• The breakdown of my 280-gallon reef tank

    A few days later, I was able to gather up some club members to help muscle the tank off of the stand. I bribed them with beer and snacks, including my Toll House cookies. Eight suction cups were at the ready, and I borrowed the battery-powered PVC cutter from the fish store.





    I cleaned the glass on all three sides; the back has an orange peel mirrored finish that isn't smooth enough to use suction cups. As soon as a few people arrived, I cut off the plumbing under the tank, and we leaned it forward -- wedging some 2x4 blocks under the backside so the bulkheads could be removed. With those out of the way, it was possible to slide the tank forward into the living room and lower it onto two furniture dollies.

    The suction cups make this task so much easier, and held firmly to the clean glass walls.





















    Two straps were snugly ratcheted to hold the tank on the dollies, making it easier to navigate it out of the back door.









    The two bulkheads on the back of the tank were also removed after the PVC sections were cut off.













    It didn't take 30 minutes to get the tank off the stand and outside once the plumbing was disconnected. The suction cups were relocated as needed throughout the move.





    After all those years and all that weight, the pink foam seemed to be compressed as much as it was on Day One.







    With proper planning, a level head, and some willing helpers, it is possible to break down a tank in a manner that will assure the livestock has the best chance for survival. Using the existing sump was the best option to maintain stability, as the gear was already running and powered like normal. There was no reason to worry about overtaxing different circuits in the room, and there wouldn’t be any cords to trip over. The challenge now is to maintain the water parameters and water quality in such unusual circumstances. Let’s hope everything works out until the new tank arrives.


    To keep up with future updates, subscribe to my personal blog here on Reef Addicts.
    Comments 22 Comments
    1. Snakebyt's Avatar
      Snakebyt -
      awesome post documenting the whole ordeal, I really hate to see this tank coming down, but i also look foreward to the new one taking its place, it will be amazing im sure
    1. upster's Avatar
      upster -
      Thanks a bunch, that was a great read. I was amazed that you found the sand bed un-clumped. How long did the entire tear down take?
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      We had it down in a matter of hours. Maybe five, as we didn't have to rush fortunately. There was some prep time with the vats & plumbing, but the tank was empty for all but that last two fish in hiding by 10pm, which is when we went out for dinner.
    1. agsansoo's Avatar
      agsansoo -
      Six years to build ... five hours to take down. Ouch ! Question: How long is the silicone seams suppose to last in an aquarium ? I've heard around 5 years.
    1. Ryan's Avatar
      Ryan -
      Wow Marc, that is some setup to get all that livestock into. I hope I can help with something on your new tank. I know it can't be fun to go through all of that, but at least you have a lot of people to help you through it. Just in the last year or so of being in this hobby I know you've helped me out a bunch with your knowledge and I really appreciate it. Let me know if I can help in any way...even if it is grunt work.
      This is definitely interesting.
    1. jays333's Avatar
      jays333 -
      Marc,Thanks for documenting this in such a calm and systematic manner. There are many opportunities for disaster in our micro worlds, and you have proven they can be dealt with. Looking forward to the updates. My wife's reaction was "This could happen to us?........."
    1. Elchicano's Avatar
      Elchicano -
      Thanks for documenting the whole ordeal..After reading this blog I think just about everyone ran to there tank to checks there seams ..
    1. Wes's Avatar
      Wes -
      great photo breakdown marc, thanks for taking the time to put this together. i like that animated gif you made
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      Jessy made that gif. Have you had any luck with the iPhone video yet, Wes?
    1. Hat39406's Avatar
      Hat39406 -
      Great documentation! I bet it was a great relief when you had everything out of the tank.
    1. NightShade's Avatar
      NightShade -
      It's sad to see everything happen that way but at least you caught the leak before a major failure happened. And can't wait to see what you get going.
    1. mro2you2's Avatar
      mro2you2 -
      Which one is Drewlicious????
      sorry about your tank. I am sad that a tank I envy is gone
    1. Cookiejar's Avatar
      Cookiejar -
      Great job with the pictures and descriptions. you had me rolling on the floor with the description of the 'niagra falls' from the pond liner folding. Moving aquariums and flooded floors go together like peanut butter & jelly.
      Looking forward to seeing how your new tank setup goes. Best of luck with everything!
    1. Ownzordage's Avatar
      Ownzordage -
      Holy cow!! Good job keeping a level head and thinking everything thoroughly through before doing this. I hope most-everything survives.
    1. Rachel's Avatar
      Rachel -
      This is simply heartbreaking. I look forward to hearing about your new tank. I hope all your fish and coral survived the tragedy.
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      So far so good. I just posted a blog with a bunch of pictures of the livestock today.
    1. seapug's Avatar
      seapug -
      unbelievable. what an incredible, epic article. Something tells me that system of troughs and lighting rack is going to end up as a permanent addition somewhere in your house. Has the time come to turn the garage into a coral propagation facility?
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      If the garage wasn't unbearably hot, that would be a possibility. With the new tank, I'd really like to build a nice quarantine system to incorporate in the room, but a friend just suggested I get a coral propagation tank set up to start selling corals to pay some of the supplies I use on a monthly basis. I've never been big on selling corals, as I just wanted them to get bigger. I doubt I sell 10 frags a year.
    1. Chris Witort's Avatar
      Chris Witort -
      Does this make you consider acrylic rather than glass on the next aquarium. The durability is what made me go acrylic. I love the scratch resistance of glass but the idea of inevitable seam failure sealed the deal(so to speak) for me.
    1. mhowe9's Avatar
      mhowe9 -
      Marc, having this system set up for a little over three months now. Is there any thing that you would do differently? or any long term issues that you ran into. I am shortly going to be doing something similar as I upgrade my tank.