Emergency!! Help

[glenns]

I had leaky sump a few years ago and had to tear down my tank. I did not try this approach with the tank setup because decided to replace the DT as well. But while it was down, I made the cut for the side sump door. I haven't had any problems. But, I beefed up all the corners with extra 2x4's, so I cannot tell you the cut made it any weaker or not.

I used acrylic in my 20L sump, but left plenty of space on the sides for expansion. I'm guess it was 1/8" on each side.

 

[MTWiley]

I'm trying to find it but I can't seem to right now. I saw on a forum in the past, not sure if this one or a different one, but what they did was create a frame out of 4x4's that they attached/wedged in 2 temporary supports to hold the tank up while they removed the center brace and sump. Looked kind of like this

Once they got the sumps switch they replaced the center brace and removed the supports.

 

[endlessblue]

Heres is what I'm thinking....I have no livestock yet and can hold about 120g of water in various barrels even then with the rock and sand it's unmovable. Im thinking about then removing the center brace and changing sumps. It has 2x4s on all corners, and side panels are 1" think plywood. That's my best bet besides taking all rock out 150lbs worth and I have it perfectly placed. Wish me luck guys and thanks for all the input... Hope for a christmas miracle

 

[reefermad619]

GL bro. Some times $hit happens. Just be thankful you have no livestock. I've seen several threads on here about NOT using acrylic baffles with glass tanks. Don't be discouraged. Next time use glass on glass. It's much cheaper than buying a sump. Let us know how it goes.

 

[jherrin215]

i hate it that you are having this problem but it could have been a LOT worse. Good that it happened before you stocked it and that you noticed it before it had been running with the doors closed and busted. Also this thread itself is enough to make me throw away the acrylic baffles that I cut to put into my 125 that I am going to be using as a sump, not risking it. GL

 

[endlessblue]

Update: new sump was picked up this morning. Tonight I'll be taking the water out, and the center beam. I'll try to add temporary supports where I can. I'll take pics in case this could help someone else in the future.

 

[ezerasurfr]

just get a rubbermaid, or one of those horse troffs (sp?).... it will be baffle less, but you can just put a siv on your drain to keep the bubbles down. easy enough, and no worries about future cracks... especially if the crack was caused by some stress created by the stand.

 

[uncleof6]

just get a rubbermaid, or one of those horse troffs (sp?).... it will be baffle less, but you can just put a siv on your drain to keep the bubbles down. easy enough, and no worries about future cracks... especially if the crack was caused by some stress created by the stand.

Baffle is required in a sump to maintain a stable water level for the skimmer. With a fluctuating water level, skimmer performance is erratic.

 

[endlessblue]

Well all done!!! Drained the water in 6:53 minutes with the help of a 2,000gph pump. Center brace came off like it could feel my pain. New plumbing took some time to make nice but all in all 3 hour job.

Lesson learned acrylic expands and can break glass tanks!!!

 

[grallster]

Baffle is required in a sump to maintain a stable water level for the skimmer. With a fluctuating water level, skimmer performance is erratic.

This is not true--all you need is an ATO.

 

[uncleof6]

This is not true--all you need is an ATO.

Again, a stable water level is REQUIRED for stable skimmer performance. An ATO will not maintain a stable water level. The water level MUST LOWER, for the ATO to kick in. That is not a stable water level. The baffle is required. It is not optional.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Again, a stable water level is REQUIRED for stable skimmer performance. An ATO will not maintain a stable water level. The water level MUST LOWER, for the ATO to kick in. That is not a stable water level. The baffle is required. It is not optional.

I agree with Uncleof6, a skimmer should have a constant water level. However, there are other options to baffles. On my 30g the tank drained into a plastic container within the sump that the skimmer pump was inside of. The same thing could be used for any sump, a bucket that the skimmer sits within, a separate tank that drains into the sump. No matter how, the point is to keep skimmer pump at a constant back pressure so you can adjust the skimmer without worrying about it foaming over when you're not looking.

HTH,
RocketEngineer

 

[uncleof6]

LOL, yeah, but da bucket is da baffle