question about using separate tanks for sump/fuge

[jenjen]

What I'm wondering is how to get the water from one tank to the next. Obviously a pump could be used, but I don't like that because of what could happen if a pump failed.

The two tanks would be sitting directly beside eachother. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks

 

[kraze3]

Use a board to have one tank slightly higher (at least a few inches) than the other and just have it gravity feed to the next tank.

 

[jenjen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14804939#post14804939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kraze3
Use a board to have one tank slightly higher (at least a few inches) than the other and just have it gravity feed to the next tank.

Do I have to drill the higher tank to make it gravity feed, or is there another way to do it?

 

[alextheromanian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14804991#post14804991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jenjen
Do I have to drill the higher tank to make it gravity feed, or is there another way to do it?

drill but to make your life easy you can use a rubbermaid plastic tub. many people do this with absolutely NO problem.


i dont have a dedicated fuge...i just have a long 20g sump and part of it is where the cheato is thats my fuge...you dont have to have them separately

 

[jenjen]

I have several smaller tanks available so figured I'd use those, but a rubbermaid may be easier to put a hole in - great idea!

Do you happen to know where to see a pic of what a two-tank/tub with an overflow looks like? I can't find one anywhere & just can't seem to visualize how to set it up.

thanks

 

[LJA]

Gavity is your friend, only a 0.0000000001% chance that it will fail.

 

[alextheromanian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14805441#post14805441 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jenjen
I have several smaller tanks available so figured I'd use those, but a rubbermaid may be easier to put a hole in - great idea!

Do you happen to know where to see a pic of what a two-tank/tub with an overflow looks like? I can't find one anywhere & just can't seem to visualize how to set it up.

thanks

i remember seeing one forever ago and i looked now but i cant find one now.

what you do is you drill both holes where you want the surface of the water to be....and then you connect them with bulkheads...home depot sells GRAY MALE AND FEMALE ADAPTORS (CONDUIT) that cost like 1$ plus look in the sink plumbing section for gray looking rubber seals to use inbetween. those cost $1.29.


this will save you from spending 20$ on bulkheads.


in any case drill the holes where you want the surface to be...set the tanks about 5 inches apart...connect them trough flexible tubing...and all you have to do is slightly raise one of them so that the water will want to flow into the other one trough the tube.



heres the bulkheads i made...and using on my tank.


<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v653/alextrusca/?action=view&current=IMG_2606.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/alextrusca/IMG_2606.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v653/alextrusca/?action=view&current=IMG_2607.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/alextrusca/IMG_2607.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

again the conduit pvc will be in the electrical section and you want to use those because the thread isnt tapered...meanning they will screw into each other all the way without having to be forced. this allows you to screw them in enough to hug the seal without cracking glass or plastic in between.


actually here...i found a pic...sorta showing it but not exactly

<img src="http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/6784/filterdrawinggm4copyop3.jpg">

 

[alextheromanian]

heres how mines set up...the cheato is small since it was only the size of a fisht when i bought it

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v653/alextrusca/?action=view&current=_MG_2989.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/alextrusca/_MG_2989.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v653/alextrusca/?action=view&current=_MG_2990.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/alextrusca/_MG_2990.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


also heres what you were looking for i actually found a video and you can see how his rubbermaid just spills into his sump...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gOxUstwpbg


i usggest doing it with a hose to avoid splashing...itll reduce salt creep

 

[jenjen]

Really helpful information, thanks!!