How to setup connection between 2 tanks

[scrapman]

Thanks for your detailed info on the subject. I'am also interested in adding a sump to my 90 gal.
My question: what is the maintenance required on a sump/refugium tank other than cleaning the skimmer (which works for both tanks)?
Does the sump/refugium get really dirty/ugly?
I ask this because my 90 gal stands on a open metal stand(no cabinet). I plan to have a sump/fuge (55 gal or so) below.... but I don't want it to be an eyesore.
Thanks

 

[scotts]

Scrap, first of all your username and avatar remind me of a show called Junkyard wars. I used to love that show.
Anyway I will admit that I don't really clean my sump too much. It does not get much algae on it, but it does get other stuff on the glass. In all actuality it could be a bit of an eyesore, but in the junkyard war tradition you could make up some type of cover for the sump. Or you could even paint the sides ot the tank/sump black.
One good thing about having a sump is that you can take your heater, any hang on filters and your skimmer and put it in your sump. Now of the the the best parts of having a sump is that the water level in your display tank remains constant and it varies in your sump as your water evaporates.

 

[scotts]

Hey Scrap, you know I was thinking about your question and there is no reason at all that your sump cannot be a part of your overall display and look as good as your DT. That is just not my style, my sump is hidden so it can look ugly. However if your sump is out in the open you could keep it clean and it would look fine.
I thought of this as an example. If I had a 68 Camaro with a 350 in it. My engine would be the type that was all oily and greasy. You know when you change the oil your fingernails are black for the next 3 days. However others would have the same car and have a chrome water pump, painted valve covers.....you know an engine so clean that you could eat off of it.
So in other words there is no hard and fast rule that says your sump has to look bad, I am just....well....lazy. I prefer to think of it as very busy.

 

[kevvypoop313]

So I should buy an overflow box good for 1200 gph and a pump that will be able to pump 1200 gph and of course some pvc pipe, elbows, and valve controllers to control the flow, teflon tape, pvc cutter? Anything else?
As far as putting it together, I am so worried of it overflowing and flooding my place, how can I absolutely prevent this?
Lastly, I do not understand the whole siphon thing in your first reply.

 

[scotts]

Does this work?

 

[scotts]

It is hard to tell exactly what specific fittngs you will need for your installation. But that sounds about right, you might want to pick up a couple of connectors, they are just staright pieces used for connecting two pipes together. You know I son't want to be intrusive, but if you want help planning your plumbing install I will help, if I am being intrusive just tell me to bug off.
Ho to absolutley prevent an overflow, well to be honest there is no absolute way. That is like saying how do I drive across country and abolustely prevent that I will get in an accident. HOWEVER if you do your install right, have a system so when the power goes out you do not siphon your DT and have your flows of your pump and overflow right, you will greatly reduce the chances of anything happening. Which raises the question. Is this in your home or apartment?
Now to your last question. I tried to take some pictures for you of a top view of the overflow. I also tried to label the chambers A B and C. The chamber A is inside the tank and collects the water from the tank. There are some grooves in the top that allow the water to go in the chamber, or if the power goes out it keeps the chamber 1/2 full of water. This is enough water to keep the ends of the U-tube submerged under water. The U-tube siphons the water from chanber A over the side of the tank into chamber B of the overflow. The water collects in chamber B and slows over a little wall into chanber C. Chanber C has the drain in it that connects to a pipe that leads down to your sump. So if the power goes out there is still enough water in chamber A and B to keep the ends of the U-tube submerged under water and the siphon still intact. When the power goes back on and the water starts to flow, the water simply starts flowing through the U-tube again.

HTH
Scott

 

[kevvypoop313]

Apartment. Have you ever had a flood, lol? Youre not being intrusive either, actually I appreciate all of your help. I would really like it if you could guide me step by step, then i will respond back to when i start getting stuff for the tank. So if you would like start with step 1. Literally tell me exactly what to do and buy and it will be done.

 

[fishfry101]

hey guys - reading your post and just going to through in an idea. A few years back I made my own wet/dry, my DT was on the first floor and I decided to put all the equipment in the basement. This set up worked out great because of the room you had to work on it. Anyways what you need to pick up with your pvc fittings is a backflow preventer, this will allow the pump to push water into the DT tank but if the power goes out or if you turn the pump off for maintenance it will prevent water from draining back down. I placed mine right after the shut off valve where you adjust the flow. The backflow preventer completey stops the flow in the wrong direction!
Good luck with your build
Also make sure to buy the pvc glue and cleaner that is made for drinking water, cpvc i belive it is called, otherwise you can put harmfull chemicals into your tank with the regular glue.

 

[kevvypoop313]

Thanks for the additional information.
Scott, if you even want to go as far as telling me what models I should buy and so forth that would be great too. Like I said before I am very knowledgable about the hobby, but this is all new to me. Thanks.
Kevin

 

[scotts]

Kevin, I would be glad to help you out, but I am not comfortable spending other people's money. For example I think you are on the right track shooting for a 1200 gph Overflow and pump. But I don't want to specify one brand for you to buy. Plus I got all of my stuff when I bought my tank used. (I got myself a deal!!!) So I never did the shopping myself and I am not sure what barnds of stuff there are out there.
Let's start with this though. What do you have so far? A 125 and 55 gallon tanks. Anything else? Also out of curisoity what floor in you building are you on?
To answer your question, yes I have had a flood, but none of them due to my tank. Mainly filling up a 5 gallon pail from my RO and forgetting about it. Although the one where I forgot to put the drain hose of the washer back in the drain after I fixed the washer was a DOOOZY!
Fish, Cool you did that with your tank. I wish I had a basement to do that. One correction though. CPVC is another form of PVC. It has a little better chemical resistance and has a higher working temperature. PVC is good up to 140 and CPVC is good up to 180.

 

[kevvypoop313]

I have my tank now with all of the components of a normal fish tank, skimmer, filter, powerheads, heater, etc. I live in a duplex so first floor above basement. I do not have access to the basement though. My 125 is in my living room now but I am moving to the backroom, which is why I am wanting to use a sump because once I move it this time, I do not want to do it for a while. lol

 

[scotts]

Cool! The thing I was worried about was in case the worst would happen, you are not in the third floor of an apt. bldg. and have two neighbors below you complaining about the mess you made.
So the first thing you would need would be your pump and your overflow. Once these are in then you can find out what size PVC to buy. It would suck to load up on 3/4" PVC and then find out you need 1". However in order to spec this stuff you need to kind of figure out what turnover rate you want through your tank. I think 1200 through a 125 should be ok. Although some people say up to 20X is better. I also prefer a pump that is a little bigger than the overflow. That way you can choke back the pump if needed. I just feel that gives me a little more control. Plus it is hard to say EXACTLY how many feet of head your system will have. As far as the specs for the pump I think you could go with about 8 feet of head to get the flowrate for the pump you want. This is ball parking the height of your tank and the fittings and pipe.
You know there are a couple of people on this board that are in Pittsburgh. I know KeriAnn is one and there are a couple more. They might be able to help you with places to buy stuff.

 

[kevvypoop313]

I usually buy stuff online, it is generally cheaper and have a bigger selection to offer. There are alot of different types of overflows, any recommendations? Water pumps are something i know about, but overflow boxes no.

 

[scotts]

Hmmmm, good question. Like I said I got mine when it came with the tank. So I don't even know what brand my overflow is. I remember reading a thread on here once that somebody liked a particular oveflow because it was quiet. But in all honesty that is all I can remember.
How is that for being helpful?!

 

[kevvypoop313]

well what should this overflow look like, there are very many...???

 

[scrapman]

Scotts, rhis is my free standing 90 gal.... I'd like to stick a 55 gal fuge underneath. But I want the setup clean and streamlined (no clutter of pipes and cables).... any suggestions?
thanks

 

[scotts]

Kevin, Not sure what your question is. Since I never went shopping for overflows myself I do not know what different ones there are out there.
Scrap, WOW that is a great set up! I certainly did not expect something so clean based on your name and your avatar..

As far as hiding your pipes it looks like you could put some molding on your wall and the column that would hide the pipes and/or cables. you might have to make it and paint it yourself. The only thing is I am not sure what you would do with the overflow in your space there. You could possibly have the overflow on the side of your tank near the column and have the pipes from your sump go in the tank on the wall side of the tank.

 

[kevvypoop313]

Scotts, Ill buy an overflow capable of 1200 gph and a pump of say 1400 gph. Where do i go from there?

 

[scotts]

OK, Now we are talking, now I can help you out. The first thing you are going to want to do is get yourelf a general layout. Which side of the tank is your overflow going to go on, where is your sump going to go under your tank, where is your pump going to go and how are you going to get the water from your sump into your tank, then how are you going to have the water enter your tank. This may all sound basic, but it tells you what pipe and fittings you need.
I personally have a hose leading from my overflow into my sump, that is directly underneath the overflow. Then the pump is on the other side of the sump and the flow from the pump goes into my tank on the opposite side from the overflow.
Once you have your layout figured out then you can make a list of fittings and the amount of pipe that you will need. You may want to draw this out depending on how much you know about plumbing. You will need at least one threaded fitting to go into your pump. If you plumb it in the way I do you will need two threaded fittings and I have another threaded fitting up top.
Then it is off to a hardware store to buy and practice your cutting and gluing....

 

[scrapman]

Scotts, thank you for your help on this post. I'am learning a lot. The beauty of my tank is that I feel that have two 90 gals in one.... you can see a different lansdcape on each side. All rhe rocks stands in the middle with caves and thruways. The fish can swim around.
Re my future neat/no clutter/streamline/show fuge.... right now I have to decide on the footprint (size) of the tank..... but I will certainly use later a lot of the info you give.
cheers