HELP !!!! with Filtration on Multiple tanks !!!

[Ransom]

Hi all i have bought a stack system this weekend 3 tanks all 4foot each, split into

2 (Top 2 filters / 2air lines)
3 (Middle)
4 partions (bottom)

Each partion has only 1 pipe/ hole in the back but this is about 1" accross

i have bought this from someone who just had seperate filters in each one, which ideally i want 1 big filter that could filter all the tanks

I will be installing a 8 way Air Pump tomorrow

HOW CAN I FILTER ALL THE TANKS?? i have only ever used internal or 1 single Canister filter

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllp

 

[koop171]

how are each tank divided? With glass?
Are there any holes in the dividers?

With the big air pump you can just run some nice sponge filters. if your stocking isn't to heavy.

IDK how you would go about a big sump. The pulmbing would be semi difficult and a pump would cost a pretty penny.


So My best adivse to keep it cheep it add sponge filters and keep stocking low.

 

[Ransom]

What does a sponge filter look like?

how could i run a sponge filter on an air pump??

 

[koop171]

http://www.aquariumguys.com/aquarium-sponge-filters.html

Here is a link for sponge filters.

All you do is place a small airstone in the sponge and the air creates a small vaccume that pulls water to the sponge. I have two BIG sponges in my feeder tank. they work great.

 

[alcohologist]

looks to me there's be some way of getting each tier to overflow into the one below it, all the way down to a sump on the floor, which pumps into the topmost tank?
if not, sponge filters would work well for those

 

[cassharper]

You could plumb a cascade situation. Where the upper levels drain into the tanks below and the bottom draining into a sump with the sump pumping back to the top.

This probably wouldn't be the MOST efficient way of doing it, but it would save you a lot of heartache on plumbing;.

 

[Pharaoh]

looks to me there's be some way of getting each tier to overflow into the one below it, all the way down to a sump on the floor, which pumps into the topmost tank?
if not, sponge filters would work well for those

You could plumb a cascade situation. Where the upper levels drain into the tanks below and the bottom draining into a sump with the sump pumping back to the top.

This probably wouldn't be the MOST efficient way of doing it, but it would save you a lot of heartache on plumbing;.

This is how I would recommend setting up a central filtration system. the one issue is that you might have to reais the height of the entire stand in order to get good flow coming out of the bottom tank, but then that depends on the height of the sump and the flow of the water.

 

[Dr Joe]

Nice purchase.

How did you cycle the tanks without a filter?

Sponge filters are the easiest to go with and will keep the tanks separate. If you go with sponges, cap off the overflows to prevent accidental spills.

To plump the tanks (in your case) to a central sump, plumb each row to a manifold (larger pipe), which in turn goes to a larger pipe to the sump/filter. A pump and return plumbing to each tank or to manifolds and on to the tanks finishes it up.

Dr Joe

.

 

[Ransom]

hi thanks for the replys the glass partions can not be moved and it is fully siliconed in, also water can not cascade over the top as the partions are right upto the top

im thinking the only solution is sponge filters which i have never looked at before, this will be something new,

thanks for the reply guys much appriciated


BTW DOES ANYONE HAVE PICS OF SPONGE FILTER SETUPS ??

 

[zennzzo]

One of the LFS's near here uses that same set-up of bulkheads. 1 intake and 1 return for each tank...it gurguls and spits and is a real PITA the owner says...they are hooked to a central filter and have a manifold for each row and valves for each tank.
Your easiest route would be the sponge filters with powerheads. IMO it would be alot quieter and cheaper than Air pumps runninng for that many sponges...