How long can a tank survive without the sump running?

[stanleo]

I am trying to plumb my DT to the new fish room but I'm having trouble doing it with the existing sump running and all connected. Can I disconnect it for a few hours so long as the powerheads and heater are in the display tank without losing anything? How long can I leave the tank without its sump?

 

[35ppt]

 

[S2G]

Sump is just extra volume & a place to hide equip. Unless all your bio is there you'll be fine forever. You'll have to up your water changes or figure out nutrient control though.

 

[Snoopy 67]

No Worries, my friends 450 has no sump.

 

[fishguy242]

you have time like you said flow ,if runs into overnight ,p head in sump 24 hrs before stagnation ,happy reefing

 

[dank reefer]

And if your heaters are in your sump, move them to the display to keep your water at temp.

 

[fishguy242]

And if your heaters are in your sump, move them to the display to keep your water at temp.

good call, slipped on that

 

[35ppt]

good call, slipped on that

No you didn't, he says in the OP heater in the DT.

 

[Glott3133]

I replumbed my tank and sump because I had to have blue pvc, instead of the standard white. My tank was down all day, as I was looking for a bulkhead. I was told it could last for a few days as long as the wavemakers were still going in the DT.

 

[fishguy242]

No you didn't, he says in the OP heater in the DT.

eh better safe than sorry

 

[Auquanut]

In addition to keeping flow and temp up, you'll want to ensure you have good surface agitation by angling a powerhead toward the surface or adding an airstone to make sure you have good oxygenation to the display.

 

[35ppt]

eh better safe than sorry

I'm confused, you said "slipped on that" I was just saying you didn't slip on anything. The OP say's he's got the heater in the DT on the first post.

 

[Picard's Lionfish]

DOnt forget dosing if you have high demand. Good time to do a water change by removing all the sump water as well

 

[Slawman]

It depends on how heavily stocked your tank is in relation to volume, how sensitive your animals are (SPS?) and what water processing takes place in the sump.

In my tank I heat and have the skimmer in the sump so temperature, water aeration and ultimately water quality would be affected if I took it out. On mild temperature days I have had my sump offline for up to 3 or 4 hours without any obvious impact. I try to only have my skimmer off for an hour at a time generally.

 

[Brew12]

I drained my reef tank to the point most of my corals were exposed to the air for 30 minutes and then sump wasn't running for hours to change my overflow. My house was warm that day so I didn't even bother with the heaters. The lights did plenty.

No concern at all.

 

[ca1ore]

For a few hours, no big deal at all. Not even necessary to move the heaters. Properly circulated tank will be fine without any intervention as well, both in terms of oxygenation and surface occlusion. As far as how long you could leave the sump offline depends a bit on what else is in the sump. If you run an algal turf scrubber, for example, putting the screen up in the display or dropping it into the sump will ensure not having to re-seed a new screen. Folks run tanks without skimmers, so that's really not a big deal particularly since skimmer is overrated as oxygenator anyhow. Also be mindful of the stuff growing in the sump.

 

[PatW]

I have gone through several hurricane related power outages of several day durations. All I do is hook up an air pump to run air stones to aerate the tank. Never lost anything. Just keep your powerheads on for circulation and you should be good unless you have a huge bio load.

 

[stanleo]

Thank you all that is great information. I was hoping to hear it!

 

[alabella1]

I replumbed my tank and sump because I had to have blue pvc, instead of the standard white. My tank was down all day, as I was looking for a bulkhead. I was told it could last for a few days as long as the wavemakers were still going in the DT.

Ha!! This is exactly what I have planned, but I'm going orange and gray. My only decision now is am I going to go spray paint my white pipe orange or buy new pipes. Thoughts anyone??

 

[CoralB]

I replumbed my tank and sump because I had to have blue pvc, instead of the standard white. My tank was down all day, as I was looking for a bulkhead. I was told it could last for a few days as long as the wavemakers were still going in the DT.

Yes but only if your pump is located pointing to where their is surface agitation to allow gas exchange and also if the sump has a skimmer you might want to add a air sir stone in the DT especially if your tank is heavily stocked with fish