I'm wanting to build a stand that stacks 3 tanks. One with german blue ram cichlids and a firemouth cichlid. Its a 45 or 50 gallon. A 55 gallon I want to put a juvinile black rhom pirahna in and another 30 gallon for exodon shoal. I want all this to run off one sump (givin all there water requirements r the same. Still need to research that). My question is. How can I succesfully pull that off and eliminate the risk of a flood if the power was to go out?
3 tanks one sump?
- Thread starter Gamakatsu
- Start date
I understand your want for simplicity. There is a guy on here who made something to prevent this, I'm not sure of the thread, but I'm sure someone can help me out. 
One word of caution. Running one sump can be like playing russian roulette. If you get ich or some disease in one tank, it would easily spread to all of your tanks, and then in stead of dosing for the one tank, you have to dose for the volume of water in 3 tanks. Not to mention the fact that not just one tank, but ALL of your tanks could potentially have the disease.
This is what happens in the fish stores because of the way all of their tanks are connected. I'm not trying to pop bubbles or anything, just wanted to put that out there. 
One word of caution. Running one sump can be like playing russian roulette. If you get ich or some disease in one tank, it would easily spread to all of your tanks, and then in stead of dosing for the one tank, you have to dose for the volume of water in 3 tanks. Not to mention the fact that not just one tank, but ALL of your tanks could potentially have the disease.
This is what happens in the fish stores because of the way all of their tanks are connected. I'm not trying to pop bubbles or anything, just wanted to put that out there. 
Apply the same principles as a single tank and a sump. Make sure there is enough capacity in your sump to accept the excess water till the siphon breaks on the tanks if the pump stopped working.
Are these drilled tanks or are you going to use HOB overflows? Are you buying a sump or building one?
Are these drilled tanks or are you going to use HOB overflows? Are you buying a sump or building one?
K626 has a good point. Sickness can spread to all the tanks, but I know several people that are using the same sump on many tanks with no problems.
Keep in mind, LFS have new fish coming in every week and people trading in fish all the time so there is a greater potential of bad news. Your stock will likely be much much more constant than a LFS, so you would not have as much risk.
Keep in mind, LFS have new fish coming in every week and people trading in fish all the time so there is a greater potential of bad news. Your stock will likely be much much more constant than a LFS, so you would not have as much risk.
The 30 gallon is drilled but the hole is covoer up with a pc of acrylic siliconed in place. The other 2 tanks I'm going to look at. Trading my 130 gallon for both. Sounds stupid probably but I don't need a 6 ft tank in my den right now. The 30 gallon is up and running with 2 african cichlids in it. I'm trading in my ruby red cichli8d today and I have a store credit for a mishap the ruby caused. And the 3 german rams I ordered will be here this afternoon. The firemouth ill order today and get him next Friday I understand the sickness issure there. One gets sick they all get sick. Which sucks. But I don't have a lot of money to put crazy filtration on all tanks. I know a black rhom is high but I can get that as a anniversry gift or something. As for building or buying a sump. I will build it. I'm not paying 300$ for something I can build for 20 to 40. The rhom probably needs more current than the others but I was just got to regulate pipes and stuff to give his tanks more flow. If ne one has suggestions of other ways to set up 3 tanks and filter them on a budget I'm all ears!
I would just stick with one tank but the wife loves those rams and firemouths. I want my own wet pet monster. And a school of exodons n a feeding frenzy is just awesome.