New aquarium fail

Garrett Mackey · Aug 18, 2016

Looking for advice and pointers. Any help would be amazing. Have a 90gal with 80gal refugium. Finally filled with enough water and plugged in return pump when all he'll broke loose. The overflow box is not tall enough so rushing water splashes out. Did not drain fast enough so more holes need drilled in pvc inside overflow box. Pressure from return flow blew out 1 divider from the weak silicone grip. My questions are... should I store all the water in totes while i resilicone the dividers? Any ideas on how to reinforce the dividers? Any way to put splash guard or increase height of overflow box? Best display ideas for placing live rock?

Additional info: I have a 90 gallon aquarium setup and turned an 80 gallon into a refugium. I used a new ro system under my sink and have spent days mixing salt water. Used silicone to put 4 dividers in the refugium. 90 gal tank came with predrilled hole and overflow box. Currently running aquac 180ev protein skimmer powered by rio2500. Using danner mag 9.5 for return. Have 15 pounds of live rock, 40 pounds of dry rock and 20 pounds more of live rock on the way (aware that I still need about 40 pounds more). Used startup plus live bacteria to speed up cycle. Using 2 800gph powerheads.

jsker · Aug 18, 2016

Welcome to reef to reef, yes you can store the water. Make sure you have the circulating, if you have live rock place the rock in with your water.

Post some pictures for your tank and we can see what is going on, and we can help you:)

Garrett Mackey · Aug 18, 2016

Here are some pictures of the setup (lights only on to take pics)

View attachment 147156409628020759907.jpg

Garrett Mackey · Aug 18, 2016

Thank you jsker, just wasn't sure if I could let it sit for a few days while I let it dry, silicone it and wait for silicone to dry. Can i just put a powerhead in the tote to keep the water moving?

Untamedrose · Aug 18, 2016

well this is a bit of an unorthodox solution....and a really lazy way.

They make these blocks, they are really good for filtration.(honestly recommend you get one anyway, especially being light on the rock) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HT2AS1..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=7QJT0P7SYV6H37D3YB0Y

Could get a 8x8x1 and slip it between those two baffles. It would hold it in place, and help with the point of the baffles on the return side (controlling bubbles in your display tank).

What are you planning for the middle section? refugium?

Garrett Mackey · Aug 18, 2016

Untamedrose said:
well this is a bit of an unorthodox solution....and a really lazy way.

They make these blocks, they are really good for filtration.(honestly recommend you get one anyway, especially being light on the rock) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HT2AS1..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=7QJT0P7SYV6H37D3YB0Y

Could get a 8x8x1 and slip it between those two baffles. It would hold it in place, and help with the point of the baffles on the return side (controlling bubbles in your display tank).

What are you planning for the middle section? refugium?

I actually looked into those blocks before setting it up but was told filter socks would do the same. May actually take your advice though and add those in. I was thinking of siliconing in small pieces of glass to stick flat against the aquarium on the right side of all the dividers to assist in holding against the water pressure.

Garrett Mackey · Aug 18, 2016

Untamedrose said:
well this is a bit of an unorthodox solution....and a really lazy way.

They make these blocks, they are really good for filtration.(honestly recommend you get one anyway, especially being light on the rock) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HT2AS1..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=7QJT0P7SYV6H37D3YB0Y

Could get a 8x8x1 and slip it between those two baffles. It would hold it in place, and help with the point of the baffles on the return side (controlling bubbles in your display tank).

What are you planning for the middle section? refugium?

And yes, the middle section will be a refugium. Those are 2 6500k lights to grow macro algae (I'm aware of the mixed feelings on effectiveness of those lights).

Untamedrose · Aug 18, 2016

Umm I think you might have gotten some bad advice or got confused.... those blocks are biofilters. They act the same live rock(well dry at first) they provide surface areas for bacteria and little critters to live in. One block is suppose to be equal in surface area as a 100 pounds.
Has a video talking about this http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/marinepure-ceramic-biomedia-video/

Your filter socks will act as a mechanical filter, filtering out larger poop and food left over in your water:) Like any mechanical filter will need to changed and or cleaned out pretty often. Perhaps you are thinking of the bioballs? :)

And perfect I think that would work. Sand can secure the other side of the wall :)

jsker · Aug 18, 2016

Garrett Mackey said:
Thank you jsker, just wasn't sure if I could let it sit for a few days while I let it dry, silicone it and wait for silicone to dry. Can i just put a powerhead in the tote to keep the water moving?

Yes

Looking at the pictures, do not be afraid to be generous with the silicone.

Garrett Mackey · Aug 18, 2016

jsker said:
Yes

Looking at the pictures, do not be afraid to be generous with the silicone.

Yes! I learned my lesson after the first attempt. Will go heavy on silicone this time, just lost a lot of confidence in its bonding ability with acrylic

Garrett Mackey · Aug 18, 2016

Untamedrose said:
Umm I think you might have gotten some bad advice or got confused.... those blocks are biofilters. They act the same live rock(well dry at first) they provide surface areas for bacteria and little critters to live in. One block is suppose to be equal in surface area as a 100 pounds.
Has a video talking about this http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/marinepure-ceramic-biomedia-video/

Your filter socks will act as a mechanical filter, filtering out larger poop and food left over in your water:) Like any mechanical filter will need to changed and or cleaned out pretty often. Perhaps you are thinking of the bioballs? :)

And perfect I think that would work. Sand can secure the other side of the wall :)

There was sand in there just disn't help as it lost its grip from the top of the acrylic. If I put that block between the dividers, would I need to add any rock in the refugium as well or is that enough?

4FordFamily · Aug 18, 2016

Garrett Mackey said:
Yes! I learned my lesson after the first attempt. Will go heavy on silicone this time, just lost a lot of confidence in its bonding ability with acrylic

I'm not handy at all I bought all three of my sumps used and done by someone else.