Please help! Refugium CRACKED! What do I do?

shockwave00

shockwave00

Member
Hi All,
Ran into a issue with my 150 gal tank, my refugium cracked so I need to replace it. Here is the issue:
I can't get my cracked Refug out from under my tank. In order to do so I need to remove a support beam and the only way to do that is to empty out my tank. I need a short term solution..
I am going to get a small aquarium from the local fish store to be a temporary fix.. I will transfer the mud in the cracked refug plus the caulerpa into this new small aquarium. I will set this next to my tank.
My skimmer will not work until I can get a new tank. Is this going to be a problem? Any thoughts or suggestions with my temp fix? I also do have a 5 stage filter so I can put any media I want in there.
Thanks for the help
 
B

bonita69

Guest
I would use the 5 stage with all fresh media till u can rebuild the fuge. Then I would empty all your goodies in a rubber maid tub and put ph and little heater in there. your tank will fine with out your skimmer for a few days.
remove everything from botton of stand, till all that is left is your cracked sump/fuge.
If you have a steam cleaner or wet/dry vac or other way to empty all the remaining water do it. Then see if you can rap the whole thing in a sheet that you don't care about tossing in trash. take the sheet and rap from under all the way back to the top and tie off with zip tie or rubber ban. Now here comes the fun part PUT YOUR SAFTY CLASSES ON, and hammer that bad boy!!!! That is if it is glass, if it is acyrlic well your going to have to saw it up in peices. That is what I would do anyway.
 
shockwave00

shockwave00

Member
Am I able to get rid of the refug for a few days and just use my fluval fx5? If so what media should I have in there?
 
B

bonita69

Guest
Originally Posted by shockwave00
http:///forum/post/2461165
Am I able to get rid of the refug for a few days and just use my fluval fx5? If so what media should I have in there?
I say very high quality carbon, and maybe a blend that has Activated Carbon and Ammonia-Neutralizing.
 
fishy7

fishy7

Active Member
Originally Posted by shockwave00
http:///forum/post/2461112
Hi All,
Ran into a issue with my 150 gal tank, my refugium cracked so I need to replace it. Here is the issue:
I can't get my cracked Refug out from under my tank. In order to do so I need to remove a support beam and the only way to do that is to empty out my tank. I need a short term solution..
I am going to get a small aquarium from the local fish store to be a temporary fix.. I will transfer the mud in the cracked refug plus the caulerpa into this new small aquarium. I will set this next to my tank.
My skimmer will not work until I can get a new tank. Is this going to be a problem? Any thoughts or suggestions with my temp fix? I also do have a 5 stage filter so I can put any media I want in there.
Thanks for the help
Since the refug is no good why not just crack it into pieces and pull it out that way. When buying a new one just get a different size that will fit under without having to move the tank.
 
D

dennis210

Guest
Relax been through this. With a larger tank like yours it will be easy.
1. Shut down water flow into and out of refugium.
2. Remove all pumps and equipment, transfer water rock, plant, & sand to buckets.
3. Wipe out and dry with hair dreyer.
4. Clean cracked glass side or sides with rubbing alcohol & let evaporate dry.
5. Measure or trace out side or sides for replication out of 1/8 inch plexiglass.
(inside will be slightly smaller than outside.)
6. Smear layer of aquarium sealant on inside of tank wall and press new plexiglass
wall in place. Seal all 4 edges with sealant again.
7. Repeat above step on outside of tank.
8. Let dry for 48 hours and reset it.
I have done this myself and to three other sump systems. Depending on how refugium is set up some cuts can get intricate. Since broken glass is now sandwhiched you should be fine. None of the ones I have done this to have leaked!
Good luck

Dennis
 
B

bonita69

Guest
Originally Posted by Dennis210
http:///forum/post/2461437
Relax been through this. With a larger tank like yours it will be easy.
1. Shut down water flow into and out of refugium.
2. Remove all pumps and equipment, transfer water rock, plant, & sand to buckets.
3. Wipe out and dry with hair dreyer.
4. Clean cracked glass side or sides with rubbing alcohol & let evaporate dry.
5. Measure or trace out side or sides for replication out of 1/8 inch plexiglass.
(inside will be slightly smaller than outside.)
6. Smear layer of aquarium sealant on inside of tank wall and press new plexiglass
wall in place. Seal all 4 edges with sealant again.
7. Repeat above step on outside of tank.
8. Let dry for 48 hours and reset it.
I have done this myself and to three other sump systems. Depending on how refugium is set up some cuts can get intricate. Since broken glass is now sandwhiched you should be fine. None of the ones I have done this to have leaked!
Good luck

Dennis
Your good Dennis!!!!
I would have smashed it!!!!!!

Your so helpfull that is for sure!!
 
matt b

matt b

Active Member
Originally Posted by shockwave00
http:///forum/post/2461112
Hi All,
Ran into a issue with my 150 gal tank, my refugium cracked so I need to replace it. Here is the issue:
I can't get my cracked Refug out from under my tank. In order to do so I need to remove a support beam and the only way to do that is to empty out my tank. I need a short term solution..
I am going to get a small aquarium from the local fish store to be a temporary fix.. I will transfer the mud in the cracked refug plus the caulerpa into this new small aquarium. I will set this next to my tank.
My skimmer will not work until I can get a new tank. Is this going to be a problem? Any thoughts or suggestions with my temp fix? I also do have a 5 stage filter so I can put any media I want in there.
Thanks for the help
I feel your pain!! my sump cracked on my 75 and the only way i could get it out is to take the whole setup down
 
D

dennis210

Guest
I added my first sump system to a newly constructed stand 2 days after completion. Six months later I found it had glued itself to new finish and I cracked it trying to move it a little for cleaning. I skinned mine with plexi in place and more than two years later still no leaks!
 
B

bonita69

Guest
Originally Posted by Dennis210
http:///forum/post/2462105
I added my first sump system to a newly constructed stand 2 days after completion. Six months later I found it had glued itself to new finish and I cracked it trying to move it a little for cleaning. I skinned mine with plexi in place and more than two years later still no leaks!
Hey Dennis is it good or bad for a deep sand bed in fuge area? How deep is DEEP?
 
D

dennis210

Guest
I like a dsb whenever and wherever possible. People argue depth all the time but from experience I say 5 to 6 inches. This way as things inevitably get moved or added the deep areas never get disturbed! Just my humble two cents - but it's worked for me and the other tanks I have set up!
 
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