Two tank: Need advice

[Dot Dash]

Hi

I have two 220 liter tanks, with a stand. The one tank is above the other, so the idea is to make one the DT and the other a sump. The plan is to drill one or two 32mm holes in the bottom of the DT to feed water to the sump.


Now this is were I need some advice:
1) Should I rather get a smaller tank to use as a sump.
2) What is the best setup to drain water from the DT to the sump, drop inlets or stand pipe.
3) Would one hole be sufficient for the volume of water or should I drill two.
4) If I use the 220 liter as a sump, should I add a deep sand bed.
5) What other form of filtration should be added to the sump.
6) What should the sump layout look like.
7) Can I fill the tank with tap water and filter it with loads of carbon to remove all the unwanted dissolved elements, or should I just stick to RO water.
8) Any other useful advice for a setup like this.


Looking forward to advice and comments.

 

[raytone]

8) Any other useful advice for a setup like this

Yes keep us posted and give us pics so we can give you better advice

7) Can I fill the tank with tap water and filter it with loads of carbon to remove all the unwanted dissolved elements, or should I just stick to RO water

Tap water is a BIG NO NO. Stick to RO and good salt. Ps buy a refractometer

6) What should the sump layout look like.

Ask @belindamotion to post a link for the sumps as i'm not sure how to do that.LOL

5) What other form of filtration should be added to the sump.

To start with, a good protien skimmer is a must,then a DSB or NP pellet reactor

4) If I use the 220 liter as a sump, should I add a deep sand bed.

That is your choice. A DSB or NP Pellet reactor

3) Would one hole be sufficient for the volume of water or should I drill two.

One 32mm return hole is way to small. I rather go for one 50mm hole

2) What is the best setup to drain water from the DT to the sump, drop inlets or stand pipe.

Drop inlet drilled at bottom of DT

1) Should I rather get a smaller tank to use as a sump.

No this tank is perfect

 

[Dot Dash]

Tank dimension: 1200mm long x 430 mm high x 430 mm deep (the water will be 430mm deep). How big should the DSB be.What advantage does a DSB offer that you do not get from a NP pellet reactor.

What skimmer should I look at:
1) Reeftek TS 2 rated for a 500 liter system
2) Reef Octopus with about the same rating
3) Skimz with same rating

 

[raytone]

How big should the DSB be.What advantage does a DSB offer that you do not get from a NP pellet reactor.

Well on the DSB i can't give you much info but here is a link you can follow DSB to NP Pellets - Marine Aquariums of South Africa I'm using a NP pellet reactor for 9 months without any problems. What lights are you going to use?

 

[Dot Dash]

@raytone - have not really paid much attention to the lights. I do have some T5's that I can use for a start. Must still investigate that side of things a lot more.

 

[Dot Dash]

@raytone - have not really paid much attention to the lights. I do have some T5's that I can use for a start. Must still investigate that side of things a lot more.

 

[raytone]

Cool stuff. Keep us posted

 

[RiaanP]

My second display and remote DSB, are two standard Daro 4foot tanks. The top tank is drilled with a old style corner overflow box. the bottom tank is also drilled (I did use it sometime ago as a display). It is a slimline centre back overflow. Which overflow is better. The corner box overflow with durso standpipe.

My main sump, is also a standard 4foot Daro tank. Layout is standard 3 chamber, with 240mm first chamber and return chamber also 240mm. That is enough space for a nice DSB in the middle.