Two sumps

[Teemingtank]

Despite reading about the disastrous outcomes of running two sumps, I tried anyway. Just like everyone before me I failed miserably. I’d like to make my venture not a total loss and I was thinking of joining the two sumps via bulk head. I would like sump A (currently operational) to be connected to the supply and the end of sump B to house the return pump. Any recommendations before I go drilling holes in my sumps?

 

[BadFish619]

Despite reading about the disastrous outcomes of running two sumps, I tried anyway. Just like everyone before me I failed miserably. I’d like to make my venture not a total loss and I was thinking of joining the two sumps via bulk head. I would like sump A (currently operational) to be connected to the supply and the end of sump B to house the return pump. Any recommendations before I go drilling holes in my sumps?

Need another?? I think that's the same one?

 

[Teemingtank]

Need another?? I think that's the same one?

That’s the same exact one! What am I gonna do with another lol? Join all 3 and make a sumpipede? :D

 

[BadFish619]

The ultimate sump! There will be no stopping you. Lol... you should check out this guy rotter tube reef on YouTube. He connected 2 of his together to some success I believe. I'll see if I can link it. Don't know how much info he gives but he shows it set up

 

[Teemingtank]

The ultimate sump! There will be no stopping you. Lol... you should check out this guy rotter tube reef on YouTube. He connected 2 of his together to some success I believe. I'll see if I can link it. Don't know how much info he gives but he shows it set up

I like that, I’m going to read the comments in a sec and see how much success he had. I know you need a similar water volume to make that work and I don’t think my sumps are terribly far apart in terms of volume!

 

[Teemingtank]

The ultimate sump! There will be no stopping you. Lol... you should check out this guy rotter tube reef on YouTube. He connected 2 of his together to some success I believe. I'll see if I can link it. Don't know how much info he gives but he shows it set up

If a pump failed do you think the water bridge would siphon to the other sump?

 

[BadFish619]

Good question. I think it would depend on ur setup. If I were u I'd draw it out in a diagram and post it here to see what people smarter than me think!

 

[Teemingtank]

Does it matter where I drill the bulkhead? I feel like the baffle in sump B will determine where the sumps level off.

 

[Goodair]

whats the advantage of 2 sumps ovet just one long one?

 

[ca1ore]

Not sure what failed for you in running two sumps? I’ve run multiples many times. Either have one overflowing into the second (that is what I have now) or if on the same level you need a balancing pipe that effectively joins them as a single body of water. Simple physics really.

 

[Teemingtank]

Not sure what failed for you in running two sumps? I’ve run multiples many times. Either have one overflowing into the second (that is what I have now) or if on the same level you need a balancing pipe that effectively joins them as a single body of water. Simple physics really.

One return pump was weaker than the other and it’s extremely hard to set the water height with 2 HOB systems. Essentially the weaker pump sump would fill and the other would empty. Could you maybe snap a pic of yours?

 

[Teemingtank]

Just to clarify, my tank isn’t drilled and I tried to run 2 independent HOB overflows

 

[Teemingtank]

whats the advantage of 2 sumps ovet just one long one?

My sump is only big enough for media. I can barely shove my skimmer in there!! Plus I’d like a fuge, I have seahorses in a different setup that could use any pods I can get. Also, if you have a small stand, 2 sumps is the better option.

 

[BadFish619]

Let me show u my fuge as another option

 

[BadFish619]

It's a HOB simple set up. Super low flow rate pump into a breeder box and thru my chaeto compartment and overflows back out. Easy, inexpensive and space saver for ur sump. You can put it on the back of your tank or even on the sump if u really wanted.

 

[BadFish619]

 

[ScottB]

My sump is only big enough for media. I can barely shove my skimmer in there!! Plus I’d like a fuge, I have seahorses in a different setup that could use any pods I can get. Also, if you have a small stand, 2 sumps is the better option.

Just curious how you ended up on this. I've been searching for multiple sump threads and not coming up with much.

As to that video of the water bridge, in the comments he says "it works great" and then he says "until micro-bubbles accumulate and the thing breaks siphon". I have just enough experience with HOB siphon breaks that I will never ever go back there again. Microbubbles are real.

I am going to keep searching threads for tying systems together via gravity.