Plumbing opinion?

[Blade_Runner]

Hi:

I'm replacing my 72g bow front fowler that is weeping with a used 90g rr acrylic I’m picking up tomorrow. As some of you know, my 300g reef's filtration is in the basement. I've built a 200+g sump and have a monster skimmer. I'm kicking around the idea of plumbing the 90 into the jumbo sump and am working through the pros and cons. Here is my "T" list:

Pros:
1. Expense. The filters on the 72g are not up to the 90g. If I plumb into the basement my only cost is PVC. I'll probably only drop $100ish. A new DIY sump, pump and skimmer have to be $400ish. Since I already have a 1.5 hp overkill pump with 2” fitting that is only running at ½ to 2/3 capacity, I shouldn’t draw anymore amps saving a few bucks a month.

2. Ease of maintenance. Once set up, all filtration, skimming, fresh water top off and water changes for both tanks are handled in the basement.

3. It will be very quiet. The return pump is a floor down and 40’ away. The only noise from the 300 is the returns and I’ve built Durso’s.

4. Very stable and consistent water parameters. I’ll have around 600g in the system including the sump.

5. Almost immediate cycling of the tank. Frankly, I don’t expect to see any spikes at all. Currently, I only have 4 fish in the 72 and will be using the existing sand and LR. I will be moving 2 to the hospital till I’m sure it is stable. Plus the sump and 300 have a huge amount of rocks, sand and macro algae.

6. Major cool factor.

Cons:
1. I’ll need to run pipes 40’ across the basement to the sump. I’m sure I can do it after working on the 300, but with the amount of piping the performance may not be what I expect.

2. No redundancy. If something happens to the sump both tanks are affected.

3. If one tank gets a disease, both tanks get it.

So, what do you think? Stand alone or join the systems.

Thx

[Covey]

I'd go for it and run both tanks of the sump. Normally hooking a FOWLER tank to a reef. would be a bad idea but at 600G I don't think your going to have enough fish to cause a nutrient problem. It would be real nice to have it quite.

[Brandon1023]

My God, I'd do it just for the expense factor! This hobby is expensive as it is, why not save a few bucks? Plus the ease factor too! It looks like the pros just really outweigh the cons. I admit the things about if the sump fails, both tanks fail, and the diseaseing of both tanks are something to think about, but it sounds like with your experience you shouldn't have much to worry about. Good luck!!

[sssnake]

Let's see if we can vote on two options. I would keep the tanks seperate and Blade....you truly are going off the deep end. I'm envious

Good luck with the project.

ps: The island of Manhattan probably has a less sofisticated plumbing system

[szidls]

I agree........Just join it. IMO the benefits outwiegh the negatives. More stable water parameters with larger system. Keep the fish room away from the display.
Scott

[Covey]

When you add the frag tank in the basement you've gone off the deep end!

[Diver_1298]

Heck, If he goes that far he could just set up shop and do it full time and see if he can make some money at it j/k

Jim

Plumb it into your existing sump .02

[Jason McKenzie]

OK this is my opinion.

Join the two systems together, but have the 90 FOWLR first flow to a 30G or so sump right beside the big sump. This way you will be able to isolate each tank for troubleshooting. During regular operation, the 90g would feed the small 30G sump and then dump to the large sump. If trouble happens you can close the valve to the large sump. The only thing I can see wrong with my Idea is you would have to plumb 2 returned to the 90. 1 from the main sump and 1 from the 30G sump during isolation times. Plus you would have to engineer a way to close off the return from your large sump to the 90G

What do you think of that Idea

J