Centralised filtration system

[xxianxx]

I am looking to convert my shed to an axolotl breeding area and as a refuge for them in the summer when my house gets a bit warm. I have seven tanks in my house and am planning on buying a couple more and moving six of them to my shed. I am keen to reduce some of the work involved in maintaining the water quality, at the moment half of my axolotl tanks have internal filters and the others have additional water changes. What would be the best way of running a centralised filtration system ?.

 

[carsona246]

A sump would solve your problem, but you would need a few pumps. I also see the potential problem of one axolotl getting sick, and therefore all of your axolotls getting sick. Also any potentials problems one tank may have(lets say a worm got puked up and rotted), all of your tanks would have the problem, instead of just one

 

[xxianxx]

A sump would solve your problem, but you would need a few pumps. I also see the potential problem of one axolotl getting sick, and therefore all of your axolotls getting sick. Also any potentials problems one tank may have(lets say a worm got puked up and rotted), all of your tanks would have the problem, instead of just one

If any of my axolotls develop a communicable disease they would all be exposed to it as i dont operate my tanks independantly, with the exception of my quarantine tank. Many breeders , petshops etc operate centralsed filtration systems as a way of reducing the workload of water changes plus it would also let me invest my money in a superb filtration system, rather than using a load of smaller/cheaper filters. As for contaminating a bank of tanks, rather than one, with a rotten worm the increased water volume would cause it to be less of a problem. I could also invest in a decent uv filter system. Thanks for the input Carson, i do appreciate your post but i would like to be advised on how to set up a centralised filtration system so that i could make up my own mind.

 

[carsona246]

You would make a sump, with a bunch of pumps leading to each tank. A sump is a wet/dry filter.
Wasn't trying to shoot your idea down, I've just seen this question posted a lot on other forums, and wanted to let you know of the potential problems with this idea. Petstores do use this idea, which is why petstores are a breeding ground for disease.
Was just trying to bring up some potential problems with the sump idea. Using only 1 filter for multiple tanks will have benefits such as increased water volume, but that water volume will also be housing multiple axolotls. Not to mention any problems you have with that 1 filter affects every one of your tanks.

 

[xxianxx]

You would make a sump, with a bunch of pumps leading to each tank. A sump is a wet/dry filter.
Wasn't trying to shoot your idea down, I've just seen this question posted a lot on other forums, and wanted to let you know of the potential problems with this idea. Petstores do use this idea, which is why petstores are a breeding ground for disease.
Was just trying to bring up some potential problems with the sump idea. Using only 1 filter for multiple tanks will have benefits such as increased water volume, but that water volume will also be housing multiple axolotls. Not to mention any problems you have with that 1 filter affects every one of your tanks.

Thanks for the response, one of the problems with pet shops is the amount of stock that passes through their tanks, lack of quarantine procedures exacerbate the problem and lead to problems with diseases, parasites , etc. My pets are in a closed system , all new arrivals undergo quarantine, so the disease problem with a shared filtration system is not a problem I would be overly concerned about. Having a shared filter obviously has its inherent problems, such as mechanical breakdown but if this happens I can just go back to doing extra water changes till it is fixed. I have never set up a sump etc so i am looking for advice on how to do it as i beleive it could reduce my work load and provide a nice clean environment for my axolotls.

 

[iChris]

I would think trying to use a single sump to filter about 10 tanks would be somewhat of a hassle, not so much the setup but to achieve adequate filtration we know that the total water volume must be turned over a few times a hour. this water volume would be the total volume of the tanks combined.

doing this without creating too much current flowing in and out of the tanks I think could be a issue. you'll need a high powered pump to move all of that water out of the sump again to stop it from overflowing (that's assuming it's fed via gravity)

have you considered using 2 sumps instead? I could imagine dividing the system and dealing with 2 smaller bodies of water would make for less hassle. it also gives you a safeguard incase there is a outbreak of disease.

or maybe even a high capacity pond filter is another option you could consider?

 

[xxianxx]

I am only looking at putting six tanks in my shed, three for holding my existing axolotls and three for their offspring. I would only be looking at a centralsed system for the three tanks with the adults in and maybe one of the others if it contained sub adults that i was growing on. I would be concerned about excessive flow rates for the young and would want to maintain low levels for the recently hatched, so i wouldnt be trying to link all six tanks up.

 

[iChris]

how much water are you looking to filter with this system?

 

[xxianxx]

how much water are you looking to filter with this system?

With three tanks approx 120 US gallons(100 UK gallons), the fourth tank would probably be 20 US gallons(15 UK gallons).

 

[iChris]

so you'll be needing to move about 1400L per hour through a sump.

I personally would go for a pond filter box.

 

[xxianxx]

Thanks for the information.

 

[carsona246]

Another potential problem is that you would need a sump capable of holding the excess water in case the power goes out. If you had a small sump, it would overflow with all the excess water. I haven't personally ever made a sump before, but I know there are a ton of diy sump sites out there.

 

[michael]

It is very difficult to run several tanks with one filter. If you want to invest more time and a little money you can build a custom made flow through system.

The one with a 2 by 4 frame and slide out trays is one of my systems. It has a mini reef filter at the bottom. I have one set up with one stand and another with two stands.

The more complicated system is one of the ones at the University of Kentucky axolotl colony.

 

[xxianxx]

It is very difficult to run several tanks with one filter. If you want to invest more time and a little money you can build a custom made flow through system.

The one with a 2 by 4 frame and slide out trays is one of my systems. It has a mini reef filter at the bottom. I have one set up with one stand and another with two stands.

The more complicated system is one of the ones at the University of Kentucky axolotl colony.

Is the first pic gravity fed filter trays with a return pump at the bottom?

 

[michael]

Is the first pic gravity fed filter trays with a return pump at the bottom?

It is gravity fed with a return pipe. The trays are plastic sweater boxes with a strainer in the back. They run into a minireef filter with a pump that individually feeds each tray.

I have a simpler system that has stand pipe drains in each tray. Water is pumped only into the top tray and flows from tray to tray. This kind of system is best on a concrete floor. You have to keep an eye on it.

If I had to do it over I might do a simplified version of the University of Kentucky system.

 

[xxianxx]

Thanks for the input guys.