So I have a 55 gallon mixed reef that i want to put a sump under. I bought a aqueon proflex sump and was going to also buy a cpr overflow box until I stopped by LFS. At the LFS a found a drilled 55 gallon tank with internal overflow that will fit right on my stand, with a rio 500gph pump for $135. The only issue is the front of the tank is scratched badly. I was told by LFS(NSA)these scratches would not show after it was full of water, I found out this is not true. So now Im looking at selling the tank I just bought and then buying the overflow, or trying to find someone that can buff out the scratches. I also have to keep in mind the difficulty in moving everything to a new aquarium. This situation is getting very frustrating and suggestions or help would be very very appreciated. Thanks.
You can't see any of the scratches in the pic. The whole front is covered in thousands of scratches. Looks like someone picked up some substrate with a magfloat and scraped into the glass.
Find a glass shop and replace the front panel... cheaper than buying a new tank. Find a glass shop that can buff them out. Scratches are scratches... I have a couple in my 75. Hazards of buying something used. they do become somewhat transparent when the water goes in but they will always be there. You should have known this no matter what someone said. If you cant live with it I will take the tank for a cheap price. I need an aggressive tank anyways...LOL
So are you going with the overflow then? It doesn't really take up any more room and you won't have to tear down the tank to move it?
My 55 I'm using now is the same size so the front panel from it could be used. My only issues with that are, where to keep my coral while doing the swap and finding someone to do it and how long does it take. I think I could keep live stock in a new large trash can or rubbermaid container with heater and power heads, but idk how long it would be safe to keep them like that. Anyone know anybody that could swap the front panels and if so how much and how long would it take?
The more I think about it the more I think getting the scratches out would be more trouble than it's worth. I'm still trying to decide if I want to mess with it or just get overflow. If someone wanted the tank for 135 I'd be tempted to just sell it along with the pump and homemade sump they sold me.
I would try calling NSA and see if you can get a refund. If they said you would not be able to see the scratches after filling the tank and you can see them, tell them you are not satisfied, they may take it back or give you trade in on another system. NSA likes to keep happy customers, there great. JMO.
Is the bottom of the other Tempered?? If not steal the Overflow out of the scratched one and drill holes in the other and presto!... you could still drill through the sides of the scratched one and use the overflow too... Or you could just use another... many choices.
If you decide not to use the scratched tank, let me know I may be interested in buying it. Also just a thought, if you don't mind seeing the overflow on the front of the tank and the back isn't scratched, you could just turn it around.
Drilling holes in a 55 gallon none drilled tank is probably not a good idea as most 55 gallons that I have seen are tempered all the way around. I would sell it or try to get a refund/credit for a different tank. Changing the front pane of glass can be done but the entire tank will need to be disassembled and reassembled and you will need to wait at least three weeks for the silicone to cure before you can add water to it. I don't think a 55 gallon tank is worth that much trouble IMO.
I would buy another 55 gal tank and either sale or keep scratched tand for quarantine tank or back-up tank. If you had room you could turn into a refugium.
Ok so I took the tank back for store credit. I would much rather have a drilled 75 gallon tank but unfortunately don't have the money for it and a stand. So I'm back to searching for the best overflow. There is always the risk of flooding my floor though, even with one with a pump to start the siphon, like a CPR overflow, if the pump was to go out. I was thinking there must be a better way to get water up and over the edge of the tank than a siphon. Why not put a small water pump in the display tank and attach to the end of the siphon tube and the other end of the tube in the overflow box? That way you don't have to rely on a siphon. The only thing that concerns me is that I have not seen anyone else try this, which makes me thing its a bad idea. Any opinions on this?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=694 I have used three of these on different tanks. And when the power went off and then came back on they started the siphon just as if nothing happened. Its just another option you might take a look at. If your a DIY kinda person. I would be willing to talk to you some more if interested in doing one.
One more thing to remember with any HOB overflow is you will always have the chance of a water event. I have a drilled frag tank and a fish got sucked into one of the overflows and when I got home I had a little water event on the floor. Just goes to show you that nothing is failsafe.
Not cheap, but I know lots of people who run the lifereef ones & say they have never failed. http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html Absolutely the finest and most reliable prefilter box in use today! Thousands sold, not one flood or failure! * No cheap air-lifter pump required! * Nothing to break down or wear out! Since 1988 this prefilter has allowed the hobbyist to safely deliver water from the aquarium to the sump without fear of failure and readily resumes safe operation after a power outage, GUARANTEED! In the 22 years that the Lifereef Prefilter Box has been sold not one has failed to re-start when the power comes back on or has failed while in operation! This is not the case with others using built-in siphon walls ("tubeless designs") which are prone to failure while in operation and prone to failure upon power coming back on. "Tubeless" designs (built-in siphon wall) are one of the poorest designs and their use comes with considerable risk of flooding. Don't risk it! They are also difficult to clean and need to be removed entirely from the aquarium to do so and micro-bubble issues are always a problem with these designs.
I have not had an incident?? Knock on wood :} My sump can handle the water that drains out of the display (couple inches) when the power goes out. My plain jane overflow has yet to lose syphon so when the power comes back on, everything is fine. The pump takes off again and the syphon continues. If the overflow gets clogged (I have a dual so it's not likely both will) or the syphon stops for whatever reason.. the return pump area in the sump maybe contains a gallon of water before it runs dry and the display tank can handle an extra gallon or so. The only thing I can see happening is that my return pump burns up if that area goes dry. I keep my water level in the sump to acceptable range.... a rather small range.
