Connect 2 sumps together

[woowoodengy]

after waiting over a year to build a custom made sump i have decided to just build a container for my skimmer and connect it to my current sump. whats the best way to connect 2 sumps together? i was thinking of using 4 bulkheads so the water would go from the overflow to the new skimmer chamber then through the bulkheads to the current sump then return. would this be a good why to do it? would i have any problems? is there a better way?

some details:
tank 260 gal
skimmer vertex alpha cone 250
chamber for skimmer 18X20X14 tall
current sump 14X36X14 tall


thanks
aron

[johnike]

I considering doing the exact same thing. Going to connect another 55 to the existing one. Following this one, thanks woowoo!
Cold up there?

[Enzel]

Found something about this:

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?106549-Connecting-2-55g-tanks

[Chipie]

I have 2 sumps connected to each other. Will take a picture for ya. They are connected at 2 places. One bulkhead between them(one inch) and another much higher and with a larger bulkhead(1,5 inches) in case the first bulkhead would get clogged.

[woowoodengy]

I considering doing the exact same thing. Going to connect another 55 to the existing one. Following this one, thanks woowoo!
Cold up there?

I'll keep you posted and this thread updated with pics. No it's not cold it's freezing. 3 degrees right now. It was -5 overnight =(

[woowoodengy]

Found something about this:

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?106549-Connecting-2-55g-tanks

Thanks for the link. I don't have a basement and can't raise one part do to skimmer hight. Maybe I can drill the holes higher than the water level in the second sump to have gravity give a helping hand but again I may be limited to skimmer water level hight. I figure 4 x 1 1/2 bulkheads should avoid a flood. At least I hope so.

[woowoodengy]

I have 2 sumps connected to each other. Will take a picture for ya. They are connected at 2 places. One bulkhead between them(one inch) and another much higher and with a larger bulkhead(1,5 inches) in case the first bulkhead would get clogged.

Thanks. I would love to see it

[Chipie]

Here you go.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o76/Chipie30-06/Photo002.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o76/Chipie30-06/Photo004.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o76/Chipie30-06/Photo003.jpg

Hope it helps :)

[laugh]

What is the advantage of having the main pipe near the waterline in the sumps? Would it not be better to have it close to the bottom and use a baffle in the second sump to regulate the water level in both sumps? I understand why the second pipe is higher just in case the first one fails. I'm looking at two issues with this. One, maintaining a consistent water level in the skimmer chamber and two, not having fluxuations in the water level between the two sumps causing the ATO to go nuts.

[Chipie]

Not sure i understand what you mean but all i know it works very well for me. :)

[laugh]

So you don't have any surges between the two sumps and the level in the skimmer chamber stays constant? If I see your pictures correctly the height of the bulkhead fitting determines the water level in the skimmer section? If this is the case it sure would be easier than fitting baffles. How many GPH are you running through this setup? Also do you run an ATO? Sorry for the 20 questions but I was worried about doing a setup similar to this.

[MelloW33]

I connected mine but putting them right up to each other, drilling in the exact same spot on each, and connecting with a 2, 2 inch bulkheads.

[Chipie]

So you don't have any surges between the two sumps and the level in the skimmer chamber stays constant? If I see your pictures correctly the height of the bulkhead fitting determines the water level in the skimmer section? If this is the case it sure would be easier than fitting baffles. How many GPH are you running through this setup? Also do you run an ATO? Sorry for the 20 questions but I was worried about doing a setup similar to this.

No problem with questions :) The level always stay the same in both sumps and yes i have a Tunze ato with the sensor in the sump on the left. Never had any problems.
I have a blue line 55hd as return pump. It's a 1100 gph pump but i have a manifold in the left hand sump and return some flow to this sump for carbon and gfo. I also have a refugium beside the tank that is fed by the same pump. So i'm not sure how much flow is actually going through both sumps.

[slief]

My sump and refugium are connected via a pair of 2" bulkheads with union ball valves between them. They handle my Reeflo Hammerhead return volume with plenty of room to spare and the sump levels are as stable as can be. I also included a bypass line that allows me to isolate the fuge by shutting it down completely without shutting down my main sump or return pump. I close one valve and the sump on the left will feed the return pump instead of the fuge. This makes for easier maintenance on the fuge.
http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo347/shleif/Tanks/Sump-and-fuge2.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo347/shleif/Tanks/Sump-switch.jpg

[laugh]

Hey slief thanks for the input. I got the aqua controller up and running. Just monitoring PH and temp right now. I just a few minutes ago finished soldering a cable so I can convert the mini din8 to USB as I have no computer with a DB9 connection. I will be using an iwaki rlt40 for my return so I think I would be fine with a 1" bulkhead for the main and another higher for an emergency.

[dan-in-gr]

Hi, I connected two sumps together with one 1.5 inch bulkhead, great if flow is less than 800 gal per hour, if you want to flow faster use two.

I drilled mine within a couple of inches from bottom, but see in above pics some guys drilled a few inches up.