Running 2 sumps 1 tank

[NOLAGT]

best bet... drill the sumps install 2 screw type bulkheads about 1" from the bottom of the sump put a piece of pvc in between them with two screw in fittings attached if one pump fails the other pump will compensate and run both sumps without a problem as your water will be draining at a slower rate, a "U" tube should not be considered it is just not a good idea

exactly

 

[Pharaoh]

If the pumps are connect at the intake... then you run the risk of one receiveing more water than the other and thus one running dry while the over overflows... in this case a U siphon between the sumps would be a solution...

But in your case, with the two sumps being 100% independant... there is zero risk of the intake/return coming out of balance and the two sumps should not be connected with a U siphon. Doing so would cause problems if one pump were to stop prior to the other...

Please be very cautious about taking advice from people who do not have a thorough understanding of aquarium plumbing or are not considering each detail of your personal set up. The above post is a good example of this.

See below. No need for insults. Please be very cautious when making assumptions and challenging another person's knowledge. Please support your argument with factual data and theory if you are going to challenge others.

I have 2 sumps and 2 pumps one in each and 2 overflows one hooked to each sump. You will need to attach the 2 sumps together. As long as they are connected you wont have issues of a pump running dry or any problems if the power goes out. I just used 2 bulkheads and some flex pvc pipe. I think i have a pic in my 240 thread. If you do not have the sumps connected...and you have a pump in each...and you have a drain from the tank going to each sump...if the power goes out to one pump it will overflow that sump.

This is right.

 

[Pharaoh]

best bet... drill the sumps install 2 screw type bulkheads about 1" from the bottom of the sump put a piece of pvc in between them with two screw in fittings attached if one pump fails the other pump will compensate and run both sumps without a problem as your water will be draining at a slower rate, a "U" tube should not be considered it is just not a good idea

I will retract just a bit here. I was assuming that both sumps weren't going to be drilled, hence, the U-tube. If you can conntect the two sump filters with hard plumbing, that is what should be done. Although a U-tube of a larger size would accomplish this same task, you are forced to rely on maintaining a siphon. direct plumbing eliminates this.

 

[mjohns]

Thanks everybody for the replies..

I dont really wanto get the sumps drilled.

I seem to have some conflicting information here.

So i might have to go with a single 3x2 sump but with 2 pumps and 2 overflows into the single sump.

Damn i really wanted 2 sumps

Theoretically though the power shouldnt go out on one pump anyway, but i suppose it could happen.

 

[spaulding]

i've read many posts by pharoah, and seen threads about some of the stuff he has made. i would have no problom trusting his opinions.

 

[Burko]

"I dont really wanto get the sumps drilled.

I seem to have some conflicting information here.

So i might have to go with a single 3x2 sump but with 2 pumps and 2 overflows into the single sump.

Damn i really wanted 2 sumps "

Yep the two sumps must be connected as if they are one...












Unless they are placed above the tank.

 

[Bderick67]

This is what I could see happening with two indepentant sumps each with there own overflow and pump. If the pump went out on sump A and sump B continued to work fine the water level in the tank would continue to feed both overflows. This would either lead to sump A overflowing and flooding or sump B running dry.

Having a connection between the two sumps could protect against this if properly installed.

Though I am not a certified aquarium plumber

 

[NOLAGT]

This is what I could see happening with two indepentant sumps each with there own overflow and pump. If the pump went out on sump A and sump B continued to work fine the water level in the tank would continue to feed both overflows. This would either lead to sump A overflowing and flooding or sump B running dry.

Having a connection between the two sumps could protect against this if properly installed.

Though I am not a certified aquarium plumber

Trust me...if they are connected...its fine. I have it this way right now. I only have a 1.5" pvc connecting the 2 sumps. For 3 months I ran my tank with only one of the two pumps running (mag 18's) and it was fine. It flowed just like as if I had both pumps running...just less water flow.

As for one pump going out...think about this. You want GFI's around water. I have 2 pumps...and I have 2 separate gfi's. One per pump. If one pump shorts out and trips the gfi...I wouldnt mind a 2nd pump still running so nothing dies. If you have 2 overflows feeding 2 sumps that are connected...and one pump is out...its fine.

 

[mjohns]

Decided to ditch 1 sump and use the biggest (3x2ft) with 2 pumps and 2 overflows.

Thanks all.

 

[Toby_H]

This is what I could see happening with two indepentant sumps each with there own overflow and pump. If the pump went out on sump A and sump B continued to work fine the water level in the tank would continue to feed both overflows. This would either lead to sump A overflowing and flooding or sump B running dry.

After reading this post I now see what I overlooked previously which would allow One sump to overflow if it's pump died... Thanks for taking the minute to spell out your thoughts BDerick

Pharaoh, I apologise for the way my previous post came off.