2 tanks cross filters.

[Rob3rtPhan]

So I have two cichlids tank can I cross filter them. One is 180 gal the other is 75 gal. Can I pump from one into the other. The reason I'm doing this is because one tank will be heavily planted while one tank is not. I want to maintain a good plant cycle to keep waste and nitrate lower. I run 2 magnum 350 and 2 405. Can this be done?

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[Fat Homer]

In theory i don't see why not, as long as the filters + the plants can take care of the bio-load and parameters for both tanks... the only thing i would worry about cross filtering is if one tank gets infected with any disease, there is a very good chance the 2nd tank will also gain the same disease as well...

 

[GrantA94]

Do you mean have the intake of one filter in one tank and the output in the other tank and the same for the second filter (just reversed). Because if you do, it is a very bad idea.

You cannot guarantee the filters will run at the same gph, so one tank is going to drain the other will overflow. Even if one filter has more detritus in it, this can affect how much water it cycles.

 

[Rob3rtPhan]

Oh it definitely look better in much head, but diseases I'm OK because rarely happen. Over filling one tank bad idea. Maybe I can put them both on one sump or something

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[doomiedee]

One large sump could work better then cross filtering it. That way you dont have to worry about over flowing one tank since one is alot bigger then the other.
Just make sure the smaller tank can release water faster cause it will back up and over flow. Cause its trying to keep up with the 180.
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[craigthor]

For the sump setup you just need a seperate overflow fro each tank and either a larger return pump tee'd off and controlled via gate valves or jsut 2 smaller return pumps sized for each tank.

 

[duanes]

You can have as many tanks as you want on a sump, the 3 tanks and a small refugium on the left are on a 50 gal sump.

below a pic of the sump

another view with the planted refugium, whch does not need to be under the other tanks.

I use the refugium to start garden plants in early spring.