connecting several small tanks

I want to setup 2 sets of stacked small tanks. One just 20 gallon tanks and 1 with a 10 and 20 on each shelf. Since I have to mix RO water no matter what I do it would be easiest to combine sets of tanks with similar water values which is going to be most of them and filter it all together. One system to change water on, one system to supplement, one system to run water tests... I was thinking of just using an overflow to a sump. Could I overflow the top tank to the next tank to the next tank and down to a sump which pumps to the top tank? Or would you overflow each tank straight to the sump with it's own device? It seems the latter would result in lots of difficulty maintaining an even water level. In the former each tank will only overflow when it receives water from the tank above it or the sump for the top tank. I was looking at the kollercraft overflow review. The anti-siphon would be good and I was looking at trying one of the kollercraft small canisters for a small tank but that particular overflow box might be way overkill and expensive for more than one tank.

 

Bumping this up for you

 

With small tanks I would drill them put a bulkhead in the top corner . Put a strainer on the inside and connect to the lower tank(s) and connect them to the sump . The water would always be level and no risk of overflowing should the siphon break (assuming the sump could handle the extra water)

 

I don't want to drill glass. It doesn't seem like a good task for me to attempt and I don't have the tools. I don't mind the water noise of an overflow box. I kind of prefer it to the sponge filters bubbling which filters most of my tanks now. I do want a 75 gallon predrilled for saltwater in the future but it's not worth it on these small tanks I've gathered cheap and free.

 

Can you post a diagram of what you want to build? I'm using eShopps overflow boxes on my tank/sump setup, I like it... What flow rates do you have in mind? Would you run this continuously or just once in a while? If its for mixing water, it may be easier (maybe) to just have plastic drums (on the floor) with a submersible water pump you use to move water between the drums and back up to the tank... not sure what you're trying to accomplish, so can't help further.

 

I want to continuously circulate the water so it's all the same. Just as inexpensive of overflow as I can going from tank A at the top to tank B below it to tank C below B and then into a larger container of some kind before being pumped back up. A heavy loaded tank and a heavily planted tank with minimal stocking will have the same water and it will increase the volume of the small tanks. It simplifies maintaining them, avoids cycling a new tank, and saves me a few test kit purchases over time. Then I will run a sponge, small internal, or small external canister on tanks that need them but some of my tanks I want a bit of detritus buildup for plants, fry to find food, and young inverts to find food. I don't use HOB filters for a variety of reasons. I like my internal cascade filter but it clogs in my heavily planted 10 gallon and can only fit one of it's media sections. Currently that tank is now surviving on an airstone and a large amount of plants with a solid layer of duckweed on the top. Which I will need to screen out the duckweed I have on most of my tanks if running an overflow.

 

You might want to try and watch this video. I think it might help you in what you are wanting to do.

Good Luck!

 

That would work in the one place where I plan a pair of 10s but otherwise I am stacking because I want to fit lots of tanks in an exact space. My original plan for the 20 stack was between a section of wall that sticks out and the door so nothing can be beside it but the exact dimensions I'd have to get were always iffy. So the 20 stack is going in a new area I divided off in the livingroom for my stuff from my husband's stuff and the previous small area is going to have a stack of 10s. There is still a space upstairs I was going to put a 2 shelf up to (2) 20 longs side by side per shelf but with (3) 40s in the upstairs room already I'd rather fill the space with the gerbils and spread my tanks through the house more.

 

You know I wonder if you could do this with 3 tanks... I could combine all 3 40s on the same level sitting in an L shape. I'd put the pvc deeper and might have to keep the water levels a bit low to avoid one tank getting more than it's share temporarily but I'd essentially have 120 gallons to share between a wide range of stocking and planting setups. They'd have their own more minor filtration. One is using a sponge on a powerhead only, 1 has a small hob, and one has a canister because of different stocking and planting of both levels and types of fish. One has bettas, one has crayfish, and one has my sunfish with plecos. 2 have enough light for plants.