Sump question

[andy1985]

Hi i am going to add a sump to my aquarium, my only question is that due to the size of the stand, the sump can't be that big i have to side cabinets under the fish tank. I was thinking instead of having one sump in only one side cabinet i but one in each.

My question is if i put 2 sumps in should i make both sumps the same setup or 2 different styles

Kind regards Andrew

 

[celebrist]

They need to be linked or you are asking for a flood

 

[andy1985]

They would be plumped separately

 

[duanes]

I have two sumps (boxes) on one tank, they are linked by two 1" lines and although they both hold filter material, only one box holds the pump (the one in the fore ground. The tank is to the left)

There are two over flows on the tank, with one feeding one sump box, one the other, the two 1"PVC connections between end up sharing the water. You will notice I use Union connections to make maintenance ,and taking them apart easier.

Below is one of the 2 drilled overflows on the tank back, that send water to the sumps

You may have noticed, the one sump box (the one with the pump) is not directly below the tank, it is a few feet off set to the side. There is no rule that says a sump needs to be directly below the tank itself, as long as gravity is taken into account.
It is because this is the one part of the sump (the part with pump), that will call for most maintenance, things like pump cleaning, sponge rinsing, occasionally the tightening of hoses and connections,etc etc.
I hate to be being cramped and restricted when doing maintenance, and this is one of the reasons I tossed the cabinet that came with the tank, trying to maneuver in the confined space of a cabinet to me is way to restrictive when doing required regular sump maintenance.
As you can see below, the sump is open to where I can easily reach in to get at anything.

I also like to put sumps somewhere, where in case of a mishap, overflowing water is not a problem.
In the states my sumps were almost always on the basement floor, near the floor drain.
Where I live now, they are in the garden.
A sump doesn't need to be in the same room with the tank, it can be in a storage room, behind a wall, even on a lower floor (like a basement)

 

[twentyleagues]

I have two sumps (boxes) on one tank, they are linked by two 1" lines and although they both hold filter material, only one box holds the pump (the one in the fore ground. The tank is to the left)
View attachment 1383904
There are two over flows on the tank, with one feeding one sump box, one the other, the two 1"PVC connections between end up sharing the water. You will notice I use Union connections to make maintenance ,and taking them apart easier.
View attachment 1383905
Below is one of the 2 drilled overflows on the tank back, that send water to the sumps
View attachment 1383906
You may have noticed, the one sump box (the one with the pump) is not directly below the tank, it is a few feet off set to the side. There is no rule that says a sump needs to be directly below the tank itself, as long as gravity is taken into account.
It is because this is the one part of the sump (the part with pump), that will call for most maintenance, things like pump cleaning, sponge rinsing, occasionally the tightening of hoses and connections,etc etc.
I hate to be being cramped and restricted when doing maintenance, and this is one of the reasons I tossed the cabinet that came with the tank, trying to maneuver in the confined space of a cabinet to me is way to restrictive when doing required regular sump maintenance.
As you can see below, the sump is open to where I can easily reach in to get at anything.
View attachment 1383907
I also like to put sumps somewhere, where in case of a mishap, overflowing water is not a problem.
In the states my sumps were almost always on the basement floor, near the floor drain.
Where I live now, they are in the garden.
A sump doesn't need to be in the same room with the tank, it can be in a storage room, behind a wall, even on a lower floor (like a basement)

Do you have any full shots of that area? Id really like a video walk through or something. Looks awesome!

 

[duanes]

Do you have any full shots of that area? Id really like a video walk through or something. Looks awesome!

This is about the best I can do at the moment, a walk around snapping shots.
I have just resealed the tank after some earthquake damage, it's about 2/3 full, fish are in, added substrate and its replanted, the rest of the water will only come with rain, our de-sal plant is down. and water is scarce(clamps are still in place).
And there's not enough water in it, to run the sump, but anyway
Western side view, sump boxes lower left

coming around toward the front.

Below Full frontal, pump sump box to the lower right

eastern angle, one partial sump visible, far right sump box contains the pump, the Black hosesends water from sump to tank.

East side, white PVC sends water from 2 tank overflows to 2 sump boxes

Shot of joined sump boxes below

 

[duanes]

By the way, the tank is 180 gallons, stock includes a dozen 3"-5" Andinoacara coerleopunctatus (Panamanian G.T.s) 2 Roeboides scale eater tetras @ 3", an Eleotris Goby (8",) and a Panamanian Pleco 4",
lots of Vallisneria, and Hydrilla. Substrate is mostly sand. pH fluctuates with the season, with rainy season being around 7, dry season above 8.