Central filtration

[MimicTang]

Is it possible to setup 1 sump, 1 skimmer, one set of bioballs? With perhaps seperate UVs to each system. Or one recirculating UV. Maybe 1 UV before a plumbing split?? Just tossing out ideas here.

I know if something like a parasite gets in the tank it's gonna go everywhere. However I'd keep new arrivals in a seperate QT.

Seems fisable it concept but I wonder bout execution???

 

[David M]

Not only possible but pretty much standard. Multiple tanks on central filtration, all drains go to a common sump and one big mama pump to serve a return manifold. UV is placed after the pump, before the manifold. Yes all your eggs are in one basket. But the reality is if even if you have numerous isolated tanks you will probably spread nasties with your hands, tools, etc long before you realize there is a problem. I have three seperate system ( and isolated larval tanks) as a hopeful safegard but like I say, tools and my hands are common to all three. I'd need three seperate rooms (or houses) and triplicate everything to really have peace of mind.

 

[MimicTang]

So you would warrant against central filtration?

 

[MimicTang]

I wanted to do several racks on 1 skimmer

 

[David M]

So you would warrant against central filtration?

No, not at all! It's the only practicle way to go. Personally I like to have the actual sump volume close to the total tank volume where possible. In my broodstock system 1 it is only about 30%, in system 2 it is closer to 35% and in growout it is 50%. It's common to use the big bins you see stores keeping LR in, they are about 180 gallons. Or you can get the large Rubbermaid stock tanks around 200 gallons or more. Another option is a plywood box and pond liner. Cheap and can be custom made to fit any space.

 

[Dman]

I'm running 5 separate systems, mostly by default. I had initiallly set up 3; one for the parents, one for the hatching/juvvie stages and another one for longer term growout Systems 4 and 5 each started out as quarantine tanks but eventually grew to the point of needing to establish their own water management regimens.
It would be impractical in my current location to centralize all 5 systems, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't anyway, I like the idea of not having all my eggs in one basket.
My parent systems recieve huge feedings and water quality tends to suffer some times, not something I would want to put pre-meta and early post-meta clowns through.

 

[MimicTang]

I was envisoning running the drains to a common sump, skimming, and then uv'in on the way back up the return lines