Duel canister filters hooked up with overflow?

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Drips702

Exodon
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Oct 22, 2017
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I have a 180g tank that I was going to run with an fx6 hooked up to the overflow but I'm worried it might not be enough. It will only be stocked with 4 fish but still. I'm wondering if this setup idea would work.

OK so I have a center overflow with 3 holes drilled, I was wondering if I can spit the large hole for a main drain hooked up to a Y fitting so both filters can use the same hole for the main intake. I would then a return line with the 2 remaining holes, one for each filter. Sorry for my grammer I'm on mobile and in a hurry aym.
 
:worthlesswithoutpic: would be easier to understand the question with pictures. Might work.
 
:worthlesswithoutpic: would be easier to understand the question with pictures. Might work.
Sorry I'm not home so I can't take pictures of the actuall tank but here is an almost perfect example. Its pretty much what I was describing but the main intake will be shared with both canisters and the return will go directly back into the tank.

07d72df1d954ddb68b3cdf657bd56976.jpg
 
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You may run into issues if your overflow isn’t tuned with enough flow to create the full siphon required for a canister.
In the photo you posted, the intakes are in the bottom of the tank which allow the siphon. Instead of an overflow, it works more like a drain that the canister can pull water from as it pumps it back up to the return.
 
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So what is your suggestion Rob909 Rob909 ? If you don’t suggest using a draining system for the intake, what route do you think is best?
…Just for context, I intend on using two FX6’s.
 
So what is your suggestion Rob909 Rob909 ? If you don’t suggest using a draining system for the intake, what route do you think is best?
…Just for context, I intend on using two FX6’s.
A drain would work fine for the canisters as illustrated in the photo. If the photo is exactly what you have in mind. The overflow is what would get tricky.
overflow boxes are used to trickle water in as the water “over flows” to prevent the entire tank volume from entering the sump. The return pump will replenish the tank, allowing a constant overflow back into the sump. Since it is an overflow instead of a siphon, air can enter the system without causing any issues.
Vs a bottom drain will allow the opposite: the entire tank volume to drain out at once. With a sealed canister filter, the water drains in as fast as the canister can pump it back out.

With an overflow box, you need to ensure enough water is in the overflow for the siphon to be maintained. Once air gets into the canister, you lose that siphon. Personally, I’d use the hoses supplied with the canister as the intake and returns instead of trying to hard plumb and tune it.
 
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Halloween just passed….but did raise this thread from the dead.
 
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