Ok so I've been reefing for a little over two years now, I'm a grad student and work part time as the head saltwater guy at my local pet store. Currently I maintain 72 saltwater systems from a 600 reef tank to a 1 gallon nps system. I have been wanting a dwarf octopus for about a year now, and have been preparing for this moment ever since. I think I'm about ready to dive in to the amazing world that is cephlapods.
I currently have a hundred gallon fowlr tank with a 55 gallon sump, two skimmers combined rated up to 600 gallons, a 20 gallon display fuge with a deep sand bed for seahorses. I am wanting to add a 60 gallon cube plumbed through the wall into this system for an octopus. I already know about sealing the tank, lots of live rock, dont startle it, massive water change and carbon if it inks, and having that tank at a different temp than the rest of the system etc... but was wondering more about the filtration and the effects of my current system if the octopus does ink. I am wanting this as an add on to my system to have more water in the octopus system. Any input would be greatly appreciated before I punch a hole through my wall.
My plan is to have a sump under the octopus tank that is also drilled and simply overflows into the existing sump. The octopus sum will have its own skimmer and return pump, with that return pump not plugged in unless the octopus inks then I will simply turn off a valve on the overflow and plug in the return pump completely cutting it off from the big system, until I can get everything back to normal.
I've also heard of using a chiller on the return of the octopus tank, then when it drains back into the sump have it hit heaters immediately so my main tank stays at a constant 78 degrees.
I currently have a hundred gallon fowlr tank with a 55 gallon sump, two skimmers combined rated up to 600 gallons, a 20 gallon display fuge with a deep sand bed for seahorses. I am wanting to add a 60 gallon cube plumbed through the wall into this system for an octopus. I already know about sealing the tank, lots of live rock, dont startle it, massive water change and carbon if it inks, and having that tank at a different temp than the rest of the system etc... but was wondering more about the filtration and the effects of my current system if the octopus does ink. I am wanting this as an add on to my system to have more water in the octopus system. Any input would be greatly appreciated before I punch a hole through my wall.
My plan is to have a sump under the octopus tank that is also drilled and simply overflows into the existing sump. The octopus sum will have its own skimmer and return pump, with that return pump not plugged in unless the octopus inks then I will simply turn off a valve on the overflow and plug in the return pump completely cutting it off from the big system, until I can get everything back to normal.
I've also heard of using a chiller on the return of the octopus tank, then when it drains back into the sump have it hit heaters immediately so my main tank stays at a constant 78 degrees.