what pvc pipe configuration should i use to filter two 20 gallon tanks with one Fluval 304. I am concerned that one tank with receive better filtration than the other. Would the best tank set up be side by side or stacked. I don't want to drill the tanks so these will be over the rim PVC hook ups.
How can I hook up one Fluval 304 to two 20 gallon tanks?
- Thread starter Just Prince
- Start date
that will really suck if it drains your one tank and overfills the other if that pipe ever gets plugged
Personally imho I would just do 2 seperate filters
Personally imho I would just do 2 seperate filters
Thanks but that but that is not what I want to do. Somebody on here has to have some experience in fluid dynamics.
There's actually been some pretty long discussions on it, and the end results it that it is always unsafe. I'll see if I can find some past threads. I know CWO tried to do it with an FX5 a while back.
Then how do LFS hook up their tanks in series? Would it work better if both tanks were at the same level?
They don't use cannisters. If they filter like that, they use a sump. However, most LFS don't even do that, they use separate sponge filters.
Hooking up multiple tanks to one filter is always a bad idea. The largest issue is disease. If one tank gets sick, they both get sick. This is why quality LFS don't do it.
However, the other issue is the potential for a overflow disaster.
But how will their be an over flow problem if both tanks are at the same height and are the same size in gallons. I figured flow would be a problem if the tanks are stacked. That makes since. But side by side I dont see the problem. The only time I had problems with disease was when I bought fish from Petsmart. I have long since stopped by fish from their. I usually buy from people I know to keep healthy fish. I over filtrate and stay on top of my tank maintenance.
If one intake were to clog, then that tank would no longer drain. However, at the same time, the filter would continue to pump water into that tank....ergo, overflow.
There are also other issues like ensuring that that the filter is pumping exactly the same amount of water into each tank as it is pulling out of each tank. If the the intake has even the slighest resistance, then the tank will overflow.
Basically, you have 4 lines. 2 intakes, 2 outputs. If any one of those 4 lines starts to encounter resistance relative to the other 3, then one of the tanks will overflow.