Question on Circulation between two tanks

Dorkel Marine 1 · #1 12-27-2002, 07:21 AM

Please bear with me here guys as I try to state this question. I've got two 27 gal tanks. One is 20 in. high the other is 15in. high. They are side by side. I would like to link them together. The two LFS guys I've talked too have suggested two things. One is out of the question. That is to drill the higher tank and pump the water into it from the lower tank. I'd have to buy a new tank. Right now no can do. Another LFS guy suggested these U shaped siphon tubes. Level the two tanks and pump water from one to the other. The other guy said ok but the problem that could crop up would be an air pocket developing at the top of the U tube. He said this could eventually block the siphone etc etc. Have any of you used thes U shaped tubes. I mean I check my tanks everyday and I could simply blow out the air build up with a piece of air tubing couldn't I. I'd really like to get this going. I want to start adding iodine and keep the calcium level up at normal levels. I'd like to put everything on the one tank. the skimmer, heater, and the Kalk dosing gear however I work that out. Advice appreciated. Thanks and happy reefin.

George

StirCrazy · #2 12-27-2002, 02:51 PM

either way you are going to have to make both tank level at the tops.. this way if your power goes out your water level won't equalize between the tanks and onto your floor..

this is what I did

all I do is draw from one and feed it to the other.. works great

Steve

rossb · #3 12-27-2002, 04:53 PM

DM1 I have used the U tubes/overflow method to join two tanks of uneven heights. In my fresh water setup I have a raised tank and a lower pond. I pump water from the pond into the tank and use an overflow system to return the water. In my first set up I mounted a bulkhead fitting (drain) into an aqua-clear 300. The bottom of the drain is level with the water line in the upper tank. I had to play around a bit but i finally got it to work quite well. The secret...I use three U tubes. The most recent ones are made from 3/4 PVC and they work the best. If you do this you have to make sure the syphon tubes are at least 1 inch below the bottom of the drain. You also have to make sure you have an anti-syphon device on the pump lines...in case of power failure (I just drilled a hole in the pump line a bit above the water level).

Ohh and one more thing...if you have an airstone make sure it can't possibly get close to the U tubes. My fish kept knocking it and eventually the syphon stopped, and then a small flood...and then some spousal abuse ... and then the "if this ever happens again" speach.

If you want a picture let me know..

Josh23 · #4 12-27-2002, 05:57 PM

Stir Crazy
Im also planning on adding a refuge to my tank which I would place beside my sump. Could you please explain the locations of the water levels, and the flow of water.

Thanks
Josh

StirCrazy · #5 12-27-2002, 07:36 PM

Josh I will get a beter pic of it tonight and post it with a description of flow and such ..

Steve

StirCrazy · #6 12-28-2002, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

Josh I will get a beter pic of it tonight and post it with a description of flow and such ..

Steve

well here it is

http://www.islandaquatics.ca/picture...21_25and33.jpg

you can see I have the level higher in the left tank than I do in the right.. I did this by raising the drain in the left tank.. so 1/2 of the flow from my large tank enters the left tank, then it flows through the bulkhead into the sump (the right tank) the other tube comming down is the rest of the flow from the big tank going directly to the sump.

Steve

Dorkel Marine 1 · #7 12-28-2002, 07:25 AM

Thanks Stir Crazy for the info. And yes rossb I would definetly like a picture. Thanks again.

rossb · #8 12-28-2002, 10:43 PM

DM1 this is a composite picture

It has been in continuous operation for a few years so it is a bit dirty but it does the trick...(the shaft in the motor has been sheered off so the unit is useless as initially intended)

Dorkel Marine 1 · #9 12-29-2002, 12:40 AM

Thanks Rossb. My next question is could you explain more where you would drill this hole to lose the syphone if the power went out. Thanks again. Happy reefin George.

rossb · #10 12-29-2002, 02:43 PM

The hole is drilled on the inlet. I have a U tube that hooks over the side of the tank. The hole causes a bit of air to be introduced into the aquarium...which is a good thing. If the pump stops it does not syphon the tank down to the bottom of the U shaped inlet tube...which is about 3" (and below the level of the other syphon tubes). The hole is about 3/32"