Need help! Lots of questions!

Okay let me start with I do have a 55 g saltwater tank and it has been running fine for over a year. I would like to try the nano tank. I would like to make two 10g tanks into nano tanks I wanted to make a sump tank below (is that even needed) can a use a single 20g sump tank that i will be making for more than one tank? i was thinking of using a scwd to help with directing the water. Also i read that it is good to add kalkswater ( i think its limewater) to the sump tank what suggestions does anyone have for me before i try to build all of this together?

 

a sump isn't necessary in any tank but its nice to have. yes you can share the sump, but this means you share the problems of one tank with the other. I don't really consider 40 g of water volume a nano its just a normal tank divided into pieces lol. i would stay away from any kind of dosing with a nano, unless you really know what your doing.

 

okay so i should not need a sump tank but should i still add the lime water

 

Before I reply I need to point out that most of my experience is with larger systems, so my experience with Nano systems is limited but the basics still apply.
If you can do the sump, I would... as a general rule more water volume will afford you better water stability. I would not dose ANYTHING! After the system is well established and you have had the opportunity to test with accurate tests kits to determine trace element consumption you could dose very minimal amounts if absolutely needed. I have seen more systems ruined by improper dosing of chemicals than have been saved.

 

I would do seperate sumps... A:If there is an outbreak of something, it will be contained in that tank. B:What if one standpipe/return gets clogged? Thats asking for a flood.

 

the only dosing I would do is calc/alk if it's even needed, their consumption rate is dependant on the stocking in the tank having a shared sump means exactly what was said before also, something bad happens in one, it just happened in the other one to but for the most part it's not a bad setup, most LFS' run a shared sump for multiple tanks, at least the ones here do

 

so I really shouldn't have too many problems with setting up two 10 nano with a 20 sump I am just taking the risk of "if one goes down they all go down"