Need Tank /Sump Help

[Briko03]

Ok,

I just picked up an already running 55 gallon tank from someone. Needless to say the tank was in pretty bad shape. The water was a horribly murky yellowish color that obviously hadn't been changed in a while.

Anyways, I have your standard 48" 55 Gallon tank that I would like to increase water volume (ie add a sump). However I have never done that before. I do have some questions/concerns.

1. How big of a sump do you think I can fit into a 55gallon stand? I was hoping to get at least 20 gallons extra of water volume.

2. I understand that the water goes down to the sump via an overflow box, therefor the water has to go up via a pump. How do you determine what type of pump to buy so that the water going in via overflow = water going out via pump.

3. I hope to have the bulk of my equipment in the sump, can anyone see any problems with a hang on back Aqua C Remora Skimmer and a two little fishies phosphate reactor in the sump? Normally I would get a non HOB skimmer, but this one came with the tank.

4. I notice that most sumps have lots of different chambers etc. I don't quite understand the purpose of this. Would it be terribly wrong to have everything in the same chamber for beginners simplicity purposes?


Thanks for all the help. Much Appreciated.

 

[JohnK]

As long as the overflow can keep up with the pump, the pump determines the flow rates. ie pump up, gravity down

 

[penguinsix]

1. Depends on the type of stand. if it is one of the wooden ones, then your stuck with only a 10g fitting in there, but if it is one of the metal stands then you could technically fit another 55 or any 12in wide tank under there.

2. What John said.

3.You can have them in the sump, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, at least for the skimmer as the water level inside the skimmer is easiest to maintain when outside of the tank. I would personally sell that skimmer and upgrade to something else like the octo extreme 160.

4. You could have it all in the same chamber, but it is better to have different chambers so that way you don't end up with a massive amount of bubbles in the tank. 3 chambers would be the best, first for drain from tank and skimmer, second for fuge, and third for return to tank.

 

[Briko03]

Could I potentially do two ten gallon tanks side by side?

 

[emabie]

Take soem measuements of the stand and try to get the largest "sump" you you can fit, but keep in mind you will need enough height and room to work on things in there as well.

Here are some great links on sump info:
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.php

http://www.clubswam.org/forum/index.php?topic=17.0

Sumps sound more complicated than they really are. They are worth the effort in my opinion and experience.

 

[MikeG]

Could I potentially do two ten gallon tanks side by side?

Yes you can. I would just drill them and connect them that way. Only down side is 10 gallons have very thin glass so you would need to be careful and I would definately use a flexable hose like spafelx to connect them. Have all the equipment in the first and the return in the second. This will also give a larger volume to help hold the backflow in a power outage. Your 55 gallon will drain down to the point of the return nozzle in the tank when the pump is shut off. Some people will drill a small hole in the return line right above the water line to break the siphon in a power outage but all it takes is 1 snail to cover that hole at the wrong time. I usually leave the return as high in the display as possible then only an inch or so of water will drain out into the sump.

 

[MikeG]

Another option although much more expensive would be to have one built of acrylic for your needs.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

A 20 long will fit I think? Isn't it the same depth as a 10 only longer from left to right?

 

[JayM]

if you drilled a bulkhead and connected them, but the glass on 10g tanks can be tough to drill, because it's very thin

EDIT: Damn you guys are fast.....

 

[MikeG]

A 20 long will fit I think? Isn't it the same depth as a 10 only longer from left to right?

They are 12" wide. My first tank with an overflow was a 55 so I know the issues of trying to find a tank that fits. I think a 15 tall may work too.

 

[emabie]

If you go with 2 tanks under and drill and add bulkheads I would make sure to connect them with 2 sets of holes. That way if one gets clogged, blocked ect you won't have a flood.

 

[JohnK]

If I were going to use two 10 gal tanks, I would elevate one and let it gravity drain into the other.

That way;
-you'd only be drilling one tank
-you'd greatly reduce the chance of cracking one or both (because two tanks connected right next to each other would be SUPER easy to break once the plumbing was connected (should be OK once perfectly placed and filled with water, but during set up the risk would be huge - slightest misalignment, or bump, and CRACK)
-you'd have at least a little gravity on your side to ensure the water moves from one tank to the next smoothly and quickly. (side by side tanks can be slower than you'd think to equalize unless you use a really big bulkhead {which would also make cracking more likely)

 

[emabie]

Ideally you would do as jimmyj says and let one flow into the other but I think height inside the stand would be the issue.

If you are worried about cracking them due to stress on the plumbing then you could use something besides PVC, spa flex or waterheater reinforced hose?

 

[Briko03]

I think im going to try and stick with one tank at least till i get this running, then if needed I can add another.