converting two 10 gallon tanks into a sump/refugium

[richamc01]

So i have two 10 gallon tanks that i want to connect and convert into a sump/refugium. Ive drawn up what i have in mind. Please leave any comments you may have. I am new to the whole sump/refugium world. Ive spent hours researching what exactly want and this is what I came up with. Ill start at the beginning. The skimmer sits at the very beginning in its own space. This space will be dry. Im only putting the skimmer in the sump because i dont have any spare room under my tank for the skimmer to be placed outside of the sump.

So the skimmer sits at the very beginning but draws water from the first chamber right after the filter sock. I have designed the first chamber similar to the Aqueon Pro Flex model 2 sump that they offer. I really liked their design with the bubble defuser and wanted that in my design. The overflow hangs on the tank and flows down into the bubble defuser and then flows through the filter sock, filling up the first chamber. It then flows over and through the bio-balls. It then goes under the first wall and fills where i will place my heater. It will flow over that wall and under the next where I will place a sponge to get rid of any bubbles.

I will connect the two tanks with a 2 inch piece of clear PVC so i can see if it ever gets clogged. It Then fill the refugium and flows over the wall and under another where there will be another sponge to further reduce and bubbles. Then the last chamber will have my return pump.

Both the Inlet and the Outlet will have ball valves so that i will be able to adjust the flow as needed. The outlet will have a check valve in the event of a power outage the water will not flow back down into the refugium and over flow. Both tanks should have plenty of headroom in the event of a power outage. I should be able to hold somewhere of 7 gallons of extra water if the power should go out while im asleep.

Please let me know what kind of thoughts you guys have on this system. If it will work or not or any flaws i may have.

Thank you in advance for any pointers.

[ethnonut]

ive kinda been wondering something like this, my stand if modified could hold separate tanks and im debating what to do. something like that could work i would say but im new to this sump stuff

[richamc01]

Originally Posted by ethnonut

ive kinda been wondering something like this, my stand if modified could hold separate tanks and im debating what to do. something like that could work i would say but im new to this sump stuff

I am as well. I posted this same question is a different forum and one of the guys said that it was inefficient and wasting valuable space. I'm not sure which direction to turn here...

[shroutk3]

have you looked into the cost of a 2 inch diamond hole saw, bulkheads, and clear pvc? Thats a big hole to drill in a 10 gallon. would you consider 1 bigger tank, or maybe having the refugium above the other tank fed by a pump, draining with an overflow.

[richamc01]

unfortunately I dont have the space under my tank for really any other options. I havent looked into the cost of that stuff yet. I could also just do a 1 inch or two 1 inch holes. I just wanted proper flow. here are some pics of my stand and why they need to be how i have them pictured....

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[richamc01]

So i just drew up another drawing. please let me know what you guys think of both of my drawings.....

[richamc01]

sorry no check valve where it says...that will be on the return line back to the DT

[richamc01]

Also i think im going to go with the Aqua C EV 120 for my skimmer...

[RocketEngineer]

The way you have it now, most of the water is bypassing the skimmer and refugium. Personally, I would do Drain->skimmer-> return <-refugium. I like having the water exiting the tank go to the skimmer directly and then feed the refugium from a branch off the return pump. This allows the skimmer to remove the larger particles that get through the filter sock while the refugium handles the chemicals the skimmer can't remove. Also, by having a valve on the branch going to the refugium, you can adjust the flow through the refugium independent of the flow through the sump.

Between the two tanks, consider (2) 1" drains instead of one large one as it will be cheaper for tanks this small.

Look into other skimmers. The Aqua C line uses high pressure to create bubbles which requires a large pump. More modern designs use a venturi and needle wheel impeller to create the bubbles which is more energy efficient. I use a Reef Octopus myself and would use them again. There are several other reputable brands out there you just have to do some research.

HTH,
RocketEngineer

[richamc01]

Originally Posted by RocketEngineer

The way you have it now, most of the water is bypassing the skimmer and refugium. Personally, I would do Drain->skimmer-> return <-refugium. I like having the water exiting the tank go to the skimmer directly and then feed the refugium from a branch off the return pump. This allows the skimmer to remove the larger particles that get through the filter sock while the refugium handles the chemicals the skimmer can't remove. Also, by having a valve on the branch going to the refugium, you can adjust the flow through the refugium independent of the flow through the sump.

Between the two tanks, consider (2) 1" drains instead of one large one as it will be cheaper for tanks this small.

Look into other skimmers. The Aqua C line uses high pressure to create bubbles which requires a large pump. More modern designs use a venturi and needle wheel impeller to create the bubbles which is more energy efficient. I use a Reef Octopus myself and would use them again. There are several other reputable brands out there you just have to do some research.

HTH,
RocketEngineer

Thanks for the info. Ill draw up another design tonight and post it up!

[richamc01]

alright so ive came up with these two different designs....getting closer I hope? I'm really hooked on the bubble defuser and filter sock setup that Aqueon uses on there Pro Flex sump models...thats why you continue to see it. If it is unnecessary and not worth the time ill scrap it but I thought that it was an excellent design..



let me know what you think











Sorry there are two different plans crammed on the same page...pretty close to the same though...

[nichthyes]

i'm looking for good info on refugiums bc i'm building my first one too - any advice on some good threads?

[Reef_Knight]

This looks interesting but I don't understand fully the bridge pipe from one tank to the other feel like it skips good filtration along the way. But then again I'm not to savvy when it comes to sumps & refuge honestly. I would think a larger tank to have everything incorporated or some how with out the long pipe transferring. I dunno just my 5¢

[uncleof6]

This type of setup will not function as intended.

First off you are splitting a drain line and installing valves in it. These are both somewhat no no's when dealing with drain lines. The valves present a flood risk (increased ease of plugging) and it is unwise to split 'open channel' aka durso type drains, as the problems with them are exacerbated.

You are using a double gravity feed: to the "fuge", and a pipe bridge to go from the fuge to the return section of the other sump. This is a balancing nightmare, and rarely works well at all unless the "force" is really smiling on you.

Drop your drain from the main tank--no valves--no splits, to the "skimmer section" from there baffle to the return section. Then power feed the "fuge" from a tee in the return line and put a real drain system (hob overflow box) in the "fuge"--yes you will have to raise the "fuge" tank up. This will work, out of the box. If you cannot or do not have the room for this, then eliminate the "fuge" tank. It is not worth the hassle it will be to get the system, as you have it designed, to balance and work as planned.

The best sumps are one piece, there is too much complexity in trying to use two tanks to do the job that a single larger tank can do. Don't have the room? Then use the DIY energy to build a stand to accommodate a reasonable single sump, rather than trying to engineer two ten gallon tanks.