two tanks with one canister filter.

**theludicrous** · 12th Jul 2011, 23:11

hello, i was wondering if it's possible to link two tanks with one canister filter (able to filter both tanks' volume) with the upper tier tank with an overflow pipe, flowing into the lower tier tank.

the canister will then bring the water from the lower tank back up. can anyone tell me if this is feasible?

thanks.

**eviltrain** · 13th Jul 2011, 00:29

Your canister have to be lower than the intake for it to work well. If not, try to get a higher lph rated canister (1500lph).

**theludicrous** · 13th Jul 2011, 08:01

meaning the placement of the canister has to be lower than the level of the placement of the intake point? why does have a higher lph solve this?

**Blankies** · 13th Jul 2011, 08:15

A picture is worth 1000 words. but anyway I did tinker of the thought before.
For me the most important idea is how to make the overflow? I didnt have any good idea which doesnt involve customization of a tank though

**eviltrain** · 13th Jul 2011, 08:57

Originally Posted by theludicrous

meaning the placement of the canister has to be lower than the level of the placement of the intake point? why does have a higher lph solve this?

yes. All canister are meant to pull and push their water out. But if the inlet is lower than the motor of the canister itself, the only force the canister is by the way of pushing

Originally Posted by Blankies

A picture is worth 1000 words. but anyway I did tinker of the thought before.
For me the most important idea is how to make the overflow? I didnt have any good idea which doesnt involve customization of a tank though

Hee hee. Hit my link in my signature and you will have few thousands words.

**theludicrous** · 13th Jul 2011, 09:05

Originally Posted by Blankies

A picture is worth 1000 words. but anyway I did tinker of the thought before.
For me the most important idea is how to make the overflow? I didnt have any good idea which doesnt involve customization of a tank though

i don't think there are many choices but to actually get a tank with the pvc pipe drilled into the tank.

**theludicrous** · 13th Jul 2011, 09:07

Originally Posted by eviltrain

yes. All canister are meant to pull and push their water out. But if the inlet is lower than the motor of the canister itself, the only force the canister is by the way of pushing

hmm, then i think it's going to be a bit of a problem. since the intake pipe would be in the lower tank, and the canister on the floor beside it. i can't think of any other ways though.

**eviltrain** · 13th Jul 2011, 09:14

keke. use the cansiter as dummy. in front of the canister will be a dry water pump. enjoy

**theludicrous** · 13th Jul 2011, 09:32

Originally Posted by eviltrain

keke. use the cansiter as dummy. in front of the canister will be a dry water pump. enjoy

what you mean use as dummy?

will it help if i partition the lower tank to have it's built-in filtration say in the back section of the tank? the overflowed water from the top tank will go through the partition first before moving into the main tank section.

**eviltrain** · 13th Jul 2011, 09:43

Originally Posted by theludicrous

what you mean use as dummy?

will it help if i partition the lower tank to have it's built-in filtration say in the back section of the tank? the overflowed water from the top tank will go through the partition first before moving into the main tank section.

dummy as in the canister is not plug into the socket and just as a container for media. the dry pump will provide the power to drive water through

don't have to partition the back of the lower tier tank. as per normal, connect a sponge inlet / undergravel panel / stainless steel mesh inlet to a J pipe to hose to dry pump to canister.

schematic of water flow :

rainbar -> top tank -> overflow -> lower tank -> inlet -> dry pump -> external canister -> top tank.

enjoy setting up

**theludicrous** · 13th Jul 2011, 09:58

Originally Posted by eviltrain

dummy as in the canister is not plug into the socket and just as a container for media. the dry pump will provide the power to drive water through

don't have to partition the back of the lower tier tank. as per normal, connect a sponge inlet / undergravel panel / stainless steel mesh inlet to a J pipe to hose to dry pump to canister.

schematic of water flow :

rainbar -> top tank -> overflow -> lower tank -> inlet -> dry pump -> external canister -> top tank.

enjoy setting up

the way i'm understanding this is that the canister is just to hold the media right? i could also do it in a way that i partition one part of the bottom tank to house a submersible pump and another section to have the filtration media?

so let's say the top tank volume is 60 x 45 x 45, i can make the lower tank 60 (length) x 30 (width) x 45 (height). the other 15cm (width) partition to house the filtration devices and media. will this work?

**eviltrain** · 13th Jul 2011, 10:07

Originally Posted by theludicrous

the way i'm understanding this is that the canister is just to hold the media right? i could also do it in a way that i partition one part of the bottom tank to house a submersible pump and another section to have the filtration media?

so let's say the top tank volume is 60 x 45 x 45, i can make the lower tank 60 (length) x 30 (width) x 45 (height). the other 15cm (width) partition to house the filtration devices and media. will this work?

yes, it will ( double confirm ) work

**Blankies** · 13th Jul 2011, 13:35

Originally Posted by theludicrous

i don't think there are many choices but to actually get a tank with the pvc pipe drilled into the tank.

PVC very ugly bro.
I was thinking of having a run off, like a glass facet into the smaller tank. I am assuming you are talking about 2 separate tanks right?
I do not have picture yet....share it later

**theludicrous** · 13th Jul 2011, 19:10

Originally Posted by Blankies

PVC very ugly bro.
I was thinking of having a run off, like a glass facet into the smaller tank. I am assuming you are talking about 2 separate tanks right?
I do not have picture yet....share it later

i currently have a 2 feet tank, with the stand. i'm planning to reuse the stand. i guess the only way is to have the lower tank be partially a sump.