure after filled with water.

It is a heavy duty tub from home Depot. Much thicker than a standard storage tub. If I see signs of buldging Incan cut out the lid so it acts as a rim and support like in the tank. It's also like ten dollars so I can always just replace it over time if it gets to bulgy...if that's a word. Lol

 

[PurduePete93]

Cool setup! where did you get the grey flexible tubing and how it connects to PVC?

Came with the Eshopps sump. They're standard parts that come in various lengths. Amazon stocks them. Also happen to fit standard pvc too.

 

[ca1ore]

Very nice. I'm wondering if anyone has ever used 2 external pumps and on each pump split the suction side to add a bit of confidence against pump failure along with plumbing the two tanks together at a higher level to allow overflow with pump failure?

My preferred approach has always been to select a proven, reliable pump. I do run multiple sumps, but each overflows into the next.

 

[AlexStinson]

I just purchased 2x 20g today with the same plan you have here. My hurdle is i only have 1 overflow. Should i tee the overflow so it drains to both tanks? Or should i pump from one sump to the next?

Everything should be gravity fed, it should go from the tank, to one sump then some sort of bulkhead to take it to the next one. Pumping from one to another, or splitting and having two returns would be unwise.

 

[ca1ore]

I always try to avoid unnecessary complexity (since there's a whole lot of 'necessary' complexity). Just adds to the list of things that can go wrong.

 

[Radman73]

Under the stand:

In the garage:

Garage fuge drains back to the sump and is fed off the return. I even bought a chiller as I was convinced that the hot central FL summers would necessitate one but I haven't had to use it yet. Not even when we lost power!

 

[10Seconds]

How are you pumping it to the garage and then back to the sump?

Under the stand:

In the garage:

Garage fuge drains back to the sump and is fed off the return. I even bought a chiller as I was convinced that the hot central FL summers would necessitate one but I haven't had to use it yet. Not even when we lost power!

 

[Radman73]

How are you pumping it to the garage and then back to the sump?

It's just tee'd off of the return piping. Gravity brings it back to the sump. I drilled holes through the wall, one for the feed to the sump and 2 for returns to the fuge, and then used foam to seal everything back up. Ideally, I'll get the flow to the fuge to match the requirements of the chiller and just run the feed to the fuge through it and not need an additional pump. I still need to work out all the tubing in the garage though and clean that part up.

 

[jkapit]

Here is my dual sump setup before the tank was put into use. Two 40 gallon tank with a 2” Union connector between the sumps. Handles 1000 GPH.