Is there any way to prevent a spill if a sump filter breaks?

djryan2000 · 08/19/2019, 09:45 PM

Both of my siblings have had aquariums for a while and both have had 50+ gallons of water spilled in their houses because of a filter failure. Seeing this, is putting my HOB canister filter in its own tank so that if it fails I won’t destroy my parents’ house.
However, I’m considering moving to sump filtration for a 30-45 gallon tank. Is there any way I can have a similar fallback mechanism for is the sump fails? Maybe some sort of kill switch so water doesn’t go everywhere?

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mcgyvr · 08/20/2019, 04:32 AM

Yes there are certainly ways to help prevent a flood..

The easiest is to not run a filter or a sump.. Both are optional and not required to have a successful tank.. One can simply rely on the bacteria alone along with routine water changes to maintain a healthy tank.. On a 30-45 gallon tank that is rather easy.. Something like 5g water change every couple weeks is all you need..

Or yes put the filter into its own tank so it will just fill up that if its seals fail.

Proper sump design also just about guarantees you don't have a flood either.. A proper drilled overflow and a bit of planning take care of that.

hkgar · 08/20/2019, 12:36 PM

Things fail, I use leak detectors with my Apex and if a leak is detected all pumps are stopped. My most common problem is an overflowing skimmer (skimmer is external). I use a 2 liter bottle inside a 5 gallon pail and a leak detector on the bottom of the pail. That detector only stops the skimmer pump.

djryan2000 · 08/20/2019, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Things fail, I use leak detectors with my Apex and if a leak is detected all pumps are stopped. My most common problem is an overflowing skimmer (skimmer is external). I use a 2 liter bottle inside a 5 gallon pail and a leak detector on the bottom of the pail. That detector only stops the skimmer pump.

Awesome. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Is there anything I should know before trying to put a leak detector on a sump and protein skimmer?

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djryan2000 · 08/20/2019, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Things fail, I use leak detectors with my Apex and if a leak is detected all pumps are stopped. My most common problem is an overflowing skimmer (skimmer is external). I use a 2 liter bottle inside a 5 gallon pail and a leak detector on the bottom of the pail. That detector only stops the skimmer pump.

What leak detector do you recommend?

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hkgar · 08/20/2019, 02:01 PM

My leak detectors ar part of my Apex Controller system. You can get water/moisture detectors that sound an alarm.

ryeguyy84 · 08/23/2019, 06:41 PM

Waterproof your stand

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Sk8r · 08/23/2019, 08:09 PM

Are you talking about canister filter seal failure? We had one. Marineland. We junked it and replaced it with a simple bucket and pump. My advice would be PUT the thing in a big bucket or container and let it run that way, with the container adequate to hold it and some water. I'm taking it this is a fish-only running on a canister filter, and that there is enough waste to justify the filter. The alternative, if you are not overwhelmed with waste, is to set up an actual sump wih an autotopoff reservoir and a high-low water warning (Hydor makes the one I use, for not too much money). But with a canister, you are only as safe as the seal is, and keeping it contained is the best thing next to a dedicated sump.

j.falk · 08/25/2019, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

You can get water/moisture detectors that sound an alarm.

Like this?

08/19/2019, 09:45 PM	#1
djryan2000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 441	Is there any way to prevent a spill if a sump filter breaks? Both of my siblings have had aquariums for a while and both have had 50+ gallons of water spilled in their houses because of a filter failure. Seeing this, is putting my HOB canister filter in its own tank so that if it fails I won’t destroy my parents’ house. However, I’m considering moving to sump filtration for a 30-45 gallon tank. Is there any way I can have a similar fallback mechanism for is the sump fails? Maybe some sort of kill switch so water doesn’t go everywhere? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/20/2019, 04:32 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Yes there are certainly ways to help prevent a flood.. The easiest is to not run a filter or a sump.. Both are optional and not required to have a successful tank.. One can simply rely on the bacteria alone along with routine water changes to maintain a healthy tank.. On a 30-45 gallon tank that is rather easy.. Something like 5g water change every couple weeks is all you need.. Or yes put the filter into its own tank so it will just fill up that if its seals fail. Proper sump design also just about guarantees you don't have a flood either.. A proper drilled overflow and a bit of planning take care of that. __________________ Who me?

08/20/2019, 12:36 PM	#3
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Things fail, I use leak detectors with my Apex and if a leak is detected all pumps are stopped. My most common problem is an overflowing skimmer (skimmer is external). I use a 2 liter bottle inside a 5 gallon pail and a leak detector on the bottom of the pail. That detector only stops the skimmer pump. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/20/2019, 02:01 PM	#6
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	My leak detectors ar part of my Apex Controller system. You can get water/moisture detectors that sound an alarm. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/23/2019, 06:41 PM	#7
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	Waterproof your stand Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

08/23/2019, 08:09 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Are you talking about canister filter seal failure? We had one. Marineland. We junked it and replaced it with a simple bucket and pump. My advice would be PUT the thing in a big bucket or container and let it run that way, with the container adequate to hold it and some water. I'm taking it this is a fish-only running on a canister filter, and that there is enough waste to justify the filter. The alternative, if you are not overwhelmed with waste, is to set up an actual sump wih an autotopoff reservoir and a high-low water warning (Hydor makes the one I use, for not too much money). But with a canister, you are only as safe as the seal is, and keeping it contained is the best thing next to a dedicated sump. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.