conecting tanks

[MikeFisher1972]

I am wanting to connect two 180g tanks together.
The hard part is I want the fish to be able to swim from one tank to the other.
So I am looking for a bulk head or something to connect them,
can I get a large bulk heat or some sort of PVC pipe that is a foot round or larger but I only have 2 feet of with and want to keep the strength.
I thought of replacing the sides of the two 180g tanks with wood but if I am going to go that far I might as well just build a wood tank.
I don't want to do that right now.
any help on where to get the bulkheads or pluming parts would be helpful.

 

[Webmanny]

You can do a water bridge. I have seen some implementations like the ones below, but you should be careful and install an emergency overflow in one of the tanks in case the bridge looses suction.

Here are some picture of some that I have found online. Good look and be sure to start a build thread to share with us once you get it going. I'd love to see one for a reef tank.

Medium one with clear pipe

Small one, but mostly just for water, not really for fish.

This is the link of a guy who explains all the steps for a larger one.
http://www.bio-elite.co.za/waterbridge.htm

Link for the build of the second one.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum/showthread.php/96484-Water-Bridge

 

[woodnaquanut]

Glass or acrylic? I think it would be hard keeping glass strong enough if drilling such a large hole. I searched for 'large PVC bulkheads' and found some 6" guys. $250-$350 each!

I've seen acrylic (in person and on 'Tanked'), but never glass. Why such a big tube? You keeping Dolphins in a 180?:lol2:

Do you want to see the fish swim thru?

 

[shellsea]

Search for Ruu and his thread ruuining a perfectly good tank in the Large Tank forum.

 

[MikeFisher1972]

Glass
I have some large fish that I want them to have the room to cruise threw.

I also want to connect some of my large 270 gallon cubes together.

I will look at the post thank you all for helping me so far.

 

[McPuff]

It WOULD be pretty cool to see this... but I imagine keeping the structural integrity of the tanks would be tough. How would you cut such a hole in the glass if you're going over 2" diameter? I'm thinking you'd have to keep the tube diameter as small as possible and as high in the tanks as possible to reduce pressure. Keeping within these parameters you should also be able to keep cost down considerably.

 

[username in use]

Why not just a 500g tank? Seems a hell of a lot easier and less points of failure.

 

[fishgate]

I'd give up on this idea. It's one of those ideas that sounds great in theory but logistically is a nightmare. How are you going to clean inside the bridge?

 

[username in use]

I'd give up on this idea. It's one of those ideas that sounds great in theory but logistically is a nightmare. How are you going to clean inside the bridge?

That actually sounds as easy as having a dedicated toilet brush.

 

[Dmorty217]

Forget about the bridge, to many variables and failures involved. Get whatever size bulkhead you think the fish will fit thru (don't hold your breath that they will actually use it) and connect the tanks with the two bulkheads and a piece of PVC. 3" or bigger will be needed if your fish are larger. So it's like he bridge shown but it doesn't involve a syphon

 

[username in use]

http://www.clearpvcpipe.com/envirokinguvthinwall.aspx

 

[Dmorty217]

http://www.clearpvcpipe.com/envirokinguvthinwall.aspx

At least that clear stuff is so cheap!:spin3:

 

[username in use]

lol, well he only needs one.

 

[MikeFisher1972]

No bridge.
But I want to have the return on onside of one tank and have the drain on the other side of a different tank.
I don't think a bridge could handle the flow.
I have a desjardini sailfin tang that is about 9 inches or bigger it is about dinner plate size.
and a few other tangs that are about 5 to 7 inches round they are in a 9 foot round swimming pool at this point.

to cut a hole a larger size can be done with a brass pipe and slurry
I will give you three 180g tanks for that 500g LOL
just working with what I have on hand

woodnaquanut where did you find the large bulk heads? you can PM me the sight

Again thank you everyone

 

[woodnaquanut]

woodnaquanut where did you find the large bulk heads? you can PM me the sight

I found this:
http://www.ntotank.com/6pvcbuwviga.html

I hesitate to list this because I do not think this is a sound idea. It requires a BIG hole and could compromise the structure of the tank. It is right at the limit of a hole at least one diameter from the edge. It's a hole one diameter from all edges! :thumbdown:

If safety doesn't sway you, how about economics? Four BHs will set you back $1440!


Sell your 'little' tanks and buy a big one!!

 

[username in use]

I found this:
http://www.ntotank.com/6pvcbuwviga.html

I hesitate to list this because I do not think this is a sound idea. It requires a BIG hole and could compromise the structure of the tank. It is right at the limit of a hole at least one diameter from the edge. It's a hole one diameter from all edges! :thumbdown:

If safety doesn't sway you, how about economics? Four BHs will set you back $1440!


Sell your 'little' tanks and buy a big one!!

Word up to this whole post. The tank side is not big enough to have that bulkhead realistically. Also, the cost of the endeavor is close to a larger tank with no discernible pay off.

If you don't need the fish to swim between them, then just set them up at different heights. Have the return go to the highest one, then drill 2 holes for 1 1/2" pipes on the side panel near the top and have the water drain to the next tank down the line.

 

[MikeFisher1972]

username in use and woodnaquanut
Thank you
I am starting to think I should just cut up the tanks i have and make my larger tank.
plywood tank here I come LOL

OR where would I get a 500g tank....

 

[username in use]

Call your lfs and price one out, then go from there