Building an over-sized sump (expansion plan)

[Puggz]

My fish room plan will consist of upto 3 med. to large tanks with an external sump in the adjacent room. I would like to build the sump once but it will take a couple of years to get all 3 tanks running. First tank would be the largest and a FOWLR.

Sump will include a reef mat, skimmer (external), refugium (cryptic), ATO, heaters, and return pump. A manifold will be installed off the return line for expansion (reactors, etc). Possibly starting with a small internal skimmer (used) for the first phase. Overflow (water in) will have 2 lines (valved) to either bypass the reefmat or a combo. Same with the skimmer.

Any further thoughts or cautions regarding this approach?

TIA!

P

 

[Euphyllia97]

So if I read it correctly, all tanks will be connected through 1 sump? Sounds like a solid plan to achieve stability in your water and the setup you mentioned sounds very appropriate to me. One thought I have when it comes to the FOWLR. I have noticed that one of the main advantages of running a system without corals/inverts is that it is easy to perform medical treatments in the main tank. (Many of those ****** fish being kept in a fowlr are wild-caught and might bring some parasites with them). Will you rely on a good QT protocol or are you considering to make a system that can isolate the tanks from eachother when some disease comes up? (Seems very hard with copper, but might be nice to be able to isolate if you for example have to treat praziquantel without putting the non-FOWLR tanks at risk)

 

[landlubber]

sounds ambitious.
I would rethink that manifold though. yes many return pumps have plenty of power to operate more than one device but keep in mind, adjust one of those devices and everything else on the manifold is now out of whack and needs readjustment.
If it is just a bunch of return lines then no big deal but you don't want things like a reactor getting surges of pressure or your media ends up boiling over into your sump.

 

[Puggz]

So if I read it correctly, all tanks will be connected through 1 sump? Sounds like a solid plan to achieve stability in your water and the setup you mentioned sounds very appropriate to me. One thought I have when it comes to the FOWLR. I have noticed that one of the main advantages of running a system without corals/inverts is that it is easy to perform medical treatments in the main tank. (Many of those ****** fish being kept in a fowlr are wild-caught and might bring some parasites with them). Will you rely on a good QT protocol or are you considering to make a system that can isolate the tanks from eachother when some disease comes up? (Seems very hard with copper, but might be nice to be able to isolate if you for example have to treat praziquantel without putting the non-FOWLR tanks at risk)

Very good point! I will have at least 2 QT tanks going using tank/system water. I plan on using a HOB that was conditioned while attached to the main sump.

 

[Puggz]

sounds ambitious.
I would rethink that manifold though. yes many return pumps have plenty of power to operate more than one device but keep in mind, adjust one of those devices and everything else on the manifold is now out of whack and needs readjustment.
If it is just a bunch of return lines then no big deal but you don't want things like a reactor getting surges of pressure or your media ends up boiling over into your sump.

I agree that its ambitious but isnt this what the LFS does? Good feedback never the less, maybe the best idea would be to have a separate "small" return pump that just circulates water thru the sump? This would be handy for when the main system gets shutdown for mtce and could be used for reactors etc. Also it would be a must have to keep a 2nd (or 3rd) return pump for contingency. Could duty cycle 2 pumps (6 hrs on, 6 hrs off) to extend their life and hope that they both don't die at the same time. I would likely carry a spare considering the investment overall.