2 display tanks 1 sump

[morg59]

I am going to build a new home and the plans have the master suite and the family room sharing a wall. I came up with this idea to have a tank in each room but plumb them together. Here are my plans for 2 75 gallon tanks in 2 different rooms using one sump and one pump. Please give me your opinions on the design and on the possible pro's and cons of this setup. I already have one 75 now with working sump. I just would need to add a second tank and lighting on the second one. I figure all my electrical could be in the cabinet in the bedroom.

 

[morg59]

Here is the last image

 

[danmhippo]

The drawing looks fine to me. However, I would suggest you put the skimmer before the fuge, and make sure you leave enough spaces in the sump to allow water in the bedroom overflow to dump into the sump in the event of power failure.

Also, you are probably already awared of this, but if you have outbreaks of either disease or nuiance algae, it will spread to both tank as they are now all connected. Versus if you have 2 separate systems, you can use one as treatment tank.

In addition, you should also consider make sure air doesn't get sucked in the family room tank overflow and creates micro bubbles in the bedroom tank.

 

[morg59]

What are the advantages of putting the skimmer before the fuge?

 

[danmhippo]

Well, the disadvantage of fuge before skimmer is your skimmer will pull some zooplankton out of the solution.

Also, skimmer does not pull 100% of the organics. With skimmer do the first stage water polishing, macro's picks up the rest.