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View Full Version : 2 Tanks and 2 Sumps All connected together? Help with my plumbing skills


samstersam
12/17/2011, 04:03 PM
So I have a 40 gallon display tank and a 20 gallon sump under it....
Its connected by a lifereef overflow (bulletproof!) and a Mag 7 return

Pretty soon I was fragging away and decided to make a frag tank. Nearby, I made a 20 gallon frag tank. Popped in a lifereef overflow in the frag tank and an Eheim pump as its return. So both return pumps are in the 20 gallon sump and both tanks drain to it.

Simple so far.

I decided to expand my water volume and needed another place to put more rocks and frags so I thought I could have ANOTHER sump under the 20gallon frag. And I thought another lifereef overflow box draining to sump #2 and an eheim return pump back to the frag tank.

So if you look at my picture:
<a href="http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/samstersam/Other/?action=view&amp;current=Untitled.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s78/samstersam/Other/Untitled.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This is what I have so far.

When I turned everything on. One sump fills up faster than the other> Adjusting height of both overflows and adjusting output gph of eheim pumps don't make a difference, then the other sump fills up faster. I know that even if I have it dialed in, eventually slime or bio film will make one siphon faster than the other. But is there ANY way to make this work?

I think I'm pretty good with corals. But I suck at plumbing. haha.

Please help. Without snickering too. thanks. haha :rollface:

fishgate
12/17/2011, 04:14 PM
Well I don't know much about sumps, but I would put the return to the DT in the 20 g sump that is at the end of the line you drew.

WI reefer55
12/17/2011, 04:52 PM
the frag tank hooked up to 2 sumps will never work one sump will run dry.

what you want is one sump and one return pump with a t

chadfarmer
12/17/2011, 05:55 PM
why not just connect both sumps and have them both drain the same side