Sump for 3 tanks

[d3adlydesignz]

So I'm currently slowly expanding the number of tanks I have. I'm going to build a rack with 3 tanks tall. 40 gallon breeders I'm thinking. But I'm wanting to do a single solution to filter all three of the tanks. I know this could be a risk if one of tanks get sick and needs treated due to more gallons. But is this possible? Maybe having all 3 tanks drilled for a overflow and then a sump that pumps the water to all 3 tanks? I think having one heater for all 3 tanks and one pump for all 3 tanks could be beneficial. But then again I'm not positive. Anyone have experience doing this?

 

[tlindsey]

So I'm currently slowly expanding the number of tanks I have. I'm going to build a rack with 3 tanks tall. 40 gallon breeders I'm thinking. But I'm wanting to do a single solution to filter all three of the tanks. I know this could be a risk if one of tanks get sick and needs treated due to more gallons. But is this possible? Maybe having all 3 tanks drilled for a overflow and then a sump that pumps the water to all 3 tanks? I think having one heater for all 3 tanks and one pump for all 3 tanks could be beneficial. But then again I'm not positive. Anyone have experience doing this?

duanes

 

[twentyleagues]

I have experience. It will work fine. My only things to say are run the drains separate to the sump from each tank is better then Daisy chaining them then build a return manifold to supply water back to your tanks from the pump. Best you can do here is to control two tanks on valves leaving the third one open to help reduce back pressure in the pump. Or you can run Three separate pumps but kind of defeats the purpose. Also make sure you have enough room in your sump for a power out situation. All the water upto your drain pipe level will need somewhere to go besides on your floor.

There was a 180g and a 85g upstairs that were plumbed in also. The 40b is feed off of a drain pipe so is the 29 on the left the 75g got it's water from the return pump. Hope that helps a bit!

 

[duanes]

This is very similar in concept to what I do.
I usually have 3 to 5 tanks on a sump (or two). And when in the US, 3 to 5 systems in the fish room.
In case of disease, I put an on/off valve on each tank, that will isolate any one or two of the tanks as needed, in order to treat one, and not the others. It also can make one an isolated Quarantine tank if new fish are to be added .
Because I mainly work with cichlids, often plant "unfriendly", I usually plant one tank or sump (with a plant "friendly " species), heavily to get the benefit of plants throughout the entire system, and that tank or sump is the one located closest to a window to take advantage of sunlight.
Heavily planted tank, in line with none planted below


To isolate, a tank (for Quarantine or maintenance) each tank influent uses a simple valve

 

[Siddons11]

I have done this before as well. Pump feeds to the top tank, top tank overflows to the second tank, second tank overflows to the third, third overflows to the sump.

 

[twentyleagues]

I have done this before as well. Pump feeds to the top tank, top tank overflows to the second tank, second tank overflows to the third, third overflows to the sump.

That is what I've found in the past to not be ideal. You can do it that way, but then you are washing junk from one tank to the next and so on. It will eventually build up in the lowest. The other issue is actual flow will decrease in the other two tanks not how many gallons but the force of the flow. Much better to split the return between the tanks imo.