How could I plum to tanks together?

[Incredible Corals]

I would like to setup another small tank for frags next to my DT but would like them to share the same filtration and add to the water volume. How could I plum the two tanks together? Both tanks will not be drilled and will be around the same height next to each other.

[L8 2 RISE]

put a T on your return pump and have one side go to your current tank, the other go to the new tank. Then have them both overflow like normal tanks into the sump.

[Brian Ward]

What Sam said. Be sure there's enough room in your sump to handle the extra water when the pump turns off. If the pump you're using doesn't have enough extra capacity to run a Tee then you could also add a 2nd pump in your sump to push water out to the 2nd tank.

[Incredible Corals]

I should have noted this.. I don't have a sump... now what?

[Brian Ward]

You may be able to rig something up with U-tubes, external overflows, and siphons. I wouldn't recommend it though. Too many things that could go wrong and cause a flood.

[Chad]

You can plumb the two tanks together by using two pipes, one being a siphon and the other driven by a pump.

 

However, the likelihood for failure is really high and it will probably end up a cause for floods.

 

(having done something similar and had many floods, read this as the voice of experience)

 

 

[trockafella]

Add a sump, make the sump the frag tank.. You dont have to use it as a sump at all, but I would imagine its the easiest way. You could make a side compartment and keep it in there, since your stand wouldnt allow for it to fit.. Just a thought. Or just set up an AIO system ie solano, NC, BC etc..

 

 

[Happyfeet]

Plumb it up like you would if you had a sump. You would need to add a line on the smaller tank, in the event of a power outage would route excess water into a bucket or something.

[jason the filter freak]

It would probably be cheaper and FAR easier to, not plumb the tanks together, IME

[trockafella]

It would probably be cheaper and FAR easier to, not plumb the tanks together, IME

 

 

Big +1

[Happyfeet]

It would probably be cheaper and FAR easier to, not plumb the tanks together, IME

 

+2

[BowieReefer84]

Get like a 30 gallon breeder or something. That would be perfect. Only like 12" tall or so. You could rely on water changes and not even need a skimmer if you only had say one fish in the tank. Set some eggcrate right on the bottom of the tank to hold the plugs. I am thinking I might even try to do the same the more I think about it... haha. I would just throw a couple powerheads, and a light on top. Maybe a cheap HOB filter with some polyfilter and carbon. I don't even see the need for any live rock, unless you wanted to. Wouldn't be a show tankl. But, it would be a good place to grow out frags... just a thought. You could even get away with power compacts, because everything would be so close to the surface.

Edited July 29, 2010 by BowieReefer84

[gwweber]

it seams to me that at this point it would be easiest to lower one tank and overflow into in, basically making it a sump. then you pump bak into the higher tank, needing only to buy one good overflow and one return pump

[Incredible Corals]

Okay thanks for all the help. I couldn't figure out how to do it without a sump either and wanted to make sure I wasn't missing some simple solution. The largest tank I can fit under my stand away from the controller, power cords, ATO and all that good stuff is a 10 gal or two 5 gallons. I could put two 5 gallons next to each other and have one with fresh water for the ATO and the other 5 with only frags with some LEDs above.

 

I'm now wondering how long 5 gallons of fresh water will last me with the ATO. With such a small reservoir it might defeat the purpose of the ATO.

[BowieReefer84]

With such a small reservoir it might defeat the purpose of the ATO.

 

 

NOT AT ALL. It is great to keep it at like 5 gallons. This way if it dumps it all during a malfunction you are still ok (hopefully). And, it keeps the salinity constant rather than adding a gallon every night or whatever. I would never want a large ato. Only enough for say two days or so. If you ever take a trip, odds are you will have someone feeding already, so let them take care of top off water as well. imo

[Charlie]

it seams to me that at this point it would be easiest to lower one tank and overflow into in, basically making it a sump. then you pump bak into the higher tank, needing only to buy one good overflow and one return pump

I'm going to have to agree here. Put your frag tank lower than your DT and use it like a sump. You could still filter like you are now, just plumb using an overflow (on the display) and an external pump (from the frag tank). Of course, you would have to drill your frag tank for an external pump, but you could get your heater and skimmer out of your main display.

 

BTW, a 5 gallon ATO reservoir is a great size. I had the return tubing come out of my sump (thankfully, it was almost time to refill the reservoir) and pumped about 2 gallons on the floor. :( This also taught the value of having RO/DI water on hand.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Charlie