Is it feasible to piggyback small tanks?

[VoodooMach]

The reason I ask is that I want to get a 5.5 or 10 gallon and hook it up side by side with my 20long and then do a goby/shrimp pair in the small tank. Couldn't two aquaclear surface skimmers with 2 aquaclear filters accomplish this?

Basically the surface skimmer intake on one tank feeds a filter on the other tank and the same occurs with the other tank. This is definitely possible right or would gravity cause the smaller tank to over flow i.e. 5.5gallon is not as tall as a 20long.

Just a thought, any input would be great. Another reason for this is that it increases water volume, doesn't require another protein skimmer or another chiller, only need a cheap PC to grow basic stuff, and would allow for the shrimp/goby pair without them getting pestered in my 20long by other fish. I also don't want to "lose" them in the bigger tank as it would be hard to see them if they hid far in the bag of the bigger tank.

[profntbtr]

as long as the pumps pump at the same speed it should be fine. also what you could do is drill the 10 gallon tank and elevate it a little so it drains back into the 20 and that cuts down on the equipment needed. just 1 pump

[cpreefguy]

Your signature is huge

[stoneroller]

I personally wouldn't risk it. That would be relying on electrical/mechanical equipment...

[JLiu]

There are 2 ways you could do this. 1. It would work if you could raise the level of the smaller tank with a shelf of some sort, use only one pump to pump water from the smaller to larger tank and drill a hole in both tanks with a tube running in between to create a equilibrium/be the inlet for clean water. 2. Or you can get and over flow box and overflow from the big tank to the smaller tank with a pump, pumping back into the larger tank just like a side by side sump.

[beerguy]

^I agree, with #1 being the easiest and most efficient IMO. two pumps would never work, no matter what there rated they will never pump at the same speed. you need to drill one of the tanks, pump in to that tank and then just let the water flow back in to the other one. its pretty simple. good luck!

[Joshua]

You could also add a small sump or even just a 5 gallon bucket, common sump is easy to plumb and you can have both return pumps in there going to each tank.