Double Tank Setup

[lon1000]

Hi guys,
I'm getting a 55 gallon tank as my main tank.. and my plan was to have a smaller breeding tank.. however i need to be able to keep the tank cycled ready for babies, or fish that need a timeout and don't really want to keep adding amonia all the time..

how about this as a solution.. i've had one tank made by a glass firm.. 12 gallons, made to fit into an alcove in my house.. what about if i get another tank the same made which will sit above it.. the second tank will have two holes cut in the glass near the top that will have two pipes coming out of them which goto the tank bellow.. then get an external filter that will do a 24 gallon tank, put the inlet to the filer into the bottom tank and the outlet into the top tank.. as the water is pumped out of the bottom tank into the top tank it will over flow down the pipes back into the bottom tank..

Once thats setup and cycled i could have fish in one tank and if any of my fish have babies and need to put them somewhere or a fish is being agressive i can transfer them to the other empty cycled tank..

what do you think? will this work? is it a good idea?

rgds
chris

 

[ShoC]

I think good idea, (in concept)
you would need VERY fine Meshing tho to stop the fry from going down the pipe, and im unsure where you would find such,

you effectively having a Sump (if I have understood you correctly)

could you not simply put an extra bit of filter media into your main tank and remove it when necessary for the 2nd tank?

or alternatively if you have an airpump running in your main tank make it into a sponge filter and remove the sponge when needed onto an airpump (or the entire airpump) in your fry tank.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=85297

I hope I'm of some help

 

[lon1000]

hi,
yeah i guess it is a sump.. but when you look at it you'll see two tanks, general fish in one and fry in the other.. the fry could go into the bottom tank.. although i guess they are suseptable to being sucked by the filter pipe?

how do people stop that happenning anyway?

rgds
chris

 

[ShoC]

as mentioned I think you would need a fine netting or VERY thin piece of foam,

Is the sponge filter not possible, would be alot easier to do

forgot to mention if you have a breeding tank you would want minimum water disturbance,
in my opinion
and your idea would include a fair ammount, I could be wrong tho

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I was actually looking at a similar idea over the last couple of days as I plan on have two nano cubes one above the other. Rather then having the top tank drilled you could get an overflow box which just fits over the side. Put a bit of filter foam across the opening or the mesh in a breading next and you should be fine for fry. Have outflow from the filter going into the top tank and the inflow to the filter in the bottom one. This is what I'm going to do.

If you arent planning on using the second tank all the time though you are better off just using a sponge filter in it as and when you need it and taking some of the filter wool from your main filter.

 

[Lateral Line]

When I am breeding something, I put 4-5 sponge filters in a running tank a few weeks in advance. When the fry tank is ready for filtration, I can add one or more, and rotate them if necessary. The sponge media is to fine to damage the fry, and it's surface is usually colonised by rotifers and other very small edible material. I usually find the fry hang around the sponges for that reason.

 

[lon1000]

hi guys,
thanks for the advice.. ok.. so what about something like this:

Azoo Oxygen Plus BioFilter 4?

how do they work? would i just stick it in the main tank with an air line attached? then move to the breeding tank when needed?

will i need any other filtration? or just that? not entirely clear how they actualy filter the water?

thanks
chris

 

[ShoC]

did you check the link I gave you up top?
It shows how to make one,
save yourself a few quid, and you can make it any size you want,
but yes from a quick glance that could go into your main tank and just be stuck into the breeding as of when you need it.

but wait for someone else to confirm this,

I'm just thinking thats 9quid for that plus you need to by the pump,
when all you need to do is buy a pump, get a tube stick some holes in it slip over the foam,
Stick the air pump to at the bottom of it and your sorted

 

[Lateral Line]

That is, indeed, the kind of sponge filter I refer to. Not that make or model, but most sponge filters are alike, some allow more then one sponge to be fitted to an uplift, others allow a powerhead to be used, but this is overkill in most small setups.