Siptang
New member
I'm testament to this... let my failure be your guide and steer you away from problems.
UV sterilizer instead of HOB skimmer??
- Thread starter Kayo2289
- Start date
I'm testament to this... let my failure be your guide and steer you away from problems.
Goldcoastreefs
New member
The return would be just a hose connected to a jet that hangs off the side, or pvc whatever you like. A sump would be a good idea, like you said you could have all your protine skimmer and stuff down below so it is not taking up room in the DT. Get a CPR overflow box and an aqualifter it will make it fail safe.
canesfan44
New member
I saw a decent sump made out of a 20gallon on craigslist for $30. Between Craigslist and here, you can find some really good deals. I have a couple different CPR hang-on overflows that would work great for you lying around somewhere. If I can find it, I'll give you a really good deal on it to help you get the sump going.
Kayo2289
FMAS Member
thanks for the input on the overflow box.. but I dont feel too safe running one even though I see all the benefits. I'd prefer having proper plumbing, instead.
so after looking here and there I found a good deal on a HOB skinmmer and ended up getting an second hand reef octopus BH 1000.
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/?action=view¤t=fish015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/fish015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
this thing is pretty big and from what I have seen so far skims very well.. I hav ehad it runnig for 2 days so far and I have seen coral color, and polyp extension increase. coral color is looking better, but maybe thats just me being enthusiastic...
the upgrade hasnt been w/o setbacks though...
after moving some stuff around I set it up at the left side of the aquarium.. after running the unit for a few hours I guess with all the vibration the skimmer was transmitting into the aquarium frame, some of the original manufacturer's black silicone wasnt installed properly and allowed a small leak to form on the top of the aquarium [bottom of the black frame]. I have since added GE sillicone I, and am letting it cure.
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/?action=view¤t=fish020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/fish020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/?action=view¤t=fish021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/fish021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
An other thing that I am not liking too much about the unit is how loud the reef octopus pump is.. can't sleep with it on.. might end up saving and getting a quieter skimmer if I don't get used to the volume of it..
one more question, Can I now after discontinuing use of the UV and getting this skimmer unit.. can I backoff from doing weekly 10g Wc's?? maybe bi-monthly or once a month??
so after looking here and there I found a good deal on a HOB skinmmer and ended up getting an second hand reef octopus BH 1000.
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/?action=view¤t=fish015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/fish015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
this thing is pretty big and from what I have seen so far skims very well.. I hav ehad it runnig for 2 days so far and I have seen coral color, and polyp extension increase. coral color is looking better, but maybe thats just me being enthusiastic...
the upgrade hasnt been w/o setbacks though...
after moving some stuff around I set it up at the left side of the aquarium.. after running the unit for a few hours I guess with all the vibration the skimmer was transmitting into the aquarium frame, some of the original manufacturer's black silicone wasnt installed properly and allowed a small leak to form on the top of the aquarium [bottom of the black frame]. I have since added GE sillicone I, and am letting it cure.
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/?action=view¤t=fish020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/fish020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/?action=view¤t=fish021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/kayo2289/fish021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
An other thing that I am not liking too much about the unit is how loud the reef octopus pump is.. can't sleep with it on.. might end up saving and getting a quieter skimmer if I don't get used to the volume of it..
one more question, Can I now after discontinuing use of the UV and getting this skimmer unit.. can I backoff from doing weekly 10g Wc's?? maybe bi-monthly or once a month??
Last edited:
Kayo2289
FMAS Member
was hopin you would say never again.. Guess I'll try every 2 weeks nd see how it goes
Kayo2289
FMAS Member
This leak has been giving me nightmares.. I tried to patch it w silicone. But it still leaks once water level passes a certain height (duh) I mean under the rim.. I like my water level about as high as she goes, but at that height it leaks.. So far I have noticed if I drop the water level to .5 inch from max height it doesn't leak... But it kinda makes me nervous... To do a proper silicone patch I'd have to keep the tank about 3/4 full for a day nd I dnt want to do that either...
canesfan44
New member
I don't want to clean the glass on my tank, but I have to do it. I don't want to do water changes, or feed my fish every day, or spend money to buy new lights and light bulbs, or take my dog for a walk, or go to work, or have to breath oxygen in order to live, etc. We all have to do things we don't want to do. If keeping your tank's water level at 3/4 for 1 day, in order to properly fix a leak, is too much to ask, you should probably find a new hobby. I don't want to sound rude, but this entire thread definitely makes it seem like you are biting off way more than you can chew. If doing things as simple as taking advice from very-experienced reefers and leaving your tank 3/4's full for a day is that big of a deal, you're going to have an extremely rough road in this hobby and waste a lot of money in the process. The only thing more important in this hobby than doing water changes is making sure you have a tank that can hold water, and it seems like you aren't even that serious about that. If you don't fix that leak properly, I can assure you that you will have a major problems on your hand in the not-so-distant future; i.e. a busted aquarium and 40 gallons of water lying on your floor. This hobby is not easy, nor is it cheap and convenient, understanding this will save you a lot of time, headaches, and even more money.
alanbates12
New member
Kayo2289
FMAS Member
Don't worry about seeming rude, this isn't "sensitive men central" as I have seen it referred to as. I'd rather you criticize me, and make me aware of any discrepancies that perhaps I overlooked or hadn't addressed. "As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another." I had said I didn't want to do it again probably because I just witnessed my tank leak after waiting for the silicone to cure. I was probably upset, but since then I have done the proper silicone patch. It is a pain to do a patch on an running aquarium. but it is done and waiting to fully cure.
canesfan44
New member
Good, I'm glad to hear that. I just try to be careful, because I have had people think that I was talking down to them or being rude, when a had no intentions of doing so. I think that's one of the problems of not talking face to face; tone of voice, body actions, etc often say more than words. I'm extremely sarcastic and have found that sarcasm doesn't translate into written word very well (I'm sure Matt/mrx66699 knows exactly what I'm talking about, lol). I can't remember how many times that I've seen people complain about how rude a lot of people here on RC are, when I feel that they weren't being rude at all. You seem to be someone much like myself. I feel that even the harshest constructive criticism, should still be used constructively, not offensively, and that's entirely up to the person receiving the criticism, not the one giving it.
Anyway, I'm really glad you got the leak fixed properly. If you didn't, I could only see things getting far worse, especially having a hang-on skimmer that puts even more pressure on the seems, possibly causing it to burst.
Kayo2289
FMAS Member
Hey guys reviving this thread not because of the UV or skimmer questions.. I actually wanted to comment on the actual tank itself...
I was wondering if you guys knew what brand tanks does all pets emporium sell? I am talking about the smaller ones like a 40 gallon, I believe it is MARINELAND...
Well if there wasn't enough negative talk about one company in this subforum I am going to add some more fuel to the fire..
As stated earlier in this thread this stock 40 gallon has already sprung a leak on one side of the aquarium right underneath the top frame.. not a big one but the sealant must not have been applied correctly or as effectively as it could've/ should've..
Well yesterday I get back from running some errands and to my surprise there was a puddle of water.. not too much but I would say maybe half a cup... thank God.. this time the sealant on the opposite side of the aquarium.. I won't say it sprung a leak like the previous one but it seems that water is leaking or was leaking out of a pin sized hole in the sealant where the front and side panes of glass meet..
I have since moved a powerhead so that it doesn't smack the front pane and seems to be working thus far.. no more detectable leakage.
But my question is two fold:
1. Have any of you ever experienced anything similar? Also what methods did you use to fix the problem?
2. Seeing as the needle point area where the water was leaking I was wondering if plummers putty would be safe to place on the outside of the aquarium where the hole is to stop the leakage?
Any help is greatly appreciated..
I was wondering if you guys knew what brand tanks does all pets emporium sell? I am talking about the smaller ones like a 40 gallon, I believe it is MARINELAND...
Well if there wasn't enough negative talk about one company in this subforum I am going to add some more fuel to the fire..
As stated earlier in this thread this stock 40 gallon has already sprung a leak on one side of the aquarium right underneath the top frame.. not a big one but the sealant must not have been applied correctly or as effectively as it could've/ should've..
Well yesterday I get back from running some errands and to my surprise there was a puddle of water.. not too much but I would say maybe half a cup... thank God.. this time the sealant on the opposite side of the aquarium.. I won't say it sprung a leak like the previous one but it seems that water is leaking or was leaking out of a pin sized hole in the sealant where the front and side panes of glass meet..
I have since moved a powerhead so that it doesn't smack the front pane and seems to be working thus far.. no more detectable leakage.
But my question is two fold:
1. Have any of you ever experienced anything similar? Also what methods did you use to fix the problem?
2. Seeing as the needle point area where the water was leaking I was wondering if plummers putty would be safe to place on the outside of the aquarium where the hole is to stop the leakage?
Any help is greatly appreciated..
Back when I was still working in an LFS, Marineland tanks had a disproportionate rate of returns as leakers....not to mention a few I caught with obvious gaps in seams before they got out the door. Don't know if their quality control has improved in recent years.
Kayo2289
FMAS Member
Apparently the only thing that has changed is the seasons and not their assembly practices and procedures.
