Yikes! Tank Leak

[waltercat]

So I come home today to find that my tank has a leak in it. It isn't anything big (yet) but I do need to change my tank out sooner than later. I can't identify where exactly this is happening but I know it is someplace on the bottom seam because the black molding on the bottom is filled with water.

THe last few days I noticed that the water level was decreasing a little more rapid than usual but I figured it might be drier.

Tonite I found about 1-2 cups of water on the floor.

I was going to wait until Saturday to do this. I was going to work from home tomorrow so I can be around in case anything bad happens.

Does anyone know if this is something that could turn really bad really quickly or is it something i have a window of time to fix.

Also, I just had shoulder surgery so I can't use my arm to lift anything. I'm going to need a couple of people to help move the old tank out and the new tank in. Anyone free on Saturday to drop by and help move the tank. I can do the rest myself, just need some help moving. I live in Park Slope.

 

[NYPDFrogman]

I'd replace it ASAP!!!!

 

[masterswimmer]

The water in the lower black trim does not mean that the leak starts there. Water has a tendency to flow downhill So any leak on your tank is going to end up in the lower plastic trim.

Can it go from minor to catastrophic quickly? I'm guessing this is a rhetorical question. You're darn straight it can go to catastrophic in a heartbeat.

As da frogman said, "I'd replace it ASAP!!!!". Without a doubt.

swimmer

 

[ZBT3091]

Tanks have alot of things in it that are very heavy. Live Rock and sand plus water is a lot of weight and a small seam could get much worse. If theres water coming from a leak on the bottom of the tank it could be a matter of seconds before everything gets dumped on the floor. I would also be concerned with electricity + water.

 

[waltercat]

well I guess I'll do the switch out tomorrow first thing. I kinda need a new tank to do it. I'd put everything in buckets over night, but I think the stress on the corals and fish would be worse.

I am going to get new sand for the new tank and just add some of my current sand on top of it.

Also I have a 33L so I'll probably upgrade to a 55 just so I can get something positive out of it. Besides my corals are getting too tall for a 33L and T5s are too powerful for such a low tank.

If anyone can be on call tomorrow for a quick tank move, let me know with a PM.

 

[NIGHTCRAWLER]

i just had that happen to me during the fall. 75 gal started a tiny leak near the top. so i drained out some water and sealed it. the next day the whole back seperated from the side, and had a huge flood, caught it just as i was getting home. so was able too save all the fish and corals. good thing i had a 225 gal i was getting ready too set up. but i would get another tank set up right away.

 

[fallenlordz]

i just had that happen to me during the fall. 75 gal started a tiny leak near the top. so i drained out some water and sealed it. the next day the whole back seperated from the side, and had a huge flood, caught it just as i was getting home. so was able too save all the fish and corals. good thing i had a 225 gal i was getting ready too set up. but i would get another tank set up right away.

Whoa - thats scary, hope that never happens to me. Nice to have a spare tank that you were setting up.:wink1:

 

[waltercat]

So I don't think it was a tank leank. I think some water got diverted from a baffle cover I had over my HOB skimmer. I turned off my skimmer last night before I went to bed. It came to me in a dream last night that it was equipment and not the tank, so I got up at 4am and poked around. Noticed not more water was coming out. checked again this morning and saw nothing. At work now, so I hope I don't go back to a flooded apt.

Sad thing is I was looking forward to upgrading to a 55G.

 

[KathyC]

That's great new John!
So do your upgrade anyway, just not in emergency mode

 

[waltercat]

That's great new John!
So do your upgrade anyway, just not in emergency mode

I may move in July/August to get a better rent deal, so I'll probably do it then.

 

[waltercat]

Well turns out I did have a tank leak. I kept seeing salt creep coming up from the bottom corner of my tank. Every day I'd wipe it away and withing a half day it would be back. So... this weekend I changed it out. And now I have a 55G! Here's a few pics from my blog post about it. I kept the fish and corals in a container over night while the dust settled in the new tank. It worked out great, everyone was happy and healthy. A successful move!

 

[aznt1217]

Wow good to hear man!!! Everything looks awesome.

 

[PalmTree]

Wow glad it all worked out. At least you caught it beofre it got really bad.

 

[Awibrandy]

I just love good news! Love the new set up...........

 

[daisy]

so glad you didn't have a catastrophe! Congrats on the new tank!

Hope you're feeling better, too!