Need advice about disabling the filtration system on my tank

M

Mr.Pink

New member
Greetings -

We bought a house that came with a 150 gallon coral reef tank. The overflow tank recently started leaking at one of the pipes that connects to the lower filtration tank. Unfortunately the tank was installed in a wall in such a way that the rear overflow tank and its pipes are almost impossible to service. To prevent a catastrophic failure and resulting water spill, the person who services our tank turned off the filtration system and lowered the water level so that it no longer is high enough to reach the overflow tank. After thinking about our situation for a day, he recommended that we continue to maintain the tank with the filtration system disabled.

I'm writing to ask if anyone has an opinion on disabling the water filtration permanently. The tank is 10 years old and has always had filtration. If disabling the elaborate filtration system is OK, why have filtration in the first place?

I'm brand new to coral reefs and my wording may reflect that. I guess I should explain that the filtration system is a second, lower tank that is hidden below the visible tank. I think that is common, but do not know for sure.

I sure would appreciate all advice.

Thanks.
pink
 
If you're wanting to keep the tank and have it functional, having working filtration of some sort is a necessity. Can you cut a hole in the wall behind where the overflow box is? Maybe install an access panel there so it looks clean, but you can still access that part where the plumbing is?
 
When you say Almost impossible what do you mean..

Is the tank backed up to a wall behind it...
If you could post some images as best you can on where the tank is and what is behind it.

My First thought is Cut a hole in the wall behind the tank to gain access to the leak.. Then put a access panel over the hole

My tank is built into the wall with the bathroom behind it.. i have a access door to where the over flow box and plumbing is at.. The other end of the tank i can access from behind the bathroom Mirror....

The Filtration system i am assuming is a sump or some type of closed system , ITS A MUST For this to be working.. The Aquarium service guy should have had a Canister filter or something to put on your tank for emergency..if the filtration system is sitting idle it might need to be scrubbed clean before you put it back into use depending on the system..

Might be a good idea to post some pics of the filtration as well so you can be properly advised

Welcome to REEF Central
 
GimpyFin said:
If you're wanting to keep the tank and have it functional, having working filtration of some sort is a necessity. Can you cut a hole in the wall behind where the overflow box is? Maybe install an access panel there so it looks clean, but you can still access that part where the plumbing is?
Click to expand...

I was typing at the same time
 
There are a pair of underwater blowers that circulate water in the main tank. I see many soft corals with their tentacles waving in the water currents. It's just the recirculation of water through the filtration tank that has been eliminated.
 
Mr.Pink said:
There are a pair of underwater blowers that circulate water in the main tank. I see many soft corals with their tentacles waving in the water currents. It's just the recirculation of water through the filtration tank that has been eliminated.
Click to expand...

is there heaters,Protein skimmer, UV Sterilizer or other equipment in the Filtration ( SUMP ) Tank.

There Could also be A Deep sand bed or Trickle filtration chamber. if either of these are present you are going to have a huge issue in your tank as they are Biological Filtration and are to support Life in your system by breaking down and consuming organics.
 
Thanks for all the replies! I don't know much of the terminology that has been used, so I'm posting some photos of the setup. The photo of the lower filtration tank shows that one sock has been removed. That is temporary, just in case it looks odd to you.

One photo shows the narrow access void that holds the overflow tank and pipes connecting it to the lower filtration tank. I believe you can see just one pipe, but there is a second at the opposite end of the overflow tank.

To the left of the void containing the overflow tank is a bedroom. I believe it would be possible, as a last resort, to remove the drywall and create an access panel to the rear of the tank and the overflow tank.
 

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Nothing in your sump looks very important, I don't even see a heater. As long as there are powerheads in the main tank it should be fine. The water spicket with the garden hoses throwing me off a bit, but if it's worked in the past your tank looks fine.
 
Yea they were not thinking clearly when they assembled it as it is..But a lot of tanks are tight to the wall like that due to space.. The only two options would be

1. Drain the tank way down move it out to access and repair.
2. My opinion easier.. Cut access panel from bedroom

The only thing in that sump that is vital is the Protein skimmer you can compensate not having it by Stepping up water changes.Thou i really do not think that skimmer is doing the tank any justice.... With the amount of live rock and sand .Watching your feeding close and proper water changes with 0 TDS RO/DI Water is should be OK .But I would still get it fixed and back into service..

Good Luck.
 
You certainly do not need any external filtration to run a reef system. Read up on Lee Chin Eng and Dr. Jaubert. Here's a system I maintain that does not have any external or internal filtration equipment: http://youtu.be/-eCQSVdqBQA

If you can find someone who's creative with working with acrylic you might be able to fix the overflow in place using Sci-Grip's #40 or #42 and acrylic rods in the joints and around the bulkhead fitting.
 
Yeahbdrain most of the way. Get those furniture moving pads and get some help putting under the stand. Then move and repair the drain.
 
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