pump + pump= correct balance

JMorris271 · 04/24/2014, 07:58 PM

Nifty title huh?
I have a sump system that I had to replace the Eshopps R200 skimmer and get something else because the Eshopps R200 was too large for my cabinet. I opted to use 2 totes, one 65 gal and one 50gal tote instead of 30gal Sump/Refugium by Eshopps. The 65 gal tote receives the drain line and contains the skimmer (and a PUMP to move water to the second chamber

The second chamber contains the live rock,and a return pump (Sicca 3000) feeding the DT. If I am flowing 600 gph through the drain, what pump should I be looking at to serve the return chamber from the skimmer chamber?
\Thanks ya'll.

shifty51008 · 04/24/2014, 08:10 PM

1st off you will never get 2 powerheads that have = flow so your gonna end up with a big puddle of water in the end. I would look for different ways to use gravity to get flow from the different totes.

sk8ter20art · 04/24/2014, 08:20 PM

Even if you had 2 matched speed if one became blocked your screwed, also don't forget power failure testing.

Crooked Reef · 04/24/2014, 09:03 PM

Will not work. Even if you can get two pumps running exactly the same, they won't for long. It will fail and sooner rather than later.

JMorris271 · 04/24/2014, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty51008

1st off you will never get 2 powerheads that have = flow so your gonna end up with a big puddle of water in the end. I would look for different ways to use gravity to get flow from the different totes.

What does that mean? I think that is what a ball valve is for.

JMorris271 · 04/24/2014, 09:09 PM

If the pump thing doesn't work, the next option is the use 4 Uniseals and pipe mating two totes. No mechanics involved.

shifty51008 · 04/24/2014, 09:11 PM

it means even with a ball valve 1 little piece of food or any other junk gets into one pump it will change the flow and then your ball valve don't mean squat.

trust me there have been plenty of people that have tried this idea and of those plenty of people not one person has been successful.

JMorris271 · 04/24/2014, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty51008

1st off you will never get 2 powerheads that have = flow so your gonna end up with a big puddle of water in the end. I would look for different ways to use gravity to get flow from the different totes.

What does that mean? I think that is what a ball valve is for.

shifty51008 · 04/24/2014, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMorris271

If the pump thing doesn't work, the next option is the use 4 Uniseals and pipe mating two totes. No mechanics involved.

that idea is much safer and better idea.

JMorris271 · 04/24/2014, 09:14 PM

If the pump thing wont work I guess I will go to the uniseal option using 4 uniseals and 2 2 inch pipes connecting the totes
I appreciate to voice of wisdom.

shifty51008 · 04/24/2014, 09:18 PM

do the uniseal option now, you will save yourself time from tearing it down later. I guarantee the pumps won't work even with the ball vales, but go a head and try for yourself and you will see fairly soon it won't work.

I wish you luck though

AwwNuts · 04/28/2014, 06:48 AM

I would highly recommended having the first tote gravity feed the second tote then pump the water from the second tote to the DT. Either place the first tote above the first if u can or figure out at what hight u would like to have it so the water has enough downforce gravity to flow into the second tote at a good gph rate.

SGT_York · 04/28/2014, 11:37 AM

Gravity is the best, joining via uniseals works but with slightly increased risk. Don't bump the totes and make sure they don't get clogged.

Two pumps don't work because no two pumps are equal, they could be made one right after the other on the line but one will have a fraction GPH higher output than the other. May work for a few minutes but over time one will pump the water level lower and lower until it runs dry or the other sump overflows. Adding the uniseal joint levels out the water for you so they are always the same height.

04/24/2014, 07:58 PM	#1
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	pump + pump= correct balance Nifty title huh? I have a sump system that I had to replace the Eshopps R200 skimmer and get something else because the Eshopps R200 was too large for my cabinet. I opted to use 2 totes, one 65 gal and one 50gal tote instead of 30gal Sump/Refugium by Eshopps. The 65 gal tote receives the drain line and contains the skimmer (and a PUMP to move water to the second chamber The second chamber contains the live rock,and a return pump (Sicca 3000) feeding the DT. If I am flowing 600 gph through the drain, what pump should I be looking at to serve the return chamber from the skimmer chamber? \Thanks ya'll.

04/24/2014, 08:10 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	1st off you will never get 2 powerheads that have = flow so your gonna end up with a big puddle of water in the end. I would look for different ways to use gravity to get flow from the different totes. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

04/24/2014, 08:20 PM	#3
sk8ter20art Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: middle georgia Posts: 220	Even if you had 2 matched speed if one became blocked your screwed, also don't forget power failure testing. __________________ 90 gal wavefront reef tank, durso standpipe, 20g sump, protien skimmer, 4xt5 light. under construction: 75gal reef DT, 40 gal sump, bean animal overflow. livestock:2 ocelleris clowns, bi-color dotty

04/24/2014, 09:03 PM	#4
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Will not work. Even if you can get two pumps running exactly the same, they won't for long. It will fail and sooner rather than later. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

04/24/2014, 09:11 PM	#7
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	it means even with a ball valve 1 little piece of food or any other junk gets into one pump it will change the flow and then your ball valve don't mean squat. trust me there have been plenty of people that have tried this idea and of those plenty of people not one person has been successful. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

04/24/2014, 09:09 PM	#6
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	If the pump thing doesn't work, the next option is the use 4 Uniseals and pipe mating two totes. No mechanics involved.

04/24/2014, 09:14 PM	#10
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	If the pump thing wont work I guess I will go to the uniseal option using 4 uniseals and 2 2 inch pipes connecting the totes I appreciate to voice of wisdom.

04/24/2014, 09:18 PM	#11
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	do the uniseal option now, you will save yourself time from tearing it down later. I guarantee the pumps won't work even with the ball vales, but go a head and try for yourself and you will see fairly soon it won't work. I wish you luck though __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

04/28/2014, 06:48 AM	#12
AwwNuts Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: ABQ, NM Posts: 310	I would highly recommended having the first tote gravity feed the second tote then pump the water from the second tote to the DT. Either place the first tote above the first if u can or figure out at what hight u would like to have it so the water has enough downforce gravity to flow into the second tote at a good gph rate. __________________ - You just can't only have one REEF Tank lol. Current Tank Info: 125 gal Mixed Reef & 100 Gal Reef setup

04/28/2014, 11:37 AM	#13
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	Gravity is the best, joining via uniseals works but with slightly increased risk. Don't bump the totes and make sure they don't get clogged. Two pumps don't work because no two pumps are equal, they could be made one right after the other on the line but one will have a fraction GPH higher output than the other. May work for a few minutes but over time one will pump the water level lower and lower until it runs dry or the other sump overflows. Adding the uniseal joint levels out the water for you so they are always the same height.