Plumbing Triple Tank Set-up

[Cap'n]

Originally Posted by Richer

Personally, I wouldn't have overflows on all of the tanks, only on one of them. I would put the return line on one tank, then the overflow on the tank farthest away from the return tank, then just plumb all of the tanks together (either by U-tubes that extend far enough down the tanks to prevent siphon breaks, or by drilling and connecting them). That way, you'll essentially have one big tank. Additional flow can be done with powerheads of closed loops.

-Richer

I originally had planned on using only one overflow, but the more I thought about it the more it seemed necessary to have one on each tank. What if, for example, one powerhead or return pump fails. Then one of the tanks without an overflow could possibly flood. I'm just trying to cover all my bases.

Tanks are already set up and running, drilling is not an option. If I had U-tubes connecting the side-by-side tanks and the power went out wouldn't the siphon in the tubes continue and flood either one of the tanks? or the sump because of the gravity overflow?