DIY Filtration and Heating for multiple tanks

[SBee]

I need some help here!

I've got 3 tanks (roughly 20, 25, and 30 gallons) set up on two shelves on a utility rack.

Each tank has a filter and heater, plus there are two lights. However, in the room that these tanks are in, there are many more tanks and a lot more equipment. In other words, TOO MANY PLUGS!!!

There is space underneath the unit for a homemade filtration unit to take care of all 3 tanks. I just need to know HOW to build it and what I need to buy to make it!!

I would like to incorporate a heater in the filtration unit as well; this is important.

Can anyone help?? THANKS!!

Sarah :)

[Jinks]

Ehh don't all answer at once!!

[SBee]

I've been trying to do some research but so far...not much luck.

What I seem to be finding though is that it is necessary to drill holes into the tanks for a central filter system.

I absolutely will not do that. Is there another way!?!

PLEASE HELP!! :)

[Raithan Ellis]

IF you are able to arrange the tanks so that their water levels are all at the same height, you can use upside down "U" tubes to transfer water from one to the next. Basically you'll need a cannister filter or sump setup where the intake is in the tank on one end, and the outflow is on the other end of the series.

Probably won't work for your current setup however, due to the variations in tank dimensions and your stand.

Regards,
Raithan O. Ellis

[SBee]

Two of the tanks are on the same shelf, with same water level.
Even combining the filtration and heating of these two would be of great help to me.

More information would be great!

[karfixer]

I would suggest that you look into making overflow boxes and a sump filter. http://www.rl180reef.com has a helpful page about building a "Durso standpipe" http://www.marine-monsters.com/front/articles.html#sump has a very good article on building a sump. You will probably need to use some ball valves or other means of fine tuning the return flow to each tank. http://www.kingvinnie.com/aquaria/diy/ has TONS of DIY info. HTH, Steve here's another link http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/filterparts.htm