Connecting 2 nano AIO aquariums?

[Jonny Walker]

Im wondering if anyone has ever connected 2 aio aquariums to share the same system without cutting or drilling the aquariums.

I have a waterbox pen 25 and an eshopps desk top nano
I'd like them to share the same system somehow but not sure if it could work.

I have a spare Neptune DOS and thought about setting it up to exchange water between aquariums once or even twice a day
but looking for others thoughts or experiences on what they have done.

 

[Peace River]

you could use a water bridge but I'm not sure that there would be a notable benefit. You also could cascade the water from the higher tank down to the lower tank and then pump it back up to the higher tank, but that would add complexity and a heightened risk of water going where you don't want it to.

 

[Fish Fan]

I agree with @Peace River. There's some options to do what you're asking, but I'm doubtful if there would be any realized benefits, and I believe you'd be very much overcomplicating the simplicity of running AIO tanks.

What are you hoping to accomplish or benefit from by combining these two tanks?

Consider, if you connect these two tanks and you develop a disease or issue in one of the tanks, that disease or issue is now affecting the other tank as well.

I hope this helps!

 

[Jonny Walker]

I agree with @Peace River. There's some options to do what you're asking, but I'm doubtful if there would be any realized benefits, and I believe you'd be very much overcomplicating the simplicity of running AIO tanks.

What are you hoping to accomplish or benefit from by combining these two tanks?

Consider, if you connect these two tanks and you develop a disease or issue in one of the tanks, that disease or issue is now affecting the other tank as well.

I hope this helps!

The benifit would be that it's on one system
I dose my main aquarium and id like to possibly turn the eshopp into a small frag tank in the future without having to set up another dosing system
the eshopp desk mate is small and requires more maintenance and water changes if i have it plumbed with my established reef I feel the small tank would benefit
Many people run multiple tanks on one sump
Just looking for thoughts on how to do it

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Many people run multiple tanks on one sump
Just looking for thoughts on how to do it

I think that you are answering your own question here. If you want to avoid using a sump with drilled overflows between the two tanks then perhaps consider consolidating both tanks into a 40 gallon breeder with a number of frag racks?

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm not trying to be a downer here, I pride myself on being positive towards other people's posts, ideas and goals. Certainly, many people run multiple tanks into one sump (I am personally planning such a build with a 150 and a 40 gallon), but you have AIO's here, and I'm struggling with how you could do this and make the return worth the time, money and effort.

@Troylee is very good with this kind of DIY thing, maybe he can pop in and offer you some guidance here.

Following and pulling for you

 

[Troylee]

It could be done but I don’t see it’s being safe honestly.. either draining the larger tank into the lower one with a return pump or even a dos like you’re saying.. the issue is if something ever clogs the Return or dos or they lose power your gonna have a overflow on your hands… I like the idea of the dos over the return pumps cause it’s easier to dial in it then trying to sync a pair of return pumps. I don’t feel the risk is worth the reward in my opinion.. a properly sized sump is a fail safe in its own regards where a all in one has to run very near capacity to work correctly… you got little to no room for error..

 

[Jonny Walker]

It could be done but I don’t see it’s being safe honestly.. either draining the larger tank into the lower one with a return pump or even a dos like you’re saying.. the issue is if something ever clogs the Return or dos or they lose power your gonna have a overflow on your hands… I like the idea of the dos over the return pumps cause it’s easier to dial in it then trying to sync a pair of return pumps. I don’t feel the risk is worth the reward in my opinion.. a properly sized sump is a fail safe in its own regards where a all in one has to run very near capacity to work correctly… you got little to no room for error..

Thanks
I was having a hard time thinking about how it would work without risking overflow
I im going to go with the dos method and may even just set up the eshopp and a 5 gal pail of saltwater to do auto water changes instead of transferring water from the main and back.

 

[Dom]

The only safe way I can see to do this would be to plumb both of them into the same sump.