Multiple sump connection with flexible tubing

[Mouse]

If i wanted to have two sumps in line could i connect one to the other by drilling bulkheads in the ends of the tanks and connecting them with plastic tubing. The first sump in the line would have the bulkheads positioned slightly higher than the other, or does this not make a difference providing that the water level isn't expected to go above the water line of the first sump, if you get what i mean, jeez some of this stuff is a bit difficult to explain in writing. Oh well. hopefully someone can decypher my jibberings.

 

[Diablo]

Hi Mouse,

In answer to your first question, a BIG YES. However, the height of the bulk heads does not matter.

Be careful... when the system is flowing, the tank that the water flows in to will have a water level up to an inch or two higher than the tank the water is flowing from.

Below is a diagram of part of my setup:

In the first diagram, no water is flowing. The water level in the frag tank and refugium are equal. In the second diagram, water is flowing. The water level difference provides the pressure that causes the flow from the frag tank to the refugium.

HTH

Mark

 

[Mouse]

Wow Diablo, what an answer, thanks a million man. I guess ill have to put the bulkheads a little lower in the side of the tanks. I hope i get this right or i could end up with a load of useless sumps. The flow going through them would be about 500 GPH and i was thinking about connecting the two together with 2 - 1" tubes. On the last sump in the line i need to create a large ammont of space for excess water to come down from the tank should the system pump switch off. This is because im going to have an over flow utiliseing two pipes, the lower of the two would have a ball valve so i can adjust the height of the water in the aquarium so that the surface can be skimmed without a noisy rushing sound caused by all the water from the sump return pump trying to get down one tube. Cheers for the answer.

 

[2poor2reef]

Hey Mouse. I used to have a dual sump and your decision to go with a flexible connection is a wise one IME. I first used rigid pvc on mine and broke a glass pane when I torqued it a little too much. The bulkhead heights will not matter as long as both are underwater and Diablo made an important point relative to water levels between the two sumps. Along those lines, I found that it takes a very large diameter connection as the flow through between the two tank does not flow horizontally like it does vertically. I ran 2" pipe between two 10g sumps and I was only flowing 400gph or so between the sumps. Wouldn't have gone any smaller in retrospect. But that's just my experience.

[ November 23, 2001: Message edited by: 2poor2reef ]</p>

 

[esmithiii]

I concur on the point about going with bigger diameter tubing to connect the two. I tried this with a single 2" tube and it wasn't enough to handle 400gph.

E

 

[Xphixer2]

Hi Mouse, I would be interested in seeing some diagrams on what you are doing. I will eventually redo my sump and could always use some more ideas for configuration. thanks, Rich