Good or Bad Idea?

I currently have a 20 long set up as my sump that will hold a refugium, skimmer, and the return. I am wondering if it would be possible to somehow drill a 10 gallon and the 20 long and combine them? Either make the 10 gallon a refugium with a nice dsb or put the skimmer in the 10 and use the 20 long as a nice size refugium with a return area.

 

my 10 gal is drilled and sits above my sump. Only one of my overflows runs into the refuge though to keep the flow low.

 

IMO Too much work. You need a great purpose before you start. Maybe a place to suspension feed corals? (Snow.)

 

Drilling the tank(s) as you (original poster) are describing is common practice for reef tanks. The smaller tank can be used as a refugium and/or to hold equipment and keep it out of site. The bit of extra water volume never hurt anything either.

To make it simple, I would suggest buying a Glass-Holes overflow box. This will come with a diamond-encrusted drill bit, needed to drill the hole for your 1" overflow line. For an even cleaner look, you could also get a 1/2" return kit from them and drill/install the return line so it goes thru the back glass as well.

Edit: Sorry, I misinterpreted your post. I have seen some tanks where the sump was originally one size, and a second 'sump' was added in order to allow for more space/equipment. The same could be done for a refugium. You can install a bulkhead in your 20G and that would over flow (1" PVC line) to the 10G tank. Then re-plumb the return line from the 10 to your display.

A second option would be to redo your overflow line. By this, I mean the overflow would split, going to the 10 and 20 gallon tanks. Then the 10 would overflow (with a bulkhead) into the 20, keeping your return line where it currently resides.

 

The less glass under your tank the less risk of water damage. I would not suggest this project unless it is going in the basement or similar. Be aware that glass dust is very dangerous, if you must, do it outdoors and with all eye and breathing protection. IMHO not worth it, little significant benefit. Lot's of up front work, expense and ongoing risk and maintenance otherwise.

 

I'm not trying to push it one way or the other, but here is how I see it:

The actual cost to you will be a drill bit, a bulkhead and a 10g tank (if you don't already have it). You will certainly need to take the sump out of the system for the time being, but it can be done and re-installed in the same day...or a few days if need be (depending on bioload in tank). Most 10g tanks are cheap, and aren't going to be tempered, meaning the risk you are taking is low.

Just turn off the return pump. Take out equipment and whatever else is in the sump. Drain it of any water. Drill the hole in the side of the tank (your choice, whatever works best to fit the tanks into the cabinet) and install the threaded bulkhead. Then fill it back up and add the equipment again. It will actually be easier to just drill the 10g, as it is not yet part of your setup. You can just drill it and then plumb it into the system so the 10g flows into the 20g.

Drilling process...use a diamond encrusted bit attached to a drill. Put the chuck on high (so it does not slip). Go slow on the trigger and let the drill do most of the work. Use plumber's putty to make a ring around where you want the hole to be drilled. This will hold the water in the area to keep the bit from overheating (this didn't work so well for me, so I had a helper who poured water onto the cutting area as I worked). You can use a shop vac. to clear away any leftover debris from drilling.

 

You can use a dry hole drilled through thin plywood to steady the drillbit to get the hole rim in the glass started. Then dry it off and make your putty dam. Make sure you do this outdoors and hos it all down good afterwards.

Do NOT push on the barrel drill bit. Aplly lite pressure and let the equipment do the work for you. Do Not get more than the hole's diameter to any one edge of the glass. The glass can crack very easy. Better off taking it to a glass shop, they'll cut the holes like butter.

 

I have two 20 longs drilled and connected under the 150. One side is the sump, the other, refugium.

 

Very Nice big system. Can you estimate the flow rate thru the refugium and any other circulation? Nice to have that kind of room in the cabinet. What type of bio-work are you doing with it?

Thanks in advance.

 

Nevermind.

Right.