Leaky Sump

FishBum81 · 03/30/2010, 05:22 AM

What is the best way to remove a leaky sump from a stand without tearing down the tank. I was thinking of building support legs out of 2x4's and knocking out the center brace to get the sump out and then slip in the replacement. Does this sound sturdy enough or should I go to 2x6's instead or even 4x4's? It's a 90gal reef so I figure it's probably in the neighborhood of 1000lbs or so, and I don't know the weight capacity of wood.

Thanks for any advice.

travis32 · 03/30/2010, 07:29 AM

I wouldn't go knocking down braces to get it out. My question is, how did you get it in there without removing braces?

I would think you could drain / empty the sump and with additional muscle get it out very similarly to the way you got it in.

CyCLoBoT · 03/30/2010, 08:04 AM

I was reading this article on Melev's site about how he installed a sump in a similar way as yours is. He created support legs and then cut out the center brace. Not sure if I'm allowed to post links to other sites here but if it is, I will post it. You should give it a try.

mfinn · 03/30/2010, 08:33 AM

Here is one way.

http://www.melevsreef.com/install_sump.html

Mounda · 03/30/2010, 09:17 AM

You could try to fix the sump

FishBum81 · 03/30/2010, 10:17 AM

I put the sump into the stand through the top when the DT wasn't there. I forgot where I got the idea but I've seen photos with make shift legs that replaced the center brace and then the sump could be removed. I can't fix the sump inside the stand because there's no way I would be able to strip the silicone out and replace it all within the tight space.

03/30/2010, 05:22 AM	#1
FishBum81 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 47	Leaky Sump What is the best way to remove a leaky sump from a stand without tearing down the tank. I was thinking of building support legs out of 2x4's and knocking out the center brace to get the sump out and then slip in the replacement. Does this sound sturdy enough or should I go to 2x6's instead or even 4x4's? It's a 90gal reef so I figure it's probably in the neighborhood of 1000lbs or so, and I don't know the weight capacity of wood. Thanks for any advice.

03/30/2010, 08:33 AM	#4
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Here is one way. http://www.melevsreef.com/install_sump.html __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

03/30/2010, 07:29 AM	#2
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	I wouldn't go knocking down braces to get it out. My question is, how did you get it in there without removing braces? I would think you could drain / empty the sump and with additional muscle get it out very similarly to the way you got it in.

03/30/2010, 08:04 AM	#3
CyCLoBoT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 50	I was reading this article on Melev's site about how he installed a sump in a similar way as yours is. He created support legs and then cut out the center brace. Not sure if I'm allowed to post links to other sites here but if it is, I will post it. You should give it a try.

03/30/2010, 09:17 AM	#5
Mounda Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 452	You could try to fix the sump

03/30/2010, 10:17 AM	#6
FishBum81 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 47	I put the sump into the stand through the top when the DT wasn't there. I forgot where I got the idea but I've seen photos with make shift legs that replaced the center brace and then the sump could be removed. I can't fix the sump inside the stand because there's no way I would be able to strip the silicone out and replace it all within the tight space.