Maintenance requirements of a wet/dry trickle vs canister

[Tiger15]

Perhaps I should scrap the idea of getting a lare aquarium entirely!

Don't let me disuade you into scraping your large aquarium plan. I just set up my 125 gal in my living room and went through the same filter selection process. I used to have all my tanks in the basement where flooding is not a big deal. When the tank is in the living room, the priority changed as I have zero tolerance for flooding accident. The cost of restoring damage from fishy water flooding is a lot higher than the tank itself. Canister is too leak prone so it is out for me. I have never used wet and dry and don't feel comfortable trying it as the set up is tricky, and evaporation can be an issue for me as I go away for vaction 3 to 4 weeks each year. As of now, I just stay with HOBs which I feel most comfortable and safe with as not a single one over the years has leaked on me. But I am struggling with noisy HOBs in my living room which is not an issue if they are in my basement.

 

[Glabe]

Don't let me disuade you into scraping your large aquarium plan. I just set up my 125 gal in my living room and went through the same filter selection process. I used to have all my tanks in the basement where flooding is not a big deal. When the tank is in the living room, the priority changed as I have zero tolerance for flooding accident. The cost of restoring damage from fishy water flooding is a lot higher than the tank itself. Canister is too leak prone so it is out for me. I have never used wet and dry and don't feel comfortable trying it as the set up is tricky, and evaporation can be an issue for me as I go away for vaction 3 to 4 weeks each year. As of now, I just stay with HOBs which I feel most comfortable and safe with as not a single one over the years has leaked on me. But I am struggling with noisy HOBs in my living room which is not an issue if they are in my basement.

exactly what i did with the HOBs because of those same reasons. I figure when i get a house, I'll lay some linoleum under and around the tank (just set on top of the wood floor, not replacing it,) caulk a raised border around the linoleum, drill a hole through it and the floor, and put a drain pipe in leading to under the house. That way, if something goes faulty and leaks, the water will be directed to a safe place. seems like a bit of work, but peace of mind is priceless

 

[Glabe]

A predrilled tank has external plumbing too. Is there no concern the plumbing will leak one day just like any plumbing.

if it's simple, the plumbing won't have any pressure in it, just drainage, so it shouldn't spring leaks. and you can prolly set the sump right under the overflow just in case.

 

[Glabe]

I can see evaporation being something to frequently monitor, thanks for the tip.

you can buy a float switch ($5 on amazon) and hook it up to a buzzer or little radio or something. It'll start playing to let you know when the sump's water level is low. problemo el solvo!

 

[chickenlady]

Well, I guess I have to disagree on the HOBs being noisy. I have 2 on my 75 gal. in my living room and can't even tell they are working . I did just replace one that finaly broke down, after many yrs, when it started getting a bit loud. Could have just got a new impeller, but really wanted a new one. This new one is an Aquean 55/75 and is really super quiet, all I hear is a waterfall effect which is to me very soothing. I am happy with them, they are easy to maintain, and not worried about leakage at all.

 

[jwjiv]

if it's simple, the plumbing won't have any pressure in it, just drainage, so it shouldn't spring leaks. and you can prolly set the sump right under the overflow just in case.

I was thinking that too, that the only place for a leak would be the bulkhead and that would probably not be likely. I'm still not decided, but like tiger15, a leak on the bamboo floor in my living room needs to be avoided at all costs. Full disclosure, I once bought a 60 gallon hexagon off someone that had had it in storage. I didn't know any better. It didn't leak when I put water in it but long story short i came home one day to find 45 gallons of water on my apartment floor. This event is why I'm being very careful before going foward with a large tank!

 

[Glabe]

ouch! how long did it take to spring the leak?

 

[jwjiv]

This was 10 years ago, but if my memory serves me, I had the tank operational for 6 to 9 months before one day coming home from work and seeing a small but fast stream of water shooting out from one of the seams. Two things I will never do: 1. buy a used aquarium without resealing it, and 2. buy a hexagon aquarium (too many seams to worry about!).

 

[Tiger15]

I bought a used 30 gal tank many years ago and discovered a tiny chip on one edge. The tank held water for months until one day I bumped into the weak side in a water change and it gave way. 20 to 30 gal of water rushed out and I had no way to stop it. The carpet was saturated with fishy water and remained stinky for months no matter what I did. I lived in a rental apartment at that time. If I own the place, I would have to replace the carpet which cost a lot more than a $10 used tank.