Great Idea doesn't work, Suggestions ?

[ilovemytank]

Idea: I have a wet/dry sump supplied by two drains in my 125 reef ready. The sump is 35" and is necessary for my Octopus 200 ( everyone knows what a large footprint it has ) I have two 1200 gph return pumps. I purchased a 31" CPR refugium and wanted to take one of the drain pipes and attach it to the refugium. Then I took one of the 1200 gph return pumps and put it in the refugium. It emptied way too fast. So after a paniked thread I was advised a ball valve. ( how could I not have thought of this..DUH ) So I installed a ball valve. It was impossible to get it just right though. SO I changed the 1200 gph to an extra 1000 gph from the skimmer I just replaced with the 200 ( anyone want a skimmer cheap ? ) Still impossible to get just right. I finnaly figured it out. With a drain going to the sump and the refugium any adjustments made were temporary because it affected the other. ( I know I didn't say that right but I can't put the thought to words that make sense.) SO I moved both drains and return pumps to the wet/dry sump. I am temporarily testing a new idea. I am using a smll vacum tube as a siphon running from tank into the refugium. I am using a mag 7 pump and ball valve to return the water to the tank. If this works I will purchase a 500 gph over flow and replace the vacuum tube. SO far I can't get it to adjust where the refugium isn't slowly filling or emptying right. I'm having to check it constantly and make adjustments. Any ideas or suggetions ? has anyone else run into this ? I'm scarred to go to bed with it running or go to work tommorow until I know its right. Probably will have to unhook it. Please help. Would I be better running a pump from the sump to the refugium and the same size pump back to the sump ? Is it possible to have a wet/dry sump and a refugium both on the same aquarium ? help !

 

[ilovemytank]

NOt that I'm getting pushey here but I'm on a time frame to have this working right. please reply.

 

[errattiq]

I'm trying to visualize this supersystem LOL... is this a hang on back refugium? if so, why not plumb it with a small powerhead in the intake side and just have a pvc pipe or the equivalent just drain out back into the sump?? I wouldn't run the overflow drain or return pump through the fuge unless it had a slower flow...I think the easiest and less brain wrenching alternative is what i mentioned.. let me know if this helps, or i need to rethink my strategy lol.

 

[ilovemytank]

Some clarification ; The wet/dry sump is 35" under the tank and holds 25 -30 gallons. The refugium is 31" ( next to the wet/dry sump ) under the tank and holds about 25 gallons. if power were to go out neither will over flow. But because the return of the refugium can't be adjusted just right, it either slowly fills up; witch will cause an over flow. This is possible because the water from the sump is returning at a different rate causing the water level of the sump to go down ( keeping the tank water level the same ) putting an extra 25-30 gallons into the refugium that can't be held. Or the water level slowly goes down which would cause the third chamber in the refugium to go dry ruinning the pump.
The more I think about it the only solution will be to put two identicle pumps; one in the sump pumping directly into the filter bag of the refugium and one in the refugium returning the water. I would hook them up to the same power source so that if the power goes out then they both are off. Then the only problem I could suffer is that if one pump stops working.

 

[ilovemytank]

pictures of what I'm trying to say. Suggestions ? I oredered another Mag 7 so I'll have two and tryset this all up on Friday.

 

[markeo99]

rather than try and match up pumps I would try and drilll the tanks and put in bulkheads to connect the 2. may be trickier if they are glass but in the pic the look like acrylic and could be drilled with a fine tooth hole saw

 

[reefkprz]

there is no way you are ever going to balance out drains and two seperate returns, one machine will always go just a little faster or slower. you need a continuous loop drain to one spot (or two doesnt matter) flow through both abnd return via a single pump. even if you got two seperate return pumps working the same in a short while some variable would affect the flow rate iof one and skew the balance.
your only viable solution is to connect the two units so you end up with a balance of water levels. you can even still use both return pumps but you need a way for the water levels to balance out in the sumps, AKA bulkhead. or even a PVC overflow so the water levels stay even in both sides, if one fills faster than the other water will transferr to the other unit.

 

[ilovemytank]

reefkprZ,
you're the second person that has told me bulk head is the only real option. ( first was MR X, saltwater.com ) SO lets say I'm willing to try this.
1. they are both acrylic so what type of drill bit do you cut into it with ? And what suggestions size hole ( 1" or what ? ) would you do. I would have to raise the hieght of the sump 3 or 4 inches, I guess I can do this by boards underneath. It will give me a much tighter fit to get off the top of the skimmer but I measured it and it will work.
2. I would assume that I spin around the wet/dry sump so that i'm drilling into the flat side and not angled. while I'm doing all this work should I remove the bio balls and replace them with live rock rubble ?
3. I think I actualy can do this> I got the mag 7's today I am going to hook them up tommorow to get it running ( I agree that something will throw of the flow and I'll still have to make adjustment ) but I'll go ahead and order the plumbing parts I need. I'll keep everyone posted.