Originally Posted by
wattsupdoc
Definetly you could make the new tank the fuge, but generally speaking, the bigger the fuge the better. I thinkyou'll get more fuge from the old tan. But then again, maybe not as I see you can scoot the old one ever a few inches and get a pretty good size tank in there next to it. You can elevate the new tank by building a platform if you like. I say this because by using gravity feed, wherever you install the drain from new to old will determine the water level in the new tank. You dont need to calculate backwash for the taller tank. But will need to calculate it for space in the shorter/lower one. Also give yourself a little wiggle room. The baffle heights are determined by a couple different things. Skimmer optimum water level as well as depth of SB/desired fuge compartment volume and backwash. You'll need to leave enough room in the shorter/lower tank to accomadate water draining back down during power outage. Or just shutting it down. You might not need all those baffles, draw up what you have now with tank specifications and measurements for both DT and sump. I'll help you along.
You could build a smal squre baffle set containing the drain from new tank to old to save some space elsewhere.
My current sump cannot be moved over because the stand curves for the bow. I could easily fit a tank with a 11"x11" footprint to the right of the current sump. I'm not sure of my skimmers optimum level or how deep I would like my SB. I'm guessing 2-3" for the SB. The backwash shouldn't be a problem, when I unplug the return it leaves plenty space in my current sump because I drilled holes in the pvc to break the siphon. The DT is a 72gal bow front 23'' high 48" long.
I wanted to use the new tank as the fuge and not to house the skimmer because my skimmer wouldnt need all that space to operate. But my concern with the new tank being the fuge is the drain water being too much or too little flow.
Wadda ya think Doc?
Thanks for walking me through this.
