An American Aquariums Christmas Nightmare

[HighChiefKC]

I get it, stuff happens, but I have an American Aquariums sump (40 gallons) and a 220 G acrylic tank. 2 weeks ago the seam came apart on the sump. I figured oh well, time for an upgrade. I dropped $1200 on a Bashsea sump and Red Sea Roller.
This morning I wake up to an odd sound and my sump pump is completely dry. The overflow box on the tank had a seam bust and there’s water all over the floor. Luckily I just got a new shop vac for Christmas from the in laws. Water on floor is gone now

But what in the world should I do now? I’m leaving for FL for 2 weeks tomorrow.

Is the overflow box repairable? I don’t even know if it’s worth the trouble. I’m freaking out now that the tank could pop a leak at any time now after 2 failures in 2 weeks!

tank is about 3 years old, full of fish and coral. I have a 55 qt tank for fish, but no where for corals. We are in the middle of a winter storm, it’s -36 wind chill here in IN.

 

[Dburr1014]

I get it, stuff happens, but I have an American Aquariums sump (40 gallons) and a 220 G acrylic tank. 2 weeks ago the seam came apart on the sump. I figured oh well, time for an upgrade. I dropped $1200 on a Bashsea sump and Red Sea Roller.
This morning I wake up to an odd sound and my sump pump is completely dry. The overflow box on the tank had a seam bust and there’s water all over the floor. Luckily I just got a new shop vac for Christmas from the in laws. Water on floor is gone now

But what in the world should I do now? I’m leaving for FL for 2 weeks tomorrow.

Is the overflow box repairable? I don’t even know if it’s worth the trouble. I’m freaking out now that the tank could pop a leak at any time now after 2 failures in 2 weeks!

tank is about 3 years old, full of fish and coral. I have a 55 qt tank for fish, but no where for corals. We are in the middle of a winter storm, it’s -36 wind chill here in IN.

Pic of the box? I assume it's external.
Do you think the tank is compromised? Hang on the back overflow in the intern?

 

[HighChiefKC]

Pic of the box? I assume it's external.
Do you think the tank is compromised? Hang on the back overflow in the intern?

yes external. Almost length of tank

 

[HighChiefKC]

Tank seems to be fine.

 

[HighChiefKC]

This is the crack on the inside bottom of overflow box. It’s about 10” long

 

[Dburr1014]

This is the crack on the inside bottom of overflow box. It’s about 10” long

Oh man that sucks and the worst time.
I don't have any acrylic experience, but it's a bump for you hopefully somebody comes on and has experience gluing acrylic. It most likely can be done after you dry and clean it. Perhaps you can not run your sump with the tank until you get back. You just have to put your ATO on a tank.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Can you move your life support devices into the main display?

I wouldn't be attempting a first time acrylic repair, under stress on something that is falling apart already. I'd throw a decent canister on the display, increase the surface flow and hope the tank holds until after your vacation.

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

That stinks and the tank looks great :/

 

[TokenReefer]

Can you coat the heck out of it with JB waterweld? I'd trust that for a few weeks at least...

 

[TankCandy]

I would look and see if you can get a large Rubbermaid tote and put just the essentials in it.

Your tank looks great.

 

[SPS2020]

I'd call American Aquariums and get their advice.

 

[HighChiefKC]

I'd call American Aquariums and get their advice.

I sent them an email. I doubted anyone was in office today

 

[HighChiefKC]

Oh man that sucks and the worst time.
I don't have any acrylic experience, but it's a bump for you hopefully somebody comes on and has experience gluing acrylic. It most likely can be done after you dry and clean it. Perhaps you can not run your sump with the tank until you get back. You just have to put your ATO on a tank.

Oh wow, I forgot all about ATO. Gosh I don’t even know how I’d set that up in main display with what I use in sump. Being euro braced really limits what I can do

 

[Dburr1014]

Oh wow, I forgot all about ATO. Gosh I don’t even know how I’d set that up in main display with what I use in sump. Being euro braced really limits what I can do

What ato do you have?
I'm assuming it doesn't have magnets but maybe you can glue a magnet to it. I guess it all depends on which one you have.

 

[HighChiefKC]

I got the ATO rigged up with some redneck ingenuity. Mine is the avast marine pressure tube instead of water level sensors.
Everything seems to be running fine now in the main tank until I get back in 2 weeks. Might have a neighbor come by a few times and make sure the basement isn’t flooded.

 

[Cell]

A $30 monitor camera from Amazon can relieve a lot of worry during vacations.

 

[JGT]

A $30 monitor camera from Amazon can relieve a lot of worry during vacations.

Or create more stress .

 

[Cell]

Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Dburr1014]

Ignorance is bliss.

Until you get back to a mess.

 

[HighChiefKC]

An update: My fish and most of my corals survived while I was in Florida. after several calls and emails, I finally heard back from American Aquariums. They sent me some weld-on to fix it. Which I had already ordered to be delivered before I got back to the house. It was about 2 weeks after I got back before I got it from tank MFg. Problems all fixed, and after several water changes and maint tasks, everything is looking good!