Rigging a Fluval 404.

[Mettle]

Does anyone thing it's possible to rig a Fluval 404 to filter two tanks? I'm rather curious about this and am wondering whether or not it would work. I know the downfalls of having more than one tank on the same filter system. But this would be ideal for me if I could make it work.

I was thinking if the input and output hoses had some type of Y connector on them, it may be doable.

The other thing would be that the tanks would be stacked one on top of the other with the Fluval sitting, basically, on the floor.

I'm trying to design a good filter system for two tanks and would like to get away with spending as little money as possible. In this case I already have a Fluval404 on hand and could use it.

Any insights on the matter?

Thanks.

[gator]

I think it might work, but you would probably need some kind of balancing valves because the tanks are at different heights with different head pressures.  For example, the intake on the higher tank would flow more due to gravity assisting the flow, while more water would be returned to the lower tank because it has a lower head than the other.  This imbalance would, if unchecked, lead of course to a wet mess.

[Mettle]

If I rigged a Y connector to compensate for these irregularities (cut the flow from the top tank and cut the flow to the bottom tank) then that would probably work, wouldn't it?

I'm pretty sure there are Y connectors for hoses that allow you to do this. Though I may be wrong. It may simply be to turn one completely off... I'll have to take a ride over to Home Depot and check it out.

[gator]

I've seen Y connectors for garden hoses that do this.  All you would need is an inline ball valve to regulate the intake from the higher tank, and an inline ball valve to restrict return flow to the lower tank.  With these two valves, you could conceivably equalize the supply and return to each tank, although you would probably have to check the balance often because it might be thrown off by slight variations in the line voltage(changes pump output) coming into your house.

[Mettle]

Yeah. The more I think about it, the more I see how big of a mess this could possibly be. The one thing I didn't factor in was power outages, which would be disasterous for a set-up like this... I think maybe I'll just slap the Fluval on one of the tanks and use some AC's I have laying about for the other, heh.

[darkdep]

I think there's no "technical" reason this idea wouldn't work.  I'm guessing that pet stores don't use a seperate filter for every tank (although I could be embarrassingly wrong here).

You could absolutely use Y-adapters and ball valves to balance the flow.  IMHO, you'd get better results with less stress if the tanks were side-by-side, instead of stacked.  Then you're essentially eliminating the extra gravity problem.

[BigDaddy]

I think there's no "technical" reason this idea wouldn't work.  I'm guessing that pet stores don't use a seperate filter for every tank (although I could be embarrassingly wrong here).

You could absolutely use Y-adapters and ball valves to balance the flow.  IMHO, you'd get better results with less stress if the tanks were side-by-side, instead of stacked.  Then you're essentially eliminating the extra gravity problem.

The pet stores that do use one central system, though, rely on overflow from each individual tank... not a suction intake.  Big difference when the water coming out of the tank is based solely on water level and not by artificial means.

[jfox]

I wouldn't even try it...  It's not worth having one empty tank in a puddle of water.  The valves would take continuous adjusting.  

Unless you wanted to spend some $$$ to automate the valves.  If you do, let me know and I can help with the design.

[Mettle]

Nah. I've decided to just toss one Fluval404 onto the larger tank (and way over filtrate it, heh) and put a bearded dragon in the other (for now). :lol:

[darkdep]

Just a thought here...

Let's say you have two tanks side by side.  Let's say you took a piece of fat hose (don't know how fat, but lets say slightly wider than the outtake hose for the filter) and used it to connect the two tanks, putting each end low in each tank.  

Let's also assume you filled the tube with water, so it would function similar to a "non-drilled overflow" for sumps (excuse my lack of proper terminology here).  In theory, this should keep the water levels the same in both tanks.

Then, you could have the hose going TO the filter in one tank, and the hose coming FROM the filter in the other.  The water should flow from tank 1 to tank 2 as water comes in, and be sucked out of tank 2 to the filter and back to tank 1.  If power fails, nothing bad should happen at all.  And, no messing with flow rates.  The "hose" would also suck from the bottom of tank 1, in the same vein as the filter sucker-tube.

Thoughts on this?

[jfox]

Just a thought here...

Let's say you have two tanks side by side.  Let's say you took a piece of fat hose (don't know how fat, but lets say slightly wider than the outtake hose for the filter) and used it to connect the two tanks, putting each end low in each tank.  

Let's also assume you filled the tube with water, so it would function similar to a "non-drilled overflow" for sumps (excuse my lack of proper terminology here).  In theory, this should keep the water levels the same in both tanks.

Then, you could have the hose going TO the filter in one tank, and the hose coming FROM the filter in the other.  The water should flow from tank 1 to tank 2 as water comes in, and be sucked out of tank 2 to the filter and back to tank 1.  If power fails, nothing bad should happen at all.  And, no messing with flow rates.  The "hose" would also suck from the bottom of tank 1, in the same vein as the filter sucker-tube.

Thoughts on this?

Stephan would like to have the tanks stacked, so for his situation, it will not work.

The set-up will work for side-by-side set-ups, as long as the water surfaces are level.  Keep in mind that you will need valves to control the amount of flow entering each tank.  You will want the flow to be proportional to the tank's volume.

[darkdep]

I realize he wanted the stacked setup; I was just theorizing if side-by-side would be less prone to flooding.  

What I was thinking regarding valves was, assuming the tanks were the same volume, and the tube connecting them was of a greater flow capacity than the water input coming from the filter, would you need any valves at all?

[gvv]

I just wondering would it help for stacked setup at first move the water to the common highest point, than split the flow and use valves to tune the flow?

Actually I don't like when the water from different tanks is mixed and that goes back to all tanks. This could be a big problem in case of desease in one tank.

Regards