Red Sea Gen 2 Weir pipes

[AquaKnight]

Hi, Hopefully this is in the correct place.
I am dismantling my Red Sea Reefer 525 G2 and am having problems removing two of the down pipes. I have managed to unscrew the two returns, but the main drain and overflow are completely locked in. When installed there was a ratcheting noise on these two pipes as they were tightened so I'm hoping they are removable.
I've put as much force as I dare in trying to undo them before either the pipes or base of the tank takes some damage. Has anyone come across this issue or can offer any advice, please?
Many thanks, Martin

 

[UncommonSense]

Hi, Hopefully this is in the correct place.
I am dismantling my Red Sea Reefer 525 G2 and am having problems removing two of the down pipes. I have managed to unscrew the two returns, but the main drain and overflow are completely locked in. When installed there was a ratcheting noise on these two pipes as they were tightened so I'm hoping they are removable.
I've put as much force as I dare in trying to undo them before either the pipes or base of the tank takes some damage. Has anyone come across this issue or can offer any advice, please?
Many thanks, Martin

I’ve disassembled four of these tanks now!

So, what you’re experiencing is likely calcification and silt clogging up and cementing the plumbing to the plastic bulkhead hole plate!

The ratcheting noise is these pawls on the pipe’s bulkhead flange:

There are four of these, 90 degrees apart around the flange… they interface with the bulkhead plate along these ridges:

My recommendation? Try a bit of lubricating oil between the two parts, then use a pipe wrench or pliers to unscrew the pipe even harder, popping it free of that ratcheting mechanism! (You might also be able to get a right angle pick in the seam between the two, disengaging one of the four pawls, but this usually requires a bit of brute force!)

If you want to get the overflow box out of your way, here’s a detailed how-to on removal (post #38):

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/red-sea-aquarium-autopsy-reefer-xl425-g1.1146139/page-2

 

[AquaKnight]

Many thanks for your detailed response Uncommonsense, I am nervous is the possibility of breaking the glass, I will give this a go.