Connecting 2 sumps to 1 tank - please help

[jimmyjones]

Hi all.

So context - I currently have a Lifereef Overflow supplying 1 sump which has a Jebao 3500 submersible pump in final chamber returning water to tank.

I have been given a 2nd sump which I would like to plumb to same tank if possible. Given space limitations and design of my cabinet, I am unable to just purchase a larger single sump. I am also unable to drill the glass of the sump tank and connect it via bulkhead.

So my question is - could I place the 2nd sump in the cabinet, and have the return pump from the first sump, delivering water into the first chamber of the 2nd sump? Instead of back into the tank? And then I plan on having a 2nd Jebao 3500 submersible pump in final chamber of the 2nd sump, delivering water back to the tank. The Jebao pump allows for 0-100 flow optimization.

Is this at all possible? Or is there no other way to achieve this other than with a bulkhead connecting the 2 sumps?

Thanks!

 

[jimmyjones]

The other option is that I could have the Lifereef Overflow with a split pipe delivering water into the 1st chamber of both sumps. Then have both sumps returning water to the tank separately. Again - let me know if this simply wont work.

Or if anyone can think of an alternative. Much appreciated.

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm can't say I've tried to do this myself, but I feel like your first option with one pump going into the second sump wouldn't work well. I think it would be hard to get the water flow from sump to sump to tank perfectly, even with the fully controllable pumps. Better, I think, is option two.

Could I please ask why you want/need a second sump? What are you hoping to gain? And have you looked into drilling tanks? It's much easier than many people would assume.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[jimmyjones]

I'm can't say I've tried to do this myself, but I feel like your first option with one pump going into the second sump wouldn't work well. I think it would be hard to get the water flow from sump to sump to tank perfectly, even with the fully controllable pumps. Better, I think, is option two.

Could I please ask why you want/need a second sump? What are you hoping to gain? And have you looked into drilling tanks? It's much easier than many people would assume.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Thanks! If anyone else could comment on the 2nd option and its feasibility it would be appreciated. Not sure how fluid dynamics would work whereby 1 of the 2 sumps would potentially be fed more water?

On your questions. I was given a 2nd sump and I already have a spare submersible pump and so I figured if it is possible - I may as well try use the 2nd sump without buying more equipment / having it be too complicated. If I can't use it - I will be throwing out the 2nd sump and so figured with my limited plumbing knowledge, I would ask the group. I have looked into drilling tanks - but again, my system is already set up and so if I can easily add the 2nd sump with maybe just a return line, then I will. But if it cant be done I will throw out the 2nd sump.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Thanks! If anyone else could comment on the 2nd option and its feasibility it would be appreciated. Not sure how fluid dynamics would work whereby 1 of the 2 sumps would potentially be fed more water?

On your questions. I was given a 2nd sump and I already have a spare submersible pump and so I figured if it is possible - I may as well try use the 2nd sump without buying more equipment / having it be too complicated. If I can't use it - I will be throwing out the 2nd sump and so figured with my limited plumbing knowledge, I would ask the group. I have looked into drilling tanks - but again, my system is already set up and so if I can easily add the 2nd sump with maybe just a return line, then I will. But if it cant be done I will throw out the 2nd sump.

You can’t match flow rates perfectly without a common low point. The water flowing into each side is never going to perfectly, to the millimeter, match the flow out of the pump for that side. Never going to happen.

However, what is possible is to either use one as a remote volume with its own drains and returns back to the existing sump, much like two tanks on one sump would be. Or, you can drain the display into a middle volume, then drain again to the low point, then pump it back to the top to start again.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I’m adding a second sump also. The purpose is that my existing sump won’t hold the expansion I am adding to my system. My display is 375g and my sump is 72x24x15. I have a small 30g frag plumbed in that I am replacing with a 160g frag and a 60g cryptic. I plan to run 2 - 1.5” pipes, attached by Hayward bulkheads, from the “overflow” sump’s return chamber to the first chamber in my primary sump. The water will simple move from sump to sump. The return pump for the frag tank will come out of the primary sump. I have to plumb a chiller in too, but I don’t want to complicate this for you, lol.

 

[CarpetSurfer]

If possible do what lifereef does with their Refugiums. You’ll have to drill the new sump but that shouldn’t be a problem. Have the new sump running off a manifold of ur return pump but then make it so when the new sump fills with a certain about of water it starts to overflow through some side bulkheads back into the main sump. This way you don’t have to worry about a mismatch of flow rates or if one pump dies then your going to flood your entire house with your tank water because the water will drain into the 1st sump and either 1st pump will fail or everything will get pumped to your 2nd sump and your 2nd return pump fails. Technically you could alleviate this if you very carefully do some monitored power cut offs to ensure any one sump can hold enough water until your tank stops draining. Here’s a pic of my life reef Refugium which just used the one return pump. There’s some other stuff running off that same manifold but if u look the inlet is the closer bulkhead and then there are 2 drain outlets that just drain from gravity since the water level in 2nd tank is higher

 

[CarpetSurfer]

Video explaining it