Need some advise I have a possible pending disaster

[Anubisxii]

My return pump just died. I have a 40b with a trigger 18 sump and my power brick on my return pump just died.

I have an icecap 2k in the display running just fine.

My questions is how long is the display safe just running with a wave maker and no return pump? I would imagen it would be fine since some tanks don't have sumps, others use HOB filters and AIO just really create flow with a pump but I'm sure if my thoughts are valid.

I plan on going out and getting a better pump when stores open around me at 11:00 am, 1:00 am my time now

I'm just wondering if I need to panic or not. I have about 5 fish and about 25-30 corals mixed reef.

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

 

[F i s h y]

I run a 40B with only wave makers. Its been running for a long time. You should be fine until you get a new pump. No sump as of now.

 

[F i s h y]

Also it has 7 fish in it.

 

[Anubisxii]

Ok cool. Thankfully its just the return pump that went. I went with a mid level brand. I think I might bite the bullet and get a apex cor pump now. But we will see how much they are up charging locally for it.

 

[Anubisxii]

Thankfully I have a cheep UV reactor in the sump that has a pump with 200+ G/hr flow built into it. I might add an extra powerhead to the display and point it up to keep aeration up.

 

[hds4216]

Yeah, this should be fine. If you lost power altogether, that would be a problem. But just a single return pump? You're all good.

 

[schuby]

My concern with be oxygen levels without the overflow and skimmer. I'd make sure the wave maker is causing turbulence at the water-line for gas exchange.

 

[Brett S]

If it’s cold and your heater is in your sump you might want to move it up to the DT. Also, it sounds like you have an apex, since you’re considering the COR20. If your heater is controlled by the apex temperature probe then make sure that the heater and the temp probe are both in the same location. If the probe is in the sump and the heater is in the DT and the sump keeps getting colder then it will blast the heater in the DT.

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Don’t forget to put a heater in the main tank.

 

[Brett S]

The other thing you might want to consider is going with two return pumps. I run two COR20’s on my 220G tank. That way if one does fail then the tank can keep running indefinitely until I can repair or replace the one that failed. With your tank two COR15’s might be better than one COR20.

 

[Anubisxii]

Thank you all. I do have an extra heater that I threw in the display and I left the apex probe and eheim heater in the sump.

I'm looking at some videos now in regards to the Neptune cor Its probably overkill but I plan on upgrading to a 100-150g in the next 6 months.

@Brett S I think my plan is going to be to use a cor 15 or 20, my old pump is less than a year old so I am going to work with the manufacturer to get a replacement driver. I have seen BRS mention the 2 return pumps before and I planned on it, but looks like now its going to happened.

Again thank you all for the speedy advise.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Do you have any circulation inside the sump?

 

[schuby]

The other thing you might want to consider is going with two return pumps. I run two COR20’s on my 220G tank. That way if one does fail then the tank can keep running indefinitely until I can repair or replace the one that failed. With your tank two COR15’s might be better than one COR20.

+1
I run 2 Cor20s, too, on my 150 gal. I have ball valves on each, independent return so that I can remove a pump while the other is running and not get any back-flushing.

 

[Brett S]

+1
I run 2 Cor20s, too, on my 150 gal. I have ball valves on each, independent return so that I can remove a pump while the other is running and not get any back-flushing.

The ball valve is a good idea. I’ve got independent returns as well, but I’ve just shut both pumps down when I’ve needed to work on one to avoid the back flushing.

 

[Sirspeedy77]

Just make sure your tank has a heater! easily overlooked as most of us have all that equip in the sump

 

[Anubisxii]

Thank you all! Everything worked beautifully. Got a cor 15 today. When I went to pick it up two guys (reps) from apex were there meeting with the owner and we got to chatting it up, nice people. The Cor's are great, so far in extremely happy with them. Currently running at 5% lol. Can't wait to get a new tank and crank it up.