joining multiple tanks
 

here is the story so far:
I have some tanks already set up and (to some peoples dislike ) have kept aquiring new tanks.

I want to somehow join them all together using a sump system so I dont have to keep buying new filters and heaters every time I get a new tank.

The tanks are all different sizes (15gal-1gal) and are set up at different heights on the rack.

I tried setting it up so the water syphons down from the top tank the the next one and so-on until it reaches the ground where there is a sump and a submersible pump pumps it back the the top tank.

BUT I found it too difficult to get the flow rates of the different syphons and pump the same and one tank would overfill or dry up and it was very painful to do.

has anyone got any ideas??

ps
Filteration is not really the issuse as box/sponge filters are easy to make and cheap to buy. it is the heating that is the problem as I cant heat the whole room.

Unfortunately for you trying to balance flows from different sized tanks at different heights is not something you can set and forget. In fact it's something I'd strongly recommend. The balancing act you'd need to do is just asking for trouble.

Also, by linking your tanks together you are making it easy for disease to travel from tank to tank. Instead of one tank coming down with something they all will.

I'd strongly recommend against such a set up.

AGREED there

how ever there are ways around this

like having a 12gallon is separate for quarantine perpouses

im interested in how you are syphoning from tank to tank the only way i can see this working is with overflow boxs which will only let the level drop so much check my tank pics to see how the water is taken to my sump as for heating heaters in sump and maybe one on the middle tank in the system if the last tanks are not hot enough

my tank pics are here
main DT - 39 gallon Freshwater fish tank

Perhaps you should talk to the LFS, as most use a centralized filtration system.

the same way i described only they have drilled tanks for over flow pipes i work for my lfs

That's great, but I thought the OP might benefit from actually going there, seeing it and talking to someone.

possibly yes but like i say in the mean time he could look at the pics of how mine works with the overflow box rather than the less ralivent drilled tanks like any lfs has maybe a pic of the racking he has would allow me to give him clear and percice description and parts list i have designed a few myself and modified few more in the last few months

As an alternative to drilled tanks or siphons, consider a pvc overflow. Here UaruJoey has what looks like a winner:


The overflow from upper tanks could flow to lower tanks while the lowest tank(s) flow to the sump, then pumped up to the upper tanks. If/when the pump stops, so does the flow (unlike siphons).

Food for thought anyway ;-)

that's awesome wish i had of seen that before going for an over flow box i even looked for one with 0.75" pipe

mine is the same can have power cut with no bad water level changes or floods
but a little more costly with :

overflow box = £30
19mm tubing = £10
25mm tubing = £13

Build cost = £53
Flow Rate = 1200 (Lph)

would go for the pvc tubing anyday
nice bit of info this :D